A whole lot of Peace and just a little Prosperity is all Angola needs

And such moves are needed soon if reconciliation and recovery are to take place. To start with, most basic needs of Angolans could be paid for simply by proceeds from the immense natural resources, such as diamonds and oil. However, little of this money actually reaches the people most in need. Secrecy surrounding the oil industry prevents the Angolan people from monitoring the revenues it brings in and reaping the rewards. This needs to change. Oxfam's country representative, Fred Kumah recently gave evidence to the UN Security Council, noting that:

"Angola earns US$3-5 billion a year from natural resources, and yet every three minutes an Angolan child dies from a preventable disease." (3)

Despite the incredibly harsh conditions and political divisions in Angola, solidarity and reconciliation do have a popular base. R.Marques has frequently reported on Angola in the past years, he sees signs of hope:

"Civil society is practically unanimous that the demand for peace is an indispensable condition for the normalization of the country. Society wants and demands a peace that results from a process of consultation among all Angolans, including the belligerents, in order to put an end to the war through dialogue and reconciliation." (4)

Now, with the agreement of 4 April 2002 between the Government and the post-Savimbi UNITA, the door to lasting reconciliation, social development and economic recovery has been opened. An amnesty has been declared and the integration of some 50,000 former UNITA fighters into the government army and police is planned. As of early May some 25,000 UNITA rebels in Angola have turned themselves in to demobilization camps; yet it appears that no more than 5000 are top be integrated into the army and the police, the rest will simply be demobilized. It will be of special importance for the country's stability to seek ways and means, possibly with international support to establish at least basic re-integration programs for the former fighters. Yet in order for the political accord to spurn economic development, the corruption that characterizes the oil and diamond industry in Angola must be weeded out. This is no easy task, as vested interests on both sides may continue to resist sharing the wealth, or fear being held accountable for their misuse of power and corruption. Transparency and accountability do not have deep roots in Angola, but also external interests are to blame. The oil companies and banks that have benefited form the absence of peace

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