UNITA believes that the Cabinda solution should not be imposed, but should be negotiated.

The UNITA leader believes that any solution to bring stability to Cabinda province should be discussed rather than imposed, including the proposal for “balanced” autonomy, which he defends as the ideal solution.

Adalberto da Costa Júnior, who visited Cabinda earlier this month, choosing the province to mark the start of the political year of the Galo Negro party, told Lusa about the initiative to present a proposal for autonomy to the National Assembly.

“Cabinda has nationalism, its own culture, and this must be recognized,” the politician emphasized, recalling that the UNITA governance program presented at the last general elections in 2022 has already consolidated the solution to the approach to Cabinda that has passed through autonomy. .

During his time in Cabinda, during which he spoke to activist groups and civil society representatives, he admitted that he was “very harshly criticized” for “proposing” what he considered a solution instead of leading it through negotiations.

“We must always negotiate, this statute is not an imposed law,” he told Lusa, adding that the autonomy proposal should be discussed with various Cabindan interlocutors.

“In order to negotiate, it is necessary, first of all, to guarantee the conditions for dialogue,” he continued, saying that even in situations of war, “there is always an open door for negotiations to end it.”

“We think it is easy to achieve this approach, the element of dialogue. We managed to do it, why doesn’t the government do it?” he asked, stressing that UNITA wants to sit down at the negotiating table with the Cabindans, who bring “your ideas.”

Adalberto da Costa Júnior, who during the visit was invited by the independence movement FLEC-FAC (Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda – Cabinda Armed Forces) to meet with the guerrillas, said the invitation did not come through official channels, but added that there were direct contacts.

“FLEC was able to establish contacts with UNITA (…) FLEC is well aware of UNITA’s position,” he stressed, adding that he should negotiate “with those who have some kind of representation,” including the guerrilla movements.

“Imagine that the extremist pole represents the majority of the population, the communities. Is he refusing to come to the negotiating table with those who have effective representation? “.

On the other hand, “the approach should never be a relay race, it should be a dialogue,” said Costa Junior, regretting that he found activists, including pregnant women, in prison.

“It is necessary to change the approach within the framework of respect for human rights and civil rights of citizens. Cabinda is part of Angola, and we have a Constitution that guarantees these rights,” the UNITA president addressed.

According to Adalberto Costa Junior, “there is a very superficial approach” to the Cabinda problem.

“I would even say irresponsible, because there are deaths, because there is no absolute stability, because in Angola, whose military peace was achieved so long ago, there is a constant military occupation. It’s really a lack of sensitivity,” he criticized.

The UNITA leader argued that the autonomy statute, “agreed on a balance sheet, was the ideal solution” sharing the benefits of the province’s wealth, namely oil.

“This would be complementary to completing the political steps with flying colors” and would allow “Cabinda to be restored to the dignity it deserves,” he said, also noting the need to “be sensitive to historical factors” in these negotiations.

Adalberto Costa Junior criticized the Angolan government for “sitting at the negotiating table” and then “ceasing” compliance with the signed agreements, which happened with the Forum for Dialogue Cabindes (FCD), but also with UNITA itself in the post-war period, and insisted on that about the division of wealth.

“We cannot think that it is possible to take away from Cabinda a significant percentage of what is the basis of the general budget of the State of Angola. [o petróleo] and there is no retribution, and today we have a very poor community,” he said.

As for the proposal for autonomy, for which there is no deadline yet, it should not be separated from the proposal for the revision of the Constitution, which, from the point of view of the President of the Republic, introduces some sensitive issues in Angola.

Lusa attempted to interview the provincial governor of Cabinda Mar Quios, but did not receive a timely response.