FNLA Offensive Stalls: Mercenary Leader Killed

The Guardian 6 November 1975

FNLA Attack on Luanda Halted, 'Mercenary Leader Killed'

Portuguese Mercenaries and FNLA troops after the abortive attack on Luanda (Rueters)

Sources in  the Angolan capital of Luanda allege that a CIA backed offensive by troops loyal to the Angolan National Liberation Front (FNLA) has been halted. A spokesman for the People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), a Marxist organisation with Soviet support, stated that heavy fighting only 20 miles from Luanda had led to the total  defeat of the FNLA and its 'mercenary led' army. 'The FNLA attacked two days ago and MPLA cadre fought a series of defensive battles to secure the capital. The FNLA forces were made up of mercenaries and troops supplied by the President of Zaire in support of his brother in law, the CIA puppet Holden Roberto' he said.

Unconfimed reports from Kinshasa state that the commander of the FNLA forces in the attack, the Anglo-Mercenary Carlo Shannon, was killed by a booby trap in the town of Caxito, as he led his men in 'desperate' street fighting.

A Portuguese businessman, Jose Ronaldo, crossed the front lines late yesterday and provided an eye witness account of the fighting as he waited to be evacuated by air to Lisbon by his government. 'By midday yesterday the FNLA had stopped moving forward,' he said. 'The noise of the fighting had died down and they seemed to be re-grouping.'

Mr Ronaldo said that former Portuguese army officers fighting with the FNLA alleged that Cuban troops were involved in the battles of the last few days. 'They told me the Cubans fought hard and were using heavy weapons, including rocket launchers,' he said.

Havana has confirmed that it has a 'military mission' in Luanda that is providing 'fraternal support' to the MPLA, but denies that its troops have been in combat. (Rueters)

FNLA and former Portuguese army officers on the road to Luanda (Rueters)

South African Paratroopers 'Invade Angola'

The Guardian 27 October 1975

Reports from Southern Angola indicate a South African troops have attacked the town of Menongue, some 300 km from the South West African border.

The Cuban government alleges that South African airborne forces were parachuted into Menongue two days ago and captured the town's airfield. According to Havana, a South African armoured column linked up with the paratroopers 24 hours later.

'The colonial government is due to leave Angola on 11 November and the Cuban people have been rendering fraternal aid and assistance to their Angolan brothers and sisters in the People's Liberation Movement of Angola (MPLA) as they prepare to lead the Angolan people to freedom. This attack by the racist Pretoria regime is proof that South Africa is bent on imposing its will on the peace loving people of Africa,' said a Cuban government spokesman.

Pretoria has confirmed it has troops in Angola. According to sources close to the South African Government the South African Defence Force has been carrying out limited operations to forestall  communist terrorist activity inside Angolan territory.

An Anglican priest in Capetown, Father John Wilson, has confirmed that a family in his parish has been informed of the death of their 19 year old son, a soldier in the South African Army, 'on active service', earlier this week.

The Soviet Union has formally protested to the South African Government and a further protest has been lodged with the United Nations Assembly by the East German Ambassador to the UN.

Rueters