Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Agenzia Fides) – While the cargo ship “Faina” remains blocked and surrounded by ships from other countries such as the US and Russia, with its arms in the hands of Somali pirates, the Court in Paris is opening the “Angolagate” case, which has to do with the sale of arms from eastern Europe, purchased by Angola’s government in the 90s, through a negotiation with French businessman, now accused of having acted without informing French authorities and of having received pay for their intervention in the deal.
These are two incidents which occurred far apart in time, but that that show that there continues to be “a dark force” that is leading to war and destruction in Africa. While in the case of Angola, the purchaser was a country in civil war and recognized by the international community, in the case of the cargo ship “Faina,” it is still not clear as to where the arms aboard will be taken.
The Kenyan authorities continue to affirm that the arms were intended for their army, but the press seems to think otherwise. Firstly, they say, Kenya is a country that has always received its arms from Western Europe and the United States. The arms aboard the “Faina,” however, as Ukrainian, a Soviet model (T72), probably taken from old arsenals of the Red Army. Although, it cannot be excluded the fact that Kenya may have decided to add on to its list of suppliers (according to the paper “The Nation,” the first 5 are the United States, Great Britain, Libya, Azerbaijan, and Georgia, and the last 3 probably distribute second-hand arms), the perplexities persist as to the acquisition of arms of a Soviet model, which implies the creation of a logistical line that is different from the rest of their equipment. Kenyan authorities affirm that the cargo on the “Faina” is part of an accord made between the Ukraine and Kenya in 2007.
The Kenyan press reports that the local government has not notified the UN as to its imports and exports of arms, and there is no trace of official Kenyan documents regarding the contract with the Ukraine. The UNROCA (UN Register of Conventional Arms) received a notification from Ukraine as to a sales agreement with Kenya for a series of arms: 77 tanks, 2 missile launchers, and 40,000 rifles and machine guns. Kenya has also received 15 second-hand jet-fighter planes from Jordan. The sellers have reported these things to the UN, but the receiver no. Why not? And another question: does Kenya really need all these arms? Have their been third-party members who have benefited from part of this transaction? Why did the spokesman from the Fifth American Fleet say that the arms on the “Faina” were headed to South Sudan? It is no surprise that both the government of Khartoum and that of South Sudan (an autonomous administration created with the peace accords of 2005) continue building up arms in anticipation of the referendum in 2010 which will decide whether or not the southern Sudan regions will remain independent or will continue forming part of Sudan.
15 years after Angolagate, another episode occurs with unclear circumstances shows the need to reinforce efforts in controlling the arms trafficking in Africa, as in other parts of the world. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 6/10/2008)
