Africa-Press – Angola. The deputy governor for the Political, Economic and Social sector of the province of Cunene, Apolo Ndiloulenga, challenged, this Saturday, the former combatants and veterans of the country to transmit their example to new generations in order to raise the patriotic spirit and promote citizenship.
Apolo Ndinoulenga made this appeal during the celebration of the 36th anniversary of the victory of the Battle of Cuito Cuanavale and the sixth edition of the Liberation Day of Southern Africa, which takes place this Saturday, March 23rd.
As bearers of this rich experience, he added that combatants must, with the same bravery and determination shown in the past, awaken in young people the need to preserve peace and participate in the country’s socio-economic development process.
He highlighted that the preservation of patriotic consciousness is fundamental to guaranteeing national unity, defending peace, social justice and consolidating the nation’s historical and cultural mosaic.
He said that the date constitutes a sovereign opportunity for all Angolans to pay due tribute to the heroes who sacrificed their lives for a just cause, which is the freedom of their people.
“Your sacrifice was not in vain, because through it many opportunities for development were opened, currently visible with the construction of schools, hospitals, roads, bridges and above all peace and harmony in the region”, he highlighted.
However, he stated that the Cunene government continues to promote policies that aim to promote and reintegrate former combatants into the production process, including 105 ex-soldiers with trade kits and agricultural instruments in 2023.
He clarified that the date is one of the most memorable in the country’s recent history, as it was in the period from November 15, 1987 to March 23, 1988, that the famous battle of Cuito Cuanaval, province of Cuando Cubango, took place.
He argued that it is considered the largest military confrontation during the entire Angolan civil war and the longest on the African continent after the Second World War.
These clashes, he highlighted, culminated in the signing of the New York Accords, giving rise to the implementation of UN Security Council resolution 435/78, leading to the withdrawal of Cuban forces from Angola, the release of Nelson Mandela and the independence of Namibia.
He recognized the patriotic and brave spirit of Angolans, which contributed decisively to the end of apartheid, the release of Mandela and the implementation of multi-party and multi-racial democracy in South Africa.
Under the motto “With the spirit of Cuito Cuanavale, let us preserve peace, reconciliation and democracy in the SADC region”, the date was marked by the holding of a round table on the chronology of the combatants against the South African army, the aforementioned battle.
Members of the government, the public ministry, defense and security bodies, the Armed Forces, former combatants, ex-combatants of Cuito Cuanavale, traditional power authorities, students, among others, attended the event.
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