Fresh tensions arise in the Angolan enclave of Cabinda, a small Angolan territory situated between the two Congos. For several weeks, clashes have erupted between the Angolan Armed Forces (FAA) and the Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda (Flec).
On April 4th, 2024, the Independence Movement of Flec issued a 30-day ultimatum to the Angolan government to withdraw its troops from the enclave, threatening to escalate its armed actions. These tensions have spilled over into the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo.
According to several sources from Congolese civil society, incidents between military forces and separatists in the Cabinda enclave have had repercussions in the DRC, particularly in the border territory of Lukula, in the Kongo-central province, in the west of the country. Witnesses on both sides of the border report troop movements, sweeps, and intensification of patrols, with little explanation, especially from the Mbaka Nkosi border post.
“The Congolese population is left in confusion,” says a representative of Lukula’s civil society. A colleague adds that these military movements have caused panic among the inhabitants. “Residents have seen Angolan soldiers crossing the border. People then preferred to flee for fear that something might happen,” but according to this source, the situation has since returned to normal on the Congolese side.
Border Security
A political representative from Kongo-central confirms being informed of military operations in the area at the beginning of May, but emphasizes that these are not joint operations, as stressed by a Congolese army official who, however, mentions possible contacts between the FARDC and the Angolan Armed Forces to “secure the border.”
On the side of the Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda, there is condemnation of the firm stance of the Angolan government, which refuses any dialogue. Flec calls on Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi to act as a mediator with his Angolan counterpart, João Lourenço.