Cuito Cuanavale - Eighty women from the Military Intelligence and Security Services (SISM) paid homage to the heroes of the Cuito Cuanavale Battle in the scope of the 23 March celebrations, which marks the International Day for the Liberation of Southern Africa.
On the occasion, the women laid flowers at the memorial with the presence of the Cuando Cubango provincial governor, José Martins, and the Head of the Military Intelligence and Security Services (SISM), general José Pereira Massano.
Speaking to the press, the spokesperson for the women, Deolinda Sajimbe, said that in addition to paying tribute to March 23, the event was included in “March Woman” celebrations under the motto “For the strengthening and development of gender, towards empowerment”.
On the occasion, governor José Martins announced that the works of the Cuito Cuanavale Battle Memorial will continue in this year, since they are included in the General State Budget of 2023, adding that the hotel infrastructure still needs to be completed so that it can accommodate tourists visiting the memorial.
The women, who came from Luanda Province as well as from the Menongue and Cuito Cuanavale municipalities of Cuando Cubando Province, also greeted the Cuito Cuanavale King, Bingo Bingo and visited the Tumpo Triangle Theme Park, among other places.
The Battle of Cuito Cuanavale was the largest military confrontation of the war in Angola, which took place between November 15, 1987 and March 23, 1988, between the armies of Angola and Cuba against the military forces of National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) and the apartheid regime of South Africa.
The event became the decisive turning point in the long-running war, spurring the signing of the New York Accords, which led to the implementation of UN Security Council resolution 435/78, the withdrawal of Cuban and South African forces from Angola, the independence of Namibia, and the end of the racial segregation regime in South Africa..
