Luanda – President João Lourenço Friday in Luanda granted audience to the children of former rebel leader Jonas Savimbi.
Speaking to journalists at the end of the audience, on behalf of his brothers and sisters, Durão Sakaita Savimbi said the meeting served for them to thank the Head of State for the way he led the process of official hand-over of the remains of their father.
“We have come to give a strong sign to President João Lourenço that has had the political courage, openness and humanism of bringing to an end the process of hand-over of the remains of our father to the family,” he said.
Durão Sakaita that expressed satisfaction with the gesture of the Angolan President, said such a move must be continued to the good of the national reconciliation process in Angola.
Angola’s independence in 1975 was followed by a protracted armed conflict that lasted until 2002, between the Angolan Government and Jonas Savimbi-led rebel UNITA movement.
Jonas Malheiro Savimbi fell on the battlefield on 22 February 2002, in Lucusse region, eastern Moxico province, at the age of 67 years.
The body of Jonas Savimbi remained buried at Luena cemetery, in Moxico, until it was exhumed in June 2019 and reburied at his home village of Lopitanga, Andulo, central Bié province.
The process of exhumation of Jonas Savimbi’s body started on 29 January 2019, following the appointment by President João Lourenço of a working team comprising Government officials, UNITA members and relatives.
