Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Gold/Mining/Energy : SOUTHERNERA (t.SUF) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Claude Cormier who wrote (2978)	4/16/1999 5:05:00 PM
From: russet	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 7235

Hi Claude, I use this to keep up to date on the wars in Central and Northern Africa. marekinc.com Camafuca is on the Chicapa River in Northeast Angola, just south of Diamondfields Yetwene alluvial diamond mine that was closed when the rebels attacked and killed/kidnapped several of their employees. It is just north of Diamondfields Luo minesite which is still open and producing diamonds. The country can best be described as a series of armed encampments in different parts of the country protecting Government diamonds mines, the bigger towns, and the oil fields on the North west coast. The rebels are scattered around the countryside - there are several different factions, not all are interested in fighting to the bitter end. The biggest faction is UNITA led by Jonas Savimbi. This faction controls much of the Northern parts of the country not in the armed government camps, and have recently made a push to the North West and into DR Congo to attempt to capture the government controlled oil fields in the Northwest and topple the DR Congo government and then link with the rebels fighting DR Congo to push south into Angola to capture the capital city of Luanda, and topple the Angolan government. The only way in and out of the armed encampments is by air at the moment. It is very expensive to supply materials for diamond mining in this manner. UNITA is thought to have purchased anti-aircraft artillery and helicopter gunships recently to escalate the war, but this has not been confirmed. I would guess from what I have heard, the armed encampment around the Camafuca - Luo area is one of the biggest, strongest and best supplied apart from the capital city of Luanda, so they are in the safest area,...if any area is truly safe. As you read the information in the link above, you will get the sense that most of central Africa is in civil or country against country war,...this is true and the participants are forming partnerships with one another to engage in a sort of African War 1. It is not a pretty sight. Because the offshore oilfields in Angola and DR Congo are at risk, the West is much more interested in what is happening here. The government of Angola is starting to be supported indirectly by the Western industrialized countries, and I imagine if Savimbi's UNITA group attempts to attack the oilfields, without first negotiating with the west for the safety of the oil (U.S. gets 15%+ of their oil imports from Angola) the west will get involved quickly. Many diamond companies are pushing ahead with work in the region SUF is in, so we have safety in numbers, but you have to make up your own mind. russett P.S. The SAf holdings of Suf are in no way at risk with these wars. SAf is cushioned from the hostilities by physical distance (Namibia and Botswana are in between) and by strong ties with the West, which would not sit back and allow southern African states to destabilize. Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Tanzania are already getting substantial western help and investment to keep them somewhat stable.