[Published: Monday October 15 2018]
 Migrants flee Angola after 'brutal crackdown'
LUANDA Oct (ANA) - Congolese migrants fleeing north-east Angola say security forces there are conducting a brutal campaign against them.
Tens of thousands have fled back into the Democratic Republic of Congo to escape the attacks.
Many are small-scale diamond miners and Angola recently announced plans to disrupt illegal mining activity.
Witnesses have given the Reuters news agency harrowing accounts of the events.
They said Angolan troops stormed Lucapa town and killed dozens of people.
Homes are said to have been burnt down and property looted.
Angola has denied allegations of human rights abuses.
The Angolan authorities are reforming the diamond industry with the aim of raising more revenue for the state.
At least 180,000 Congolese citizens have crossed the border with Angola since 1 October - most heading to the city of Kamako where they are living in precarious informal camps, local officials have confirmed.
The numbers are likely to be much higher as the Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola share more than 300km (186 miles) of border.
Many migrants are saying they were kicked out despite having documentation to live in Angola and there are unconfirmed reports that a number of them have been brutalized and even killed by Angolan forces.
The reason for the crackdown is unclear.
For many years, Congolese migrants have been in Angola, where they dig for diamonds on artisanal mines.
It could be linked to an attempt by the new Angolan government to take control over its mining industry.(ANA)
FA/ANA/15 October 2018--------
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Global/Plastics Issue