Antonio Fwaminy da Costa Fernandes

Ambassador to London, United Kingdom

Date of Birth: 26/04/1942
Place of Birth: Cabinda

The highest profile UNITA member to defect to the MPLA, Fernandes had been with Savimbi and UNITA since the beginning HIs defection, with former Secretary-General Miguel N'zau Puna, was announced just two months before the 1991 elections. The two accused UNITA of human rights abuses including the torture and murder of former UNITA UK Representative, Pedro Jonatao ÔTito Chingunji. The associated publicity damaged UNITA internationally with calls for an investigation into Chingunji's death; internally, it damaged UNITA in oil-rich Cabinda where Fernandes and Puna had a substantial following. UNITA accused the two of defecting for financial gain, not out of principle. Fernandes helped the MPLA's election efforts but has been critical of the administration, particularly the Foreign Ministry. The elections over and the war resumed, Fernandes was posted to London as the Ambassador, having previously spent 20 years there for UNITA.