Analysis: Power struggle brewing

Savimbi: "Hungry for power"

LONDON, England (CNN) -- Vincent Magombe is Director of Africa Inform International, a media agency specialising in African affairs. He spoke to CNN about the likely impact of rebel leader Jonas Savimbi's death on Angola and its neighbours.

Q. Does Savimbi's death make peace more likely in Angola?

A. Savimbi was very hungry for power, and almost a leader who was ruling within the context of a personality cult. He never prepared the movement for succession.

His death means there could be peace, but it depends on what comes out of the power struggle that seem to be brewing at the moment.

Several powerful generals each feel that it is their right to succeed Savimbi. Some of them are radical generals who want to continue the war. However, some of the representatives of UNITA may want to say: "This is the end."

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As soon as a new leader is elected, his first words will determine the direction of Angola's future.

Q. What will the role of the government and army be?

A. Within the government there are those who want a settlement. Within the army itself, there are some very determined generals who have been making gains on the ground.

The generals may think this is the time to push on, but that would be a very dangerous path to tread. UNITA gets most of its support from an ethnic group. And while you can subjugate an ethnic group, eventually the fighting will start again.

Q. What will the people of Angola make of the news?

A. UNITA is based on an ethnic group which makes up 40 percent of the population of Angola.

While some UNITA supporters will be unhappy to hear the news, many in UNITA will be pleased. They realise that their leader has been almost personally responsible for the war. He wanted to be president of Angola at the expense of everything else. Most people will say that this is a turning point.

Q. What will Angola's neighbours make of the news?

A. It will be welcomed in the wider region. The Namibian government has already said it welcomes the news. They hope that UNITA will now stop supporting secessionists in Namibia.

Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo will also be very happy. While the Angolan government has been supporting the government in Kinshasa, UNITA has been supporting rebel groups in that country.