A 1,000 strong crowd answered a national government call to march here on Saturday against terrorism and in support of the Togo national side following the deadly attack on their team bus. "We are here to say no to terrorism and to show our solidarity with the young Togolese," governor of Angola's Cabinda province Jean-Baptiste Mawete told AFP.
The marchers, the majority wearing the Angolan national colours of red and black, made their way from the local government's headquarters through the town. The attack by Cabinda rebels on the Togo team's convoy as it arrived in this restless northern oil-rich enclave ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations eight days ago killed two people.
Togo pulled out of the competition at their own government's request. Saturday's demonstration was made up of Angola ruling party MPLA officials, provincial elders, local authority officials, young footballers, who seemed unclear as to why they were summoned to march, and Africa Cup of Nations volunteers.
"In this year of Africa we want peace, tranquillity and progress to help our country move forward," Mawete declared. "No one is threatened here and this march allows us to say to the world that Angola is among the countries of the world and lives in peace." Behind him the assembled crowd marched in high spirits, with banners that delivered an unequivocal message.
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