Luanda — The Angolan vessel "Rio M'bridge" that shipped the military equipment used by the Angolan Armed Forces (FAA) and National Police (PN) in the Guinea-Bissau Mission (MISSANG) arrived Friday in Luanda Navy Base.

Speaking to the press on arrival of the ship that departed Guinea-Bissau on June 7, lt.-general Gildo dos Santos said that "we think that with the arrival of this vessel that has shipped the equipment of MISSANG, we can declare complete the withdrawal of the Angolan troops."

He said that this means that "we have arrived well, we have withdrawn all our means and that the MISSANG effectives have left Guinea-Bissau with the feeling of accomplished duty."

The commander of the Angolan forces in Guinea-Bissau said that all Angolan effectives in that West African Portuguese speaking country have completely pulled out.

The vessel has shipped back home all the equipment that include armoured and solid and liquid cargo vehicles, the Angolan officer said.

Under MISSANG, a total of 249 Angolan men, among soldiers and police officers, were deployed in Guinea-Bissau from March 2011, following an agreement signed between the defence ministers of both countries, as a complement to a Governmental accord ratified by both parliaments.

The mission was interrupted by Angolan Government, following a politico-military crisis that led to the ousting of the interim president of Guinea- Bissau, Raimundo Pereira, and the prime minister, Gomes Júnior.

The programme of technical and military cooperation focused on a reform of the Guinean armed forces and police, including the repair of barracks and police stations, organisation of administrative services and technical and military training locally and in Angolan institutions.