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these incidents occurred when Portuguese agents dynamited a bridge on the Malawi
route to Mozambique only three miles from the border. Although it caused Zambia
economic pain in the short term, a new bridge was built in three weeks and a new oil
pipeline extending from Beira was completed in three months, which greatly eased
the transfer of oil.
On June 16, 1969, Zambia seized two Portuguese soldiers and convicted them of
entering the country without permission. The soldiers came across the Angolan border
unarmed at the request of a Zambian official and were sentenced to either a fine or
prison time. However, on July 3, the High Court overturned the decision, and on the
14th, President Kaunda questioned the court’s decision and suggested the court was
working for a foreign state.
Although the court had ordered the Portuguese soldiers released, Kaunda ordered
them held. Portugal threatened to cut trade with Zambia if the soldiers were not
released and also responded with multiple air raids on Loti. Zambia requested support
from the UN Security Council. On July 28, the Security Council passed Resolution
268, which censured Portugal for its attacks on Loti village and called on Portugal to
stop violating Zambia’s borders and to return Zambian people and property.
Coding changes: Fatalities changed from None.
MID#1391
Dispute Number: 1391
Date(s): March 8, 1971 to April 12, 1971
Participants: 235 Portugal/551 Zambia
Outcome (and Settlement): Released (None)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: Portugal accused Zambia of sheltering rebels from Mozambique who had
kidnapped five Portuguese nationals. In retaliation, Portugal seized five Zambians and
instituted a short blockade of Zambian trade.
Coding changes: Start Date changed from March 3, 1971. Outcome changed from
Released.
MID#1390
Dispute Number: 1390
Date(s): December 16, 1972 to January 19, 1973
Participants: 235 Portugal/541 Mozambique, 551 Zambia, 552 Zimbabwe
Outcome (and Settlement): Released (None)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: This dispute describes several cross-border incidents as multiple countries
contended with African Nationalist Guerillas. First, Portuguese soldiers then seized
two Zambian border troops on the Mozambican border on December 16. Then, on
December 22, 1972, Rhodesia killed two guerillas who were actively working with
Portuguese forces. On January 19, 1973, Zambian soldiers fired on Rhodesian forces
across the border. Rhodesia then closed its border with Zambia and implemented an
economic boycott.