The United Nations Angola Verification Mission I (UNAVEM I) was established by the Security Council on December 20, 1988 pursuant to resolution 626. Its task was to verify the total withdrawal of Cuban troops from Angola. UNAVEM was composed of approximately 70 military observers. The withdrawal was completed by May 25, 1991. On June 6th, Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar reported to the Council that UNAVEM I had successfully carried out its mandate.
On May 30, 1991, the Security Council authorized the deployment of UNAVEM II pursuant to resolution 696. Its mandate was to verify the arrangements agreed to by the Angolan parties regarding a cease-fire and to observe and verify elections in the country. The elections were subsequently held in September 1992. Despite the UNAVEM II's verification that the elections had been generally free and fair, their results were contested by UNITA. As a result, renewed fighting broke out between the government and UNITA forces. UNAVEM II continued its presence in Angola in order to establish a new cease-fire and eventually complete the peace process.
On November 20, 1994, the parties signed the Lusaka Protocol. The protocol marked a new stage in the Angolan peace process. It consisted of several documents, relating to legal, military, police and political issues. It also provided a prominent role for the United Nations. UNAVEM II monitored the initial stages of the peace agreement.
On February 1, 1995, the Secretary-General recommended to the Security Council that UNAVEM III take over from UNAVEM II in order to help the parties restore peace and achieve national reconciliation. On February 8th, the Security Council authorized the establishment of UNAVEM III pursuant to resolution 976. UNAVEM III's mandate was to monitor the cease-fire and to verify the process of national reconciliation as agreed to by the parties in the Lusaka Protocol. Despite the efforts of UNAVEM III, the implementation process fell behind schedule. The UNAVEM III mission was extended through February 1997. However, it has gradually begun to withdraw military units from Angola. The pace of the UN withdrawal will be commensurate with the progress achieved in demobilizing the warring factions and rebuilding the civil and administrative governments.
