On June 25, 1975, Mozambique became independent from Portugal. After a few years of relative peace, the country was plunged into a devastating civil war waged against the government by the Mozambican National Resistance (RENAMO), which was supported by the minority regime in South Africa. The conflict would last more than 17 years.
On October 4, 1992, Joaquim Chissano, President of Mozambique, and Afonso Dhlakama, President of RENAMO, signed a General Peace Agreement in Rome. Under the agreement, a cease-fire would come into effect by October 15th. The cease-fire would be followed by the separation of the two forces and their concentration in 49 assembly areas. Demobilization of those forces not designated to serve in the new Mozambican Defense Force would be completed six months after the cease-fire. Meanwhile, preparations would be made for general elections. The agreement called for a significant United Nations role in monitoring its implementation and in providing technical assistance for the elections. The implementation of the agreement was to be overseen by a Supervisory and Monitoring Commission (CSC) chaired by the United Nations.
In October, the Security Council approved the dispatch to Mozambique of a team of military observers and the appointment by Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali of his Special Representative, Aldo Ajello. Ajello and the team of observers arrived in the capital city of Maputo on October 15th, the day the Peace Agreement entered into force. Both parties had pledged to undertake specific action to start jointly monitoring the implementation of the agreement. However, no such action had been started when Ajello arrived in Mozambique and he immediately began discussions with the parties towards this end.
In November, the Supervisory and Monitoring Commission was established. Its mandate was to guarantee the implementation of the agreement, settle any dispute between the parties and coordinate its subsidiary commissions. Chaired by the United Nations, the CSC was composed of government and RENAMO delegations, with representatives from Italy, France, Germany, Portugal, the United Kingdom, the United States and the Organization of African Unity (OAU).
In December, the Secretary-General submitted a plan for a United Nations Operation in Mozambique (ONUMOZ). The Security Council established ONUMOZ on December 16th pursuant to resolution 797. ONUMOZ was responsible for assisting in the implementation of the Peace Agreement. This included monitoring the cease-fire, the separation, demobilization and disarmament of forces and providing technical assistance and support to the entire electoral process. The military aspects were closely linked with the humanitarian effort. A major goal of the humanitarian assistance program was to help the 3.7 million Mozambicans displaced by the war to resettle in their respective communities.
Demobilization started in March 1994 and was substantially concluded by August. More than 76,000 soldiers from both sides were demobilized. ONUMOZ helped combine over 10,000 of them into the new national army. The transfer of authority, equipment and infrastructure from the former army to the new Mozambique Defense Force was formally completed on August 16th. By mid-October, ONUMOZ had collected over 155,000 weapons from the troops of both parties and from paramilitary forces.
The country's first multi-party elections were held on October 27th to 29th. Approximately 90% of the registered electorate voted. The elections were monitored by some 2,300 international observers. No major incidents were registered at the some 7,500 polling stations. On November 19th, the Special Representative declared the elections free and fair. Two days later, the Security Council endorsed the results.
On the day the new president was inaugurated, ONUMOZ's mandate formally came to an end. Its task successfully fulfilled, ONUMOZ completed its withdrawal from Mozambique in January 1995.
Source: Basic Facts About the United Nations. Published by United Nations Department of Public Information. Copyright 1995 United Nations.
