Demobilization – 1992
1992
Under the General Peace Agreement (GPA), the demobilization and reintegration of the 75,000-strong government army and the 20,000 rebels was to take place. A new army of 30,000 men was to be created in their place, with fighters drawn equally from each side.
Under the plan, both armies — that of the Mozambique Liberation Front (FRELIMO) government and of Mr. Dhlakama’s Mozambique National Resistance Movement (RENAMO) — had undertaken to finish their demobilization within six months. A general election was to follow six months after that. All troops were supposed to gather at assembly points by November 15th. So far, there had not been much evidence of movement. But Mr. Ajello, UN’s special envoy, promised that, if demobilization was delayed, the election would have to wait as well. “We would not vote with arms,” he declared.1
To not repeat the mistake made in Angola, the UN outlined proposals that would deploy troops to ensure the demobilization of RENAMO rebels and government forces, and stated there would be no election before this is done. Unlike in Angola, in Mozambique the UN would supervise the organizing of elections, closing the door to ballot-rigging charges. “Less than half UNITA’s troops reported to demobilisation camps and most were never disarmed.”2