The verification process completely broke down in the midst of violence and the sanctions imposed against UNITA. MONUA reported that “there have been no contacts between the Government and Mr. Jonas Savimbi and his group, and the joint mechanisms established for the implementation of the peace process at the national and local levels, including the Joint Commission, have been paralyzed.”¹The Uppsala Conflict Data Program coded the conflict between the Angolan government and UNITA as reaching the threshold of “war” in 1998 with over 1000 total deaths in the year. Coding for this case stops December 31, 1998.

From April to June, the Joint Commission held eight meetings which examined approximately 60 cases of human rights abuses. The number of military and police observers and troops was 4,994 in June.²

Toward the end of the year, the “Security Council in resolution 1135 (1997) approved the new measures to be taken by the international community against UNITA.” Savimbi announced that the new sanctions would make it even more difficult for him to comply with the Lusaka Accord.³

Three weeks after the imposition of sanctions, UNITA severed all ties with the Government and MONUA. The UNITA members are still active in the Joint Commission.⁴

“The strength of United Nations military personnel now stands at 2, 495, including 192 military observers, 78 military staff officers, 1, 668 troops and 557 military support personnel.”[fn]Ibid. [/efn_note]

The Joint Commission remained active in the implementation process. In Luanda there were almost daily meetings between the government and UNITA delegations to the Joint Commission. The Armed Conflict Prevention Group continued to operate regularly.⁵

The Joint Commission toured several demobilization sites at NÕGove, NÕTuco and Quibala and found them acceptable.⁶

A report on 25 April 1996 stated that the Government of Angola had left the Joint Commission. UNITA broadcasted that “it is still committed to the Angolan peace process” and “deplores the Angolan government’s decision to leave the Joint Commission.”⁷

The mandate of UNAVEM-3 was extended on 11 July 1996 to 1997. The Joint Commission sent letters of concern to the President of Angola and UNITA over the disappointing lack of progress on the implementation of the Lusaka Accord.⁸

As of 1 March, the United Nations had deployed 418 military and police observers to 38 sites outside Luanda. About 40 more military and police observers were expected to arrive in Luanda.⁶

On 1 March 1995, the Joint Commission held its tenth session to discuss issues such as ceasefire violations, demobilization problems and the lack of security in UNITA areas for UN personnel.⁷

The Joint Commission held its 12th regular session on 28 March 1995. It declared phase one of the disengagement of forces as adequately completed.⁹

UN verification had not yet been deployed.

The United Nations Observer Mission in Angola (MONUA), the Angolan government, and UNITA set another revised “final” timetable for demobilization to be completed by 28 February 1998. It was reported that none of the elements in the timetable had been met. On 11 March, they set another new timetable of 1 April 1998, which was also not met.¹⁰

Angolan media sources reported that the Angolan countryside was at war.¹¹

The Uppsala Conflict Data Program (UCDP) coded the conflict between the Angolan government and UNITA as reaching the threshold of “war” in 1998 with over 1000 total deaths in the year.¹²

In the last issuance of 1998, MONUA reported that the Government of Angola and UNITA forces had continued to perform extensive military operations and that MONUA personnel, under phase IV of their security plan, were withdrawn from all provinces.¹³

The United Nations Security Council decided to maintain its peacekeeping force in Angola for a final month because the peace timetable of the Lusaka Protocol had not been met.¹³

The UN Security Council reported major delays in the formation of the reconciliation government because UNITA, the opposition, had fallen behind in the implementation of the peace timetable.¹⁴

The Joint Commission adopted an updated timetable for the implementation of the outstanding provisions of the Lusaka Accord.¹⁵

“It is disturbing that, more than one year after the signing of the Lusaka Protocol (which ended the war in November 1994), the quartering of UNITA troops — one of the central elements in the peace process — has not made any significant progress,” argued the Secretary-General (Inter Press Service (IPS), 1996).¹⁶

In March, President José Eduardo dos Santos and UNITA leader Mr. Jonas Savimbi met and agreed to a revised timetable for the Lusaka Accord.¹⁷

Limited progress was reported on the revised timetable and the major elements of the accord. “Expectations which were raised in June and July for the expeditious completion of the quartering of UNITA troops, the selection of its soldiers for incorporation into the Angolan Armed Forces and the demobilization of ex-combatants, have also been disappointed.”¹⁸

In November of 1995, one full year after the Lusaka Accord, “the phased billeting of government and UNITA troops to 15 UN-built quartering areas (now in the process of completion) has not yet begun.” The plan, coming from the Lusaka Accord, was for 200,000 troops to be merged into a national army, with around half of that number to be later demobilized after a period of on-the-job training.¹⁷

The major elements of the timeline — namely, the ceasefire phases and demobilization by the forces of both sides — were not met in 1994.