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Prisoner Reform – 1992

Reports in March 1992 indicated that by the end of February 1992, the government had released a total of 904 rebel prisoners, and UNITA had released a total of 3,043 prisoners. ¹ The UN Secretary-General reported that the ICRC confirmed that the first phase of prisoner release was completed in April 1992.² However, throughout 1992, both parties alleged that the other continued to hold political prisoners. In August, the Angolan government issued a list of 4,649 prisoners they believed remained under UNITA detention.³ UNITA alleged that the government continued to hold at least 400,⁴ and possibly thousands, of prisoners.⁵

¹ “Further Report of the Secretary-General of the United Nations Angola Verification Mission (UNAVEM II),” UN Security Council, March 3, 1992.
² “Further Report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Angola Verification Mission (UNAVEM II),” UN Security Council, September 9, 1992.
³ Joint commission discusses POWs, UNITA integration into police force,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, August 6, 1992.
⁴ “Angola UNITA radio says government still holds UNITA prisoners of war,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, August 11, 1992.
⁵ “Angola UNITA claims government has freed only 504 of 30,000 POWs,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, January 20, 1992.