Reintegration – 1994

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Reintegration – 1994

1994

Intermediate Implementation Intermediate implementation

Mozambican combatants received six months’ severance pay for demobilization and additional reintegration subsidies, representing a further 18 months’ pay.1

The Reintegration and Support Scheme (RSS) provided a financial subsidy to all ex-combatants. This was set at MT 75,000 (approximately $15) for the lowest ranks and MT 1,270,080 ($130) for the highest-ranking officers, and was disbursed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on a monthly basis from the many branches of the Banco Popular de Desinvolvimento (BPD) located around the country.2

“In addition, one of the key underlying assumptions of the reintegration programme was the strongly held belief that the average soldier was of peasant origins and, first and foremost, would want to return to the land. In view of this, the decision was taken to provide each former soldier with a ‘kitÕ consisting of a hoe, a bucket and seeds. It was hoped that this would encourage former combatants to return to rural agricultural communities, where there were greater employment opportunities for less skilled ex-soldiers than in the urban and semi-urban areas.”3

“The Occupational Skills Development programme (OSD) provided vocational training to demobilized soldiers and was implemented by the International Labour Organization (ILO). Utilizing established training centres, a curriculum was developed that incorporated 49 courses aimed at producing skilled and semi-skilled graduates.”4

By October 1994, the international humanitarian assistance program had aided the reintegration of some 200,000 former combatants and their dependents. With the demobilization process well under way, UNOHAC focused particular attention on its program for the reintegration of former combatants into civilian life. Through informal tripartite discussions within the Commission for Reintegration, agreement was secured on a three-pronged strategy to address the needs of ex-soldiers.5

An extension of the program was authorized in the form of the Provincial Fund — an approach that dovetailed nicely with the excess financial commitments donated to Mozambique — which was launched in November 1994.

On December 5, 1994, the government disbanded the Reintegration Commission and empowered the Labour Ministry to continue with the reintegration of war-demobilized personnel.6

On 16 December 1994, President Chissano appointed a new cabinet. A Social Reintegration Commission would be created.7

  1. The United Nations and Mozambique, 1992-1995, Blue Books Series, Volume V (New York: UN Department of Public Information, 1995).
  2. Chris Alden, “Making Old Soldiers Fade Away: Lessons from the Reintegration of Demobilized Soldiers in Mozambique,” Security Dialogue 33 no. 3 (September 2002): 344.
  3. Ibid.
  4. Ibid.
  5. “Mozambique — ONUMOZ Background,” United Nations Operation in Mozambique (ONUMOZ), accessed June 4, 2010, http://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/missions/past/onumozFT.htm.
  6. “Government to Continue Reintegration Process for RENAMO and Government Troops,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, December 8, 1994.
  7. “President Chissano Appoints New Cabinet,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, December 19, 1994.