Verification/Monitoring Mechanism – 1993

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Verification/Monitoring Mechanism – 1993

1993

Full Implementation Full implementation

The July 1992 N’sele Cease-fire Agreement had provisions for the deployment of Neutral Military Observer Group (NMOG) under the supervision of the OAU Secretary General. The NMOG, with 50 military observers, was said to supervise the ceasefire leading to political negotiations and a peace treaty between the two conflicting parties in Rwanda. According to this mandate, the OAU Secretary General appointed his personal representative to Rwanda to supervise a ceasefire on 29 July 1992.The ceasefire agreement was expected to go into effect by the end of July.1 The joint political and military commission comprising representatives of the Rwandan government, the RPF and international observers met at the OAU headquarter and a commander for a NMOG was appointed.2

The ceasefire agreement went into effect and a violation of the ceasefire was reported. However, the NOG was not assembled completely. Nevertheless, Senegal had already dispatched 10 military officers to Rwanda.3

NMOG tried to resolve the accusation and counter accusation of a violation of the ceasefire agreement alleged by both sides. On 22 October 1992, in the joint political and military commission meeting, the Rwandan ambassador representing the Rwandan government side accused the RPF of having shelled the town of Biumba and attacking the government position (which was refuted by the NMOG head by making it clear that the RPF action was in retaliation).4

The RPF alleged that the French troops were providing support to the Habyarimana regime and that the French troops were said to have starting clashing with the NMOG, who were deployed to monitor the ceasefire agreement.5

In January 1993 a violation of ceasefire was reported and a 50-member NOMG had no offensive capability.6 As ceasefire violations continued, the Rwandan government declared ceasefire and asked the NMOG to verify the truce and the return of the RPF to its previous position.7 The commander of the NMOG, however, stressed that his group be strengthened with additional staff and adequate equipment to deal with the situation caused by the resumption of conflict.8 As a matter of fact, the UNMOG was not given authorization by the Kigali Army Head Quarter to go to the spot where the ceasefire was broken off.9
The Rwandan government and the RPF committed themselves to implementing the ceasefire from 9 March after a high-level meeting held from 5th to 7th march. The NMOG’s remained intact as monitoring the ceasefire agreement.10 THE NMOG verified the withdrawal of RPF troops from the Mutara, Byumba and Ruhengeri areas to the 8th February 1993 before position.11 After the withdrawal, the area between the government and the RPF forces became a demilitarized zone and was administered by the NMOG.12

On 3 August 1993, the Arusha accord was signed. According to the agreement the current NMOG would remain in Rwanda until the deployment of international military force.13

On 5 October 1993, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 872 to establish the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda for a period of six months with mandate related to contributing to the security of the capital city, monitoring observance of the ceasefire agreement, assisting with mine clearance, monitoring the repatriation of refugees and resettlement of the IDPs for an initial period of six months.14 The UN Operation operated in four different phases. The first phase would be to establish conditions for the secure installation of national unity government, which was expected by the end of 1993. By the end of this phase, the UNAMIR strength was expected to be 1,428 military personnel. The second phase, expected to last for 90-days, involved the process s of disengagement, demobilization and integration of armed forces and gendarmerie. The UNAMIR strength was expected to be 2,548 by the end of this phase. The third phase, which was expected to last for nine months, would establish, supervise and monitor a new demilitarized zone and the mission strength was expected to reduce to 1,240 personnel. The fourth phase of four month was designed to the final stage leading up to the election. The strength of the UNAMIR was expected to be 930 personnel.15 The authorized strength for the mission was 2,548 military personnel, including 2,217 troops and 331 military observers, and 60 civilian police.16

On 5 October 1993 the UNAMIR was established and the UNAMIR commander arrived in Kigali on 22 October 1993 followed by an advance party of 21 military personnel on 27 October. On November 1, 1993, the NMOG II was integrated into UNAMIR. The UNAMIR continue to function both as peacekeeping operation and verification mission.

  1. “OAU to Observe Ceasefire in Rwanda,” Xinhua General News Service, July 29, 1992.
  2. “Rwanda’s Warring Parties Sign Reconciliation Agreement,” Xinhua General News Service, August 1, 1992.
  3. “Rwanda: Glimmer Of Understanding at Peace Talks,” IPS-Inter Press Service, August 14, 1992.
  4. “Rwanda RPF Radio Reports on Issues Discussed at Arusha Talks,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, October 26, 1992.
  5. “Rwanda RPF Says Habyarimana Sabotaging Arusha Talks,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, December 18, 1992.
  6. “Rwanda: Peace Negotiations Halted As Fighting Rages on,” IPS-Inter Press Service, February 11, 1993.
  7. “Rwanda; Government Declares Cease-Fire; Wants RPF to Return to Previous Positions,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, February 17, 1993.
  8. “Rwanda: MOG Wants More Staff and Equipment; Government Proposes Meeting With RPF,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, February 18, 1993.
  9. “Rwanda: Fighting Continues, Reportedly Closer to Kigali,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, March 6, 1993.
  10. “Rwanda: Foreign Minister and Observer Group Commander Discuss Cease-Fire,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, March 12, 1993.
  11. “Rwanda: Government And RPF Sign Proposals on Army Merger; RPF Troop Withdrawals,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts/The Monitoring Report, March 22, 1993.
  12. “Rwanda; Military Observer Group Confirms that RPF Has Withdrawn Its Forces,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, March 22, 1993.
  13. “Rwanda: Hundreds Rejoice over Peace Accord,” IPS-Inter Press Service, August 4, 1993.
  14. “Rwanda — UNAMIR,” accessed September 27, 2011, http://www.un.org/Depts/DPKO/Missions/unamir_b.htm.
  15. Ibid.
  16. Ibid.