Military Reform: Bicesse Accords
Implementations
Military Reform – 1992
The Senior High Commander of the Angolan Armed Forces—a position appointed in November 1991 and jointly held by Ahilio Camalata Numa (former commander of the UNITA army’s Northern Front) and Joao de Matos (former government army commander)—officially assumed duties on January 10, 1992.[1] The UN Secretary-General reported that the first phase of training the Angolan Armed Forces was completed in February 1992.[2] Other sources reported that the first training course for officers in the Angolan Armed Forces launched on April 22, training a total of 500 men, including 250 former government forces and 250 former UNITA forces.[3] On July 10, the first training course for air and navy instructors of the Angolan Armed Forces began operations and was attended by 140 former government officers and 40 former UNITA officers.[4] The UN Secretary-General reported that as of September 2, only 19% of the Angolan Armed Forces had been formed.[5]
On September 27, both UNITA and the Angolan government formally dissolved their armies and established the Angolan Armed Forces, resulting in the termination of the CCFA.[6] Upon creation, the Supreme Command of the Angolan Armed Forces was replaced by a General Staff comprised of senior officers from both the government and UNITA forces, including General Antonio dos Santos Franca Ndalu (government) and General Arlindo Isaac Chenda Pena Ben-Ben (UNITA).[7] On September 27, support units for the formation of the Angolan Armed Forces, verification of military disbandment, and logistics/infrastructure were also announced, and positions were officially filled on September 28.[8] Nonetheless, the demobilization of troops and formation of the Angolan Armed Forces remained incomplete.[9] UNITA withdrew from the Angolan Armed Forces on October 5, 1992, in protest of what the organization perceived as fraudulent elections.[10]
[1] “Angola command for new integrated army takes up its duties,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, January 13, 1992.
[2] “Further Report of the Secretary-General of the United Nations Angola Verification Mission (UNAVEM II),” UN Security Council, March 3, 1992.
[3] “Angola training course for single national army begins in Benguela,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, April 25, 1992.
[4] “Angola starts to train air and navy instructors,” Xinhua General News Service, July 10, 1992.
[5] “Further Report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Angola Verification Mission (UNAVEM II),” UN Security Council, September 9, 1992.
[6] “Government and UNITA armies formally disbanded,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, September 29, 1992.
[7] “Government and UNITA armies formally disbanded,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, September 29, 1992.
[8] “Government and UNITA armies formally disbanded,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, September 29, 1992.
[9] “Further Report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Angola Verification Mission (UNAVEM II),” UN Security Council, November 25, 1992.
[10] “UNITA announces withdrawal from integrated army,” Xinhua General News Service, October 6, 1992.
Military Reform – 1991
The Bicesse Accords stipulated the formation of a national army, the Angolan Armed Forces. The establishment of the armed forces was set to occur in five phases: 1) appointment of the CCFA; 2) appointment of the Angolan Armed Forces High Command; 3) appointment of the subunit commanders; 4) appointment of the regional and brigade commanders; and 5) appointment of the branch commanders. The Angolan Armed Forces would be formed partly from demobilized UNITA combatants.
The functional regulations for the Commission for the Formation of the Armed Forces were formally approved on June 27.1 On November 14, 1991, Ahilio Camalata Numa (former commander of the UNITA army’s Northern Front) and Joao de Matos (former government army commander) were jointly appointed Supreme Commander of the Angolan Armed Forces.2
1 “Angola’s CCPM approves functional regulations,” Xinhua General News Service, June 27, 1991.
2 “Angola former government and UNITA commanders sworn in as Supreme Command,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, November 16, 1991.