Prisoner Reform: Bicesse Accords
Implementations
Prisoner Reform – 1991
The Bicesse Accord stipulated the release of all civilian and military prisoners detained during the civil war, subject to verification by the Red Cross. The Politico-Military Joint Commission (CCPM) set a deadline of July 31 for the release of all prisoners by both the government and UNITA.1 Initially, an estimated 1,564 prisoners were set to be released, comprised of 1,192 UNITA prisoners detained by the government and 372 government prisoners detained by UNITA.2 On July 13, the Red Cross began visiting prisoners of war to collect testimony and gather information to facilitate POW resettlement.3 On July 20, the Angolan government released 107 prisoners,4 and released another 50 prisoners on July 50.5 Although UNITA was scheduled to release prisoners on July 21, the rebels postponed the release, citing technical difficulties.6 On August 10, the Angolan government released 80 prisoners, and UNITA released 44 prisoners.7 UNITA released another 130 prisoners on August 25.8 On October 22, the Angolan government released an additional 17 prisoners of war.9 On October 23, reports indicated that UNITA had officially released its last government detainees from the civil war.10 However, on November 20, UNITA released an additional 182 political prisoners.11 On December 20, UNITA announced that all government prisoners had been released, freeing the final 132 detainees.12 Since the signing of the peace agreement, UNITA has released a total of 532 prisoners.13 However, by the end of 1991, both the government and rebels continued to accuse each other of holding prisoners.14
1 “War captives in Angola to be set free before end of July,” Xinhua General News Service, July 3, 1991.
2 “Angola UNITA postpones prisoner release after first group freed,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, July 23, 1991.
3 “Red Cross delegation visits POWs in Angola,” Xinhua General News Service, July 15, 2991.
4 “Angola UNITA postpones prisoner release after first group freed,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, July 23, 1991.
5 “Angola government releases prisoners under amnesty law,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, July 30, 1991.
6 “Angola UNITA postpones prisoner release after first group freed,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, July 23, 1991.
7 “Angolan government and UNITA release prisoners,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, August 13, 1991.
8 “Angola UNITA releases 130 POWs; 77 choose to stay in Jamba,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, August 27, 1991.
9 “Angola government releases POWs,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, October 22, 1991.
10 “UNITA completes POWs release,” Xinhua General News Service, October 23, 1991.
11 “UNITA releases 182 more POWs,” Xinhua General News Service, November 20, 1991.
12 “UNITA claims to have released all POWs,” Xinhua General News Service, December 22, 1991.
13 “UNITA claims to have released all POWs,” Xinhua General News Service, December 22, 1991.
14 “UNITA official disputes MPLA claims on UNITA troop confinement and POW releases,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, December 31, 1991.
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.