Peace Accords for Angola (Bicesse Accords) 31 May 1991 The Government of the People’s Republic of Angola and the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), with mediation by the Government of Portugal and the participation of observers from the Governments of the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, Accept as binding the following documents, which constitute the Peace Accords for Angola: (a) The ceasefire agreement (including annexes I and II thereto); (b) Fundamental principles for the establishment of peace in Angola (including the annex thereto regarding the Joint Political-Military Commission); (c) Concepts for resolving the issues still pending between the Government of the People’s Republic of Angola and UNITA; (d) The Protocol of Estoril. These peace accords were initialled on 1 May 1991 by the respective heads of delegation and subsequently approved by the Government of the People’s Republic of Angola and UNITA (as evidenced in the communication addressed to the Prime Minister of Portugal not later than 12 midnight on 15 May 1991, which entailed the de facto suspension of hostilities in Angola beginning on that date), and will enter into force immediately following their signature. President of the People’s Republic of Angola President of the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola Ceasefire Agreement I. Definition and General Principles 1. The ceasefire consists of the cessation of hostilities between the Government of the People’s Republic of Angola and UNITA with a view to attaining peace throughout the national territory. 2. The ceasefire must be total and definitive throughout the national territory. 3. The ceasefire must guarantee the free circulation of persons and goods throughout the national territory. 4. Overall supervision of the ceasefire will be the responsibility of the Government of the People’s Republic of Angola and UNITA acting within the framework of the Joint Political-Military Commission (CCPM) created pursuant to the annex to the document entitled “Fundamental Principles for the Establishment of Peace in Angola”. The United Nations will be invited to send monitors to support the Angolan parties, at the request of the Government of the People’s Republic of Angola. 5. The ceasefire includes the cessation of all hostile propaganda between the Government of the People’s Republic of Angola and UNITA at both the domestic and international levels. 6. After its entry into force, the ceasefire will obligate the Government of the People’s Republic of Angola and UNITA to refrain from acquiring lethal material. The United States and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics informed the Government of the People’s Republic of Angola that they will support implementation of the ceasefire by ceasing to supply lethal material to any Angolan party and encouraging other countries to act in a similar fashion. 1... II. Entry into Force of the Ceasefire 1. Full entry into force of the ceasefire entails strict observance of the commitments assumed by the Government of the People’s Republic of Angola and UNITA as well as of the decisions made by bodies having the authority to verify and monitor the ceasefire. 2. Observance of the ceasefire shall not endanger logistical supplies of non-lethal material for the military forces present [in the area]. 3. The ceasefire entails the release of all civilian and military prisoners who were detained as a consequence of the conflict between the Government of the People’s Republic of Angola and UNITA. Verification of such release will be performed by the International Committee of the Red Cross. 4. The ceasefire applies to all foreign forces present in Angolan territory. 5. Entry into force of the ceasefire shall not endanger the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Angola. 6. The ceasefire will, beginning on the date and time agreed upon for its entry into force, entail the cessation of: (a) All armed air, land or sea attacks, as well as all actions of sabotage; (b) All offensive movement of troops or armed groups; (c) Attempts to occupy new ground positions and the movement of military forces and resources from one area to another without prior agreement between the parties; (d) All military manoeuvres aimed at installing weapons with the capability to endanger the safety of settlements and the economic, administrative and military infrastructures; (e) Patrol activities outside the areas to be demarcated around the areas of assembly for the troops of the Government of the People’s Republic of Angola and UNITA; (f) All acts of violence against the civilian population; (g) The planting of new mines and actions aimed at impeding activities to deactivate mines; (h) Unjustified restrictions or impediments on the free circulation of persons and goods; (i) Any other actions that may impede the normal evolution of the ceasefire process; (j) Receipt of lethal material, regardless of its origin. 7. Failure to observe any of the provisions set forth above constitutes a violation of the ceasefire, without prejudice to decisions made by the verification and monitoring groups in the performance of their duties. III. Verification and Monitoring 1. Prior to entry into force of the ceasefire, a Joint Verification and Monitoring Commission (CMVF) will be formed. It will be composed of representatives of the Government of the People’s Republic of Angola and UNITA, as members, and of representatives of Portugal, the United States of America, and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, as observers. In addition, a United Nations representative will be invited to the CMVF meetings. 2. CMVF will report to the Joint Political-Military Commission (CCPM). 3. CMVF will have the authority to create any structures it considers appropriate for the performance of its duties, namely the monitoring groups necessary for full observance of the ceasefire throughout Angolan territory. Such groups shall be subordinate to CMVF. 4. The monitoring groups, which will be established before entry into force of the ceasefire, will be composed of an equal number of representatives from the Government of the People’s Republic of Angola and UNITA. 5. United Nations personnel, who will have their own command structure, will verify whether the monitoring groups are assuming their responsibilities. This will include United Nations support in the investigation and resolution of alleged ceasefire violations. The Governments that will be sending United Nations monitors will be selected with the participation of the Government of the People’s Republic of Angola and UNITA, working within the framework of CCPM. 6. The bodies and mechanisms created to verify and monitor the ceasefire will be temporary in nature and will cease to exist at the end of the ceasefire. 7. Other provisions with respect to verification and monitoring of the ceasefire are set forth in annex I to this agreement. IV. Regulating the Verification and Monitoring Measures 1. CMVF will have the authority necessary to ensure the effective observance of the ceasefire. Particularly, it shall familiarize itself with the areas of troop assembly, monitor compliance with the rules of conduct previously agreed on for the troops in the areas of assembly, coordinate the activity of the monitoring groups, and rule on the complaints and claims presented in relation to possible violations of the ceasefire. 2. CMVF will decide on its own regulations, and also has the authority to define the functions and approve the regulations of such monitoring groups as it may establish. 3. The monitoring groups will make “on site” verifications of observance of the ceasefire. Specifically, they are to prevent, verify and investigate possible violations. V. Timetable of the Ceasefire 1 May – Initialling of the Accord By midnight on 15 May - Notification to be sent to the Portuguese Government of acceptance by the parties. Midnight 15 May - “de facto” suspension of hostilities. 29-31 May (a) Signature and entry into force of the ceasefire agreement; (b) CCPM and CMVF take office; (c) The monitoring groups begin to travel to the pre-determined sites; (d) Beginning of the United Nations verification operations. 15 June (a) Completion of the establishment of the monitoring groups at the pre-determined sites, and notification to CMVF that they are operational; (b) The monitoring system begins to function. By 30 June Completion of installation of the United Nations verification system. 1 July Forces begin to move to the areas of assembly. The verification and monitoring groups must be notified in advance of each movement of forces. 1 August Completion of the movement of forces to the areas of assembly. On the date of the elections Completion of the ceasefire process and abolition of the verification and monitoring bodies. Annex I: Verification and monitoring of the ceasefire The Government of the People’s Republic of Angola and UNITA hereby agree to the following provisions regarding the verification and monitoring of the ceasefire: A. The CMVF Mandate and Regulations 1. The Joint Verification and Monitoring Commission (CMVF) is the entity responsible for the implementation and functioning of the mechanisms instituted to verify and exercise control over the ceasefire, provided for in the documents signed on this subject. Particularly, it is responsible for: (a) Verifying that the monitoring groups necessary for full observance of the ceasefire throughout the national territory have been established. These groups shall be subordinate to CMVF; (b) Establishing the needed coordination with the special bodies in the United Nations system of ceasefire verification; (c) Becoming familiar with the troop assembly areas; (d) Checking that the rules of conduct agreed upon in advance for the troops in their areas of assembly are being observed; (e) Ruling on any complaints and claims presented to it regarding possible violations of the ceasefire; (f) Defining the specific sphere of authority of the monitoring groups, approving the regulations for those groups, and coordinating their activities; (g) Analysing and discussing the periodic reports that the monitoring groups are required to send to it, through the regional monitoring groups, concerning the manner in which the measures implementing the ceasefire are being applied within their area of jurisdiction; (h) Adopting such mechanisms as may be considered necessary to the exercise of its functions, including the creation of ad hoc investigative commissions that may travel to the site of the possible violations; (i) Verifying the observance by both parties of the principle that their paramilitary or militarized forces have been demobilized or integrated into the respective regular military forces. 2. CMVF shall be composed of representatives of the Government of the People’s Republic of Angola and of UNITA as members, and by representatives of Portugal, the United States and the Soviet Union as observers. 3. A representative of the United Nations shall also be invited to participate in the meetings of CMVF. 4. The meetings of CMVF shall be presided over, alternately in accordance with the principle of rotation, by the Government of the People’s Republic of Angola and by UNITA, without prejudice to the principle of consensus in the decision-making process. 5. CMVF, with headquarters at Luanda, shall have a delegation at Jamba. 6. CMVF shall meet in ordinary session at least three times a week for the purposes of part (g) of No. 2, and in special session whenever any of the parties requests that it be convened to analyse possible violations of the ceasefire. 7. The decisions of CMVF shall be made by consensus between the Government of the People’s Republic of Angola and UNITA. 8. The decisions of CMVF shall be binding in nature, and the parties shall take all measures necessary to execute them. 9. It is mandatory that the Joint Political-Military Commission (CCPM) be notified of decisions reached by CMVF on non-procedural matters. CCPM may request such clarifications as it deems appropriate regarding those decisions. 10. In the event that CMVF does not reach a decision, or that CCPM objects to that decision, the final decision shall rest with the latter body. 11. Minutes of the CMVF meetings shall always be prepared, and signed by the representatives of the parties. 12. The decisions of CMVF shall be confidential in nature, unless CMVF itself or CCPM decides otherwise. 13. CMVF shall cease functioning at the end of the ceasefire. B. The Verification and Monitoring System 1. On-site monitoring of the ceasefire is assured by the Government of the People’s Republic of Angola and by UNITA, through monitoring groups subordinate to CMVF that are to be composed of 8 to 12 individuals from each party, in accordance with the organizational chart that appears in appendix 1. 2. There will be monitoring groups at all the sites indicated in appendices 2 and 3. Additional monitoring groups may be created, to be directly subordinate to CMVF and the regional monitoring groups. 3. Liaison between CMVF and the monitoring groups is assured by the regional monitoring groups, for which purpose the territory of Angola shall be divided into the following regions and sub regions:
4. United Nations personnel, who will have their own command structure, will verify whether the monitoring groups are assuming their responsibilities. This will include United Nations support in the investigation and resolution of alleged ceasefire violations. 5. Coordination with the United Nations verification and monitoring system shall be arranged at all levels of the existing administrative structures. 6. The security of the monitoring groups and all United Nations personnel shall be the responsibility of the party that controls the zone where they are present. 7. The commanders of the areas of assembly shall provide all support requested of them by the ceasefire verification and monitoring bodies and by the United Nations. 8. The ceasefire monitoring and verification bodies shall enjoy complete freedom of movement in carrying out their duties. 9. Every member of the ceasefire monitoring and verification bodies shall display a badge and a credential that easily identifies him, and shall travel unarmed. C. The Areas of Assembly 1. All the armed forces shall be assembled 60 days following the entry into force of the ceasefire, in the areas specified in appendix 2. In so far as possible, those areas shall be situated away from major population centres. 2. An organic unit, with its allotment of personnel and materials, shall be situated in each area of assembly. 3. Each area of assembly shall have a contingent of troops numbering at least 100 men. 4. The areas of assembly shall be surrounded by security zones having a maximum radius of 10kilometres. The parties shall notify the monitoring groups as to the distance they are actually adopting for each of those areas. 5. Within the respective areas of assembly, the forces of both parties shall fully respect the rules of conduct contained in appendix 4. D. Supplies 1. Supplies for the areas of assembly of each of the parties are to be inspected. 2. Each party shall ensure the logistics of its own forces in the initial phase, although they may coordinate the respective actions. In the second phase, that of the formation of the Angolan armed forces, the supply process shall be joint. The responsibility for providing logistical support to those troops that are not integrated into the Angolan armed forces shall rest with each of the parties until those troops have been demobilized. 3. CMVF shall decide on the modes of notification or determination of the logistical itineraries. E. Border Posts 1. Border control posts shall be created, and staffed jointly as indicated in appendix 5. 2. Each party may assign forces to these posts in numbers not to exceed the equivalent of a platoon (of 30 men) and shall be free to determine the nature of those forces. F. Paramilitary Forces 1. The paramilitary or militarized forces of both parties shall have been demobilized or integrated into the respective regular military forces by the time the ceasefire enters into force. 2. It shall be the responsibility of CMVF to verify the observance of the principle set forth in the previous provision. G. Information of a Military Nature Between the signature of the ceasefire and the beginning of the monitoring thereof, both parties shall exchange, within the framework of CMVF, the military information contained in appendix 6. H. Chemical Weapons Arsenal After entry into force of the ceasefire, the parties agree to conduct investigations to determine whether this type of material exists, or ever did exist and was used. Appendix 1: Monitoring system, organizational charts [omitted] Appendix 2: Areas of assembly Locality Government UNITA Locality Government * UNITA * * 1. Cabinda * 2. Dinge * 3. Negage * 4. Luanda * 5. Capanda * 6. Malange * 7. Dondo * 8. Soyo * 9. Luena * 10. Cazombo * 11. Saurimo * 12. Cafunfo * 13. Lucapa * 14. Huambo * 15. Lobito * 16. Bié * 17. Quibala * 18. Andulo * 19. Bailundo * 20. N’Gove * 21. Menongue * 22. Cahama * 23. Matala * 24. Cuito Cuanavale * 25. Namibe * 26. M’Banza Congo * 27. Lubango * 28. Chimbuande * * 29. Necutu * * 30. Quipedro * * 31. Kota * * 32. Kindenge * * 33. Bungo * * 34. Banja * * 35. Cambandua * * 36. Sambo * * 37. Lunge * * 38. Mussende * * 39. Nharea * * 40. Soma Kuanza * * 41. Chipindo * * 42. Chiquite * * 43. Mucuio ** 44. Cuemba ** 45. Quirima ** 46. Capaia ** 47. Calunda * * 48. Cangumbe * * 49. Muconda ** 50. Mavinga * * Appendix 3: Airports and Ports Airports 1. Cabinda 2. Negage 3. Luanda 4. Malange 5. Luena 6. Cazombo 7. Saurimo 8. Lucapa 9. Huambo 10. Lobito 11. Caxito 12. Bié 13. Menongue 14. Cahama 15. Cuito Canavale 16. Namibe 17. M’Banza Congo 18. Lubango 19. Chitato 20. Luau 21. Uige 22. Ndalatando 23. Catumbela 24. Jamba Cassinga 25. N’Giva 26. Jamba 27. Licua 28. Lumbala Nguimbo 29. Cangamba 30. Munhango 31. Quimbele 32. Marimba Ports 1. Cabinda 2. Luanda 3. Soyo 4. Lobito 5. Namibe 6. Noqui 7. Cancongo 8. Quinzau 9. N’Zeto 10. Musserra 11. Ambriz 12. Barra do Dande 13. Mussulo 14. Barra do Kuanza 15. Cabo Ledo 16. Porto Amboim 17. Sumbe 18. Baia Farta 19. Tombua 20. Baia dos Tigres 21. Egipto Praia 22. Bentiaba
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