Support for October 1994 elections asked; ONUMOZ mandate renewed - United Nations Operation in Mozambique

UN Chronicle, Sept, 1994

Looking ahead to elections scheduled for october 1994, the Security Council on 5 May renewed the mandate of the United Nations Operation in Mozambique (ONUMOZ) for a final period until 15 November 1994. ONUMOZ was established on 16 December 1992 to assist in the implementation of a peace agreement between the Government of Mozambique and the Mozambique National Resistance Movement (RENAMO).

With the unanimous adoption of resolution 916 (1994), the Council also called upon the Government and RENAMO to support the electoral process, including the work of the recently inaugurated National Elections Commission. It reiterated the importance attached to the elections, to be held on 27 and 28 October.

Expressing concern at continuing delays in the implementation of the General Peace Agreement, signed in Rome on 4 October 1992, the Council called for full compliance, in particular the assembly and demobilization of troops and the formation of the new Mozambican Defence Force.

The Council commended the 8 April agreement between Mozambique President Joaquim Chissano and RENAMO leader Afonso Dhlakama, expediting the assembly of Government troops and accelerating the pace of RENAMO demobilization. It urged the parties to meet the 1 June target for the completion of the assembly of forces and the 15 July deadline for the demobilization process.

While stressing the importance of cooperation with police observers of ONUMOZ, the Council urged the parties to allow the operation, humanitarian agencies and all political forces in the country unimpeded access to the areas under their control.

The Council, also in resolution 916, expressed appreciation to France, Italy, Portugal, the United Kingdom and Zimbabwe for assisting or offering to assist in the formation of the new army and to those countries which had helped to achieve progress in mine dearance and related training.

Advances achieved

In a 28 April report (S/1994/511), the Secretary-General said that with the beginning of demobilization on 10 March, the peace process had entered another critical phase. Some 55 per cent of Government soldiers and 81 per cent of RENAMO's had been cantoned.

The National Elections Commission was inaugurated in February, with 10 provincial offices established by the end of March. On 1 March, 30 RENAMO officials signed contracts with the Government to work as advisors to the 10 provincial governors, a key step towards administrative and territorial integration.

As of 18 April, 12,195 troops from the Government and 561 from RENAMO had been demobilized and transported to the districts of their choice. The process had slowed down in April and the assembly of remaining troops was then reported to be at a near standstill.

UN forces continued to carry out operational activities throughout Mozambique, including the maintenance of security in the corridors and along highways and main roads by conducting regular road and aerial patrols, as well as by providing train escorts.

Some 370 military observers from 19 countries were deployed with ONUMOZ, 292 of which were based in the 49 assembly areas.

Elections preparations

In May 1993, a Trust Fund for the implementation of the peace process in Mozambique had been established to facilitate the integration of RENAMO in the structures set forth in the General Peace Agreement. In addition to the Mozambique Liberation Front, the Government party and RENAMO, 12 other political parties had registered to participate in the elections.

The UN Office for Humanitarian Assistance Coordination of ONUMOZ continued to assist internally displaced persons, returnees and ex-soldiers, focusing on their resettlement and full integration into the Mozambican society.

Of the 4 million persons who were internally displaced at the time of the signature of the October 1992 Peace Agreement, 75 per cent had been resettled in rural areas, leaving an estimated 1 million still displaced.