This article needs additional citations for verification .(January 2013) |
Abbreviation | UNAVEM III |
---|---|
Formation | February 1995 |
Legal status | Mandate completed on 30 June 1997 |
Headquarters | Luanda, Angola |
Head |
|
Parent organization | United Nations Security Council |
The United Nations Angola Verification Mission III was the third peacekeeping mission operating in Angola from February 1995 until June 1997 during the Angolan Civil War. [1] It was established by the United Nations Security Council in Resolution 976, after United Nations Angola Verification Mission II.
The Indian Army contributed to this mission by deploying one infantry battalion group (1000 personnel) and one engineers company group (200 personnel). There were a total of six infantry battalion groups operating in distinct regions of Angola, during this period: One each from India, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Brazil, Bangladesh, Uruguay and Romania.
The mandate of the various infantry battalion groups was to ensure ceasefire between the Angolan Army and the UNITA rebels who had control over more than half the country at that time, and then arrange for a safe "quartering" of these UNITA rebels once they laid down their arms. Subsequently, most of the arterial routes connecting major regions of the country were physically opened to traffic after de-mining them. The Indian Army initially sent 14 Punjab (Nabha Akal) as the infantry component and later replaced it with 16 Guards.
Upon its conclusion, the mission's total strength was 4,220 military personnel, comprising 283 military observers, 3,649 troops and 288 civilian police. Over the course of its two-year mission, UNAVEM III received 32 fatalities.
Actual and pro forma expenditures from inception of mission through 31 December 1996 were $752,215,900 net.[ citation needed ] Budget estimate from 1 July 1996 through 30 June 1997 was $134,980,800 net. There was no budget estimate from 1 July 1997 through 30 June 1998 prepared in the expectation that the UN Security Council might authorize a follow-on mission as of 1 July 1997.[ citation needed ]
Commanders were Major-General Phillip Valerio Sibanda (Zimbabwe) October 1995 to 1997 and Major-General Chris Abutu Garuba (Nigeria) from February–September 1995.[ citation needed ]
The Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) is the primary branch of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces responsible for land-oriented military operations. It is the largest service branch under the Zimbabwean Joint Operations Command (JOC). The modern army has its roots in the Rhodesian Army, which was raised between 1963 and 1964 after the breakup of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. A Joint High Command created in March 1980 to oversee integration of the formerly belligerent Rhodesian Security Forces, Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army (ZANLA), and the Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA) officially established the Zimbabwe National Army in late 1980, nearly a year after the end of the Rhodesian Bush War.
The United Nations Angola Verification Mission II, established May 1991 and lasting until February 1995, was the second United Nations peacekeeping mission, of a total of four, deployed to Angola during the course of the Angolan Civil War, the longest war in modern African history. Specifically, the mission was established to oversee and maintain the multilateral ceasefire of 1990 and the subsequent Bicesse Accords in 1991, which instituted an electoral process for the first time including the two rival factions of the civil war, the People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), the de facto government of Angola, with control of Luanda and most of the country since independence in 1975, and the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA).
Latin American involvement in international peacekeeping dates back to the start of United Nations peacekeeping efforts with the Organization's founding in the 1940s but has seen a sharp acceleration in recent years.
United Nations Security Council resolution 903, adopted unanimously on 16 March 1994, after reaffirming Resolution 696 (1991) and all subsequent resolutions on Angola, the Council strengthened and extended the mandate of the United Nations Angola Verification Mission II until 31 May 1994.
United Nations Security Council resolution 945, adopted unanimously on 29 September 1994, after reaffirming Resolution 696 (1991) and all subsequent resolutions on Angola, the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Angola Verification Mission II until 31 October 1994 and discussed the implementation of peace agreements.
United Nations Security Council resolution 952, adopted unanimously on 27 October 1994, after reaffirming Resolution 696 (1991) and all subsequent resolutions on Angola, the Council discussed the implementation of a ceasefire in the country and extended the mandate of the United Nations Angola Verification Mission II until 8 December 1994.
United Nations Security Council resolution 966, adopted unanimously on 8 December 1994, after reaffirming resolutions 696 (1991), 868 (1993) and all resolutions on Angola, the Council discussed the monitoring of a ceasefire in the country and extended the mandate of the United Nations Angola Verification Mission II until 8 February 1995.
United Nations Security Council resolution 976, adopted unanimously on 8 February 1995, after reaffirming resolutions 696 (1991) and all subsequent resolutions on Angola, the Council authorised the establishment of a new peacekeeping mission in the country, the United Nations Angola Verification Mission III with an initial mandate ending on 8 August 1995.
United Nations Security Council resolution 1008, adopted unanimously on 7 August 1995, after reaffirming Resolution 696 (1991) and all subsequent resolutions on Angola, the Council discussed the monitoring of a ceasefire and implementation of peace accords, and extended the mandate of the United Nations Angola Verification Mission III until 8 February 1996.
United Nations Security Council resolution 1045, adopted unanimously on 8 February 1996, after reaffirming Resolution 696 (1991) and all subsequent resolutions on Angola, the Council discussed the implementation of the Lusaka Protocol, and extended the mandate of the United Nations Angola Verification Mission III until 8 May 1996.
United Nations Security Council resolution 1055, adopted unanimously on 8 May 1996, after reaffirming Resolution 696 (1991) and all subsequent resolutions on Angola, the Council discussed the peace process, and extended the mandate of the United Nations Angola Verification Mission III until 11 July 1996.
United Nations Security Council resolution 1064, adopted unanimously on 11 July 1996, after reaffirming Resolution 696 (1991) and all subsequent resolutions on Angola, the Council discussed the peace process, and extended the mandate of the United Nations Angola Verification Mission III until 11 October 1996.
United Nations Security Council resolution 1075, adopted unanimously on 11 October 1996, after reaffirming Resolution 696 (1991) and all subsequent resolutions on Angola, the Council assigned further tasks to UNITA and extended the mandate of the United Nations Angola Verification Mission III until 11 December 1996.
United Nations Security Council resolution 1087, adopted unanimously on 11 December 1996, after reaffirming Resolution 696 (1991) and all subsequent resolutions on Angola, extended the mandate of the United Nations Angola Verification Mission III until 28 February 1997.
United Nations Security Council resolution 1106, adopted unanimously on 16 April 1997, after reaffirming Resolution 696 (1991) and all subsequent resolutions on Angola, the Council welcomed the establishment of the Government of Unity and National Reconciliation (GURN) and extended the mandate of the United Nations Angola Verification Mission III until 30 June 1997.
United Nations Security Council resolution 1118, adopted unanimously on 30 June 1997, after reaffirming Resolution 696 (1991) and all subsequent resolutions on Angola, the council established the United Nations Observer Mission in Angola (MONUA) to supersede the United Nations Angola Verification Mission III.
United Nations Security Council resolution 1157, adopted unanimously on 20 March 1998, after reaffirming Resolution 696 (1991) and all subsequent resolutions on Angola, the Council increased the number of civilian police monitors by up to 83 personnel to assist both the Angolan government and UNITA resolve issues in the peace process and reduced the military component of the United Nations Observer Mission in Angola (MONUA).
United Nations Security Council resolution 1164, adopted unanimously on 29 April 1998, after reaffirming Resolution 696 (1991) and all subsequent resolutions on Angola, the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Observer Mission in Angola (MONUA).
United Nations Security Council resolution 1180, adopted unanimously on 29 June 1998, after reaffirming Resolution 696 (1991) and all subsequent resolutions on Angola, particularly resolutions 1173 (1998) and 1176 (1998), the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Observer Mission in Angola (MONUA) until 15 August 1998.
So far India has taken part in 49 Peacekeeping missions with a total contribution exceeding 200,000 troops and a significant number of police personnel having been deployed and more than 160 Indian peacekeepers have died serving under the UN flag as of September 2022. In 2014 India is the third largest troop contributor country [TCC] with 7,860 personnel deployed with ten UN Peacekeeping Missions of which 995 are police personnel, including the first Female Formed Police Unit under the UN. Recently Indian Peacekeepers were lauded by the UN for their efforts in preventing a carnage in the South Sudan conflict which resulted in the death of two of its soldiers.