UN operation in full swing; force of 6,000 deployed.

Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali told the summit meeting of the Organization of African Unity on 28 June in Cairo that the UN Operation in Mozambique (ONUMOZ) had become fully operational. A UN force of some 6,000 military troops and civilian police had been deployed.

ONUMOZ-authorized by the Security Council on 16 December in resolution 797 (1992) - is to monitor withdrawal of foreign forces from Mozambique and assist in the electoral process and humanitarian efforts. China, the Republic of Congo, Japan and the Netherlands have joined 19 other countries in contributing military elements.

The Secretary-General pointed out that, under the General Peace Agreement signed in Rome on 4 October 1992, both government and Resistencia Nacional Morambicana (RENAMO) forces were to be demobilized and grouped into 49 UN-monitored assembly points. Following certain initial delays, he stated, the demobilization process had begun and would be completed prior to the holding of UN-verified elections. Preparations for those elections would be completed by the middle of 1994.

In a new departure, the Secretary-General pointed out, a UN Trust Fund had been established to implement the electoral aspects of the peace process. The Fund would assist political parties to organize and prepare for the electoral process, and would cover costs associated with requirements, such as transportation, office space, communication facilities and other essentials. More than $10 million had already been donated to the Fund.

The rehabilitation and recovery of Mozambique, after more than a decade and a half of protracted civil war, would be a daunting challenge, Mr. Boutros-Ghali stated. More than 1.5 million Mozambicans had taken refuge in neighbouring countries, and between 4 and 5 million more remained displaced inside Mozambique as a result of the conflict.

He said a consolidated humanitarian assistance programme had been developed for Mozambique to support emergency relief, repatriation demobilization, restoration of essential services and the country's balance of payments deficit. The programme would require $559.6 million for the 12-month period from May 1993 through April 1994, of which $450 million had already been pledged and committed to specific activities. During a donors meeting on 8 and 9 June in Maputo, additional pledges of some $70 million had been announced.

The Security Council on 14 April stressed its concern about the delays and difficulties impeding the peace process in Mozambique and strongly urged the Government and RENAMO to finalize the timetable for implementing fully the 4 October Agreement, including the demobilization of forces and the holding of elections.

Unanimously adopting resolution 818 (1993), the Council urged both sides to comply urgently with the commitments they had entered into within the framework of the Agreement, in particular with respect to the concentration, assembly and demobilization of their armed troops and the formation of the new unified armed forces.

They were also strongly urged to guarantee the freedom of movement and verification capabilities of ONUMOZ and to facilitate training the new Mozambican Defence Force as soon as possible.

The General Peace Agreement consists of a complex series of inter-linked agreements to be implemented in stages, through coordinated actions of the two parties under UN verification. It sets out principles and modalities for achieving peace, and calls on the UN to supervise its implementation.

Welcoming the readiness of both parties to convene as soon as possible a meeting between their top leaders in order to address major issues pertaining to peace, the Council called upon them to cooperate with the Secretary-General and his Special Representative, Aldo Aiello, in the full and timely implementation of the ONUMOZ mandate.

Timely investigation

The Council strongly appealed to the Government and RENAMO to allow timely investigation of all cease-fire violations and ensure the freedom of movement of people and goods as foreseen in the Agreement.

The Secretary-General said on 5 May in New York that the situation in the country was better since the conclusion of the Agreement. He was more optimistic about the future of Mozambique than of other situations elsewhere in the world.

On 2 April, the Secretary-General reported (S/25518) that elections in Mozambique could not be held in October 1993 as originally scheduled, because many of the timetables established in the Agreement had "proved to be unrealistic".

Special Representative Aido Aiello met on 31 March and 1 April with President Chissano and RENAMO leader Alfonso Dhiakama regarding the Agreement's implementation. Both had assured Mr. Aiello that peace "is an irreversible process" and that they were concerned about the delays in the fulfilment of the Agreement.

On 15 April, the Secretary-General met in Rome with Mr. Ajello, who reported on ONUMOZ and the situation in Mozambique.

1.3 million refugees

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) appealed on 4 May for $203 million to send back home some 1.3 million Mozambican refugees in the largest repatriation operation ever undertaken by UNHCR in Africa.

The slow implementation of the peace process, the fragile economic situation, the presence of millions of displaced and hungry people, and the estimated 2 million mines were among the major obstacles faced by UNHCR. The war had destroyed much of the rural infrastructure and major roads were either completely run down or heavily mined. Bridges had been blown up and community services were non-existent. The war had caused an estimated $15 billion in damage to the economy and had left 3 million people dead.

The UNHCR had already embarked, with other UN agencies and nongovernmental organizations, on programmes to restore basic services in districts where refugees would go back. The de-mining process might take up to 10 years. The UN was involved in the Government's demining programme and UNHCR had launched a mine-awareness campaign in refugee camps and a project to mark heavily mined zones.

But according to UNHCR field workers, the time was ripe for repatriation. For the first time in 16 years, Mozambique was enjoying a combination of peace and rainfall. The 15 October 1992 cease-fire was holding, and security was improving.