SECURITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZES ESTABLISHMENT OF UNITED NATIONS MISSION IN ANGOLA

Security Council

4604^th Meeting (PM)

SECURITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZES ESTABLISHMENT OF UNITED NATIONS MISSION IN ANGOLA

Resolution Creates Follow-on Mission to Current United Nations Presence

Expressing the view that the United Nations presence in Angola could contribute to the consolidation of peace in that country, the Security Council authorized this afternoon the establishment of the United Nations Mission in Angola (UNMA), as a follow-on mission to the United Nations Office in Angola (UNOA), for a period of six months until 15 February 2003.

Unanimously adopting resolution 1433 (2002), the Council also expressed its intention in determining whether to extend, adjust or curtail the Mission, to take into account the Secretary-General’s recommendations based on his Special Representative's assessment of progress in completing the Lusaka Protocol. 

Also by the text, the Council endorsed the staffing of UNMA as recommended by the Secretary-General in his report, including the recommendation for a Child Protection Adviser, to assist the parties in concluding the Lusaka Protocol by chairing the Joint Commission, and leading the completion of the agreed list of tasks which remained pending under the Lusaka Protocol.

UNMA is also to assist the Angolan Government in undertaking, among other things, the protection and promotion of human rights and in the building of institutions to consolidate peace and enhance the rule of law; support for social and professional reintegration of the demobilized through appropriate United Nations agencies; and the promotion of economic recovery through relevant United Nations agencies.

In addition, the Council welcomed the appointment of a resident Special Representative of the Secretary-General to serve as the head of UNMA, and to oversee a coordinated and integrated approach to United Nations activities in Angola as reflected in the UNMA mandate.

Further by the text, the Council requested the Secretary-General to report to it when his Special Representative confirmed that the Joint Commission had determined that all remaining tasks under the Lusaka Protocol have been completed. 

Beginning at 5:17 p.m., the meeting adjourned at 5:20 p.m.

Following is the full text of resolution 1433 (2002):

“The Security Council,

“Reaffirming its resolution 696 (1991) of 30 May 1991 and all of its subsequent resolutions on the situation in Angola, in particular resolution 1268 (1999) of 15 October 1999,

“Emphasizing its commitment to preserve the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Angola,

“Reaffirming the importance of the ‘Acordos de Paz’, the Lusaka Protocol and the Memorandum of Understanding Addendum to the Lusaka Protocol for the Cessation of Hostilities and the Resolution of the Outstanding Military Issues under the Lusaka Protocol (S/1991/1441, annex), as well as relevant Security Council resolutions,

“Recalling the statement of its President of 28 March 2002 (S/PRST/2002/7), which, in particular, stresses the willingness of the Council to support adjustments to the mandate of the United Nations Office in Angola (UNOA) which should take into account recent developments in Angola,

“Welcoming the report of the Secretary-General of 26 July 2002 (S/2002/834),

“Expressing its appreciation for the work of UNOA in support of the people of Angola,

“Expressing also its view that the presence of the United Nations in Angola can contribute to the consolidation of peace through the promotion of political, military, human rights, humanitarian and economic goals as set out in the report of the Secretary-General,

“1.Authorizes the establishment of, as a follow-on mission to UNOA, the United Nations Mission in Angola (UNMA) for a period of six months until 15 February 2003, to pursue the objectives and perform the tasks recommended by the Secretary-General in his report and reflected in paragraph 3 below, and expresses its intention in determining whether to extend, adjust or curtail this Mission, to take into account the recommendations of the Secretary-General based on his Special Representative's assessment of progress in completing the Lusaka Protocol;

“2.Welcomes the appointment of a resident Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) to serve as the head of UNMA, and to oversee a coordinated and integrated approach to United Nations activities in Angola as reflected in the UNMA mandate described in paragraph 3 below;

“3.Endorses the staffing of UNMA as appropriate and as recommended by the Secretary-General in his report, including the recommendation for a Child Protection Adviser, with the following mandate:

A.To assist the parties in concluding the Lusaka Protocol by:

            (1)      Chairing the Joint Commission;

            (2)      Leading the completion of the agreed list of tasks which remain pending under the Lusaka Protocol;

B.To assist the Government of Angola in undertaking the following tasks:

            (1)      Protection and promotion of human rights and in the building of institutions to consolidate peace and enhance the rule of law;

            (2)      Provision of technical advice and support for mine action;

            (3)      Facilitation and coordination of delivery of humanitarian assistance to vulnerable groups including internally displaced persons and families in quartering areas, with special concern for children and women;

            (4)      Support for social and professional reintegration of the demobilized through appropriate United Nations agencies;

            (5)      Promotion of economic recovery through relevant United Nations agencies;

            (6)      Mobilization of resources of the international community, to include international donors conferences, as appropriate; and

            (7)      Provision of technical assistance to the Government of Angola in the preparation of elections;

“4.Requests the Secretary-General to report to the Security Council when his Special Representative confirms that the Joint Commission has determined that all remaining tasks under the Lusaka Protocol have been completed, and notes that upon the conclusion of the mandate, the United Nations Resident Coordinator resumes authority for supervising the above tasks, as appropriate;

“5.Requests the Secretary-General to provide an interim report to enable a three-month review of the work of UNMA by the Security Council;

“6.Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.”

Background

The Secretary-General's report (document S/2002/834), dated 26 July, recommends that the Council approve the mandate for a new mission in Angola with an initial mandate of six months from 16 August 2002 to 16 February 2003.

Outlining key developments in Angola since the Secretary-General's last report, dated 10 October 2001, especially developments since the death of Jonas Savimbi, leader of the rebel Uniao para a Independencia total de Angola (UNITA), the report also proposes adjustments to the mandate and structure of the current United Nations presence in Angola, following consultations with the Government and other stakeholders in that country's peace process, in the context of the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the Government and UNITA on 4 April, the 15-point Agenda for Peace issued by the Government on 13 March and the outstanding provisions of the Lusaka Protocol. 

According to the report, the United Nations is required to play an important role in the consolidation of peace in Angola, given the complex and difficult tasks assigned to it by the various relevant agreements.

The Secretary-General describes the humanitarian situation in Angola as a "crisis of immense proportions", with 3 million people requiring emergency

assistance.  Although the level of internal displacement has decreased following the end of the war, the number of those who can be accessed is on the increase.  The number of therapeutic feeding centres for the severely malnourished increased from approximately 20 in March to more than 50 in June. 

In contrast, the report continues, the resources and capacities of United Nations agencies and their partners, which provide the bulk of humanitarian assistance, have consistently remained at levels much lower than the assessed needs.  By April, only 13 per cent of the $233 million requested in the 2002 Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeal had been received, increasing only to about 34 per cent by July.  The humanitarian community, including 100 international non-governmental organizations, 340 national organizations and 10 United Nations agencies, has moved rapidly to expand the emergency operation to cover the critical needs of acutely affected populations. 

According to the report, the United Nations has also continued to deliver much-needed humanitarian assistance to an estimated 2 million vulnerable people and displaced persons, as well as to about 450,000 Angolan refugees, mostly in Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, but also in Namibia and the Republic of the Congo.  Since October 1999, the UNOA has been assisting the Angolan people in capacity-building, provision of humanitarian assistance and promotion of human rights. 

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