n Conflict Trends - Prospects for democracy in Angola : moving from war to peace - building democracy in post-conflict Angola

Abstract

One can be cautiously optimistic about the prospects for peace and democracy in Angola. Peace appears likely in the post-Savimbi era, due to the fact that a continuation of the war was largely attributed to the rivalry between Jonas Savimbi and Eduardo dos Santos. Following Savimbi's death on 4 April 2002, the government and National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) signed a ceasefire, which became known as the Luena Memorandum of Understanding. This was the first comprehensive dialogue between the ruling Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) and UNITA. In June 2002, President dos Santos stated that the consolidation of peace was the country's main priority. To this end, he agreed that the outstanding provisions of the Lusaka Protocol needed to be completed. The outstanding provisions include the reinsertion of ex-UNITA combatants and their family members into civilian communities; the establishment of safe conditions for the resettlement of internally displaced persons; the development of a new constitution; the revision of the registration process and electoral legislation; and the re-establishment of civil administration within all territories. The government's decision to hold elections in 2004 or 2005, as well as the demobilisation of UNITA soldiers, are also regarded as positive moves towards establishing peace.