The Price of War and Peace: A Critical Assessment of the Disarmament Component of United Nations Operations in Southern Africa

This research paper by Jakkie Potgieter for the Institute for Security Studies critically assesses the failure of disarmament components within United Nations peace support operations in Southern Africa, specifically focusing on UNAVEM II, UNAVEM III in Angola, and ONUMOZ in Mozambique. The author argues that ineffective disarmament and demobilisation have contributed to a regional proliferation of small arms, fueling crime and instability in countries including South Africa, Namibia, Zambia, and Malawi.

• UNAVEM II in Angola failed to achieve effective disarmament because it operated under a 'do nothing' mandate that limited observers to a passive role of verification without the power to enforce compliance or penalise belligerents.
• In Angola, the disarmament process under UNAVEM II was undermined by mutual suspicion between the MPLA and UNITA, leading to the exaggeration of troop strengths and the surrender of only old or poor-quality weapons while better arms were hidden in caches.
• The integration of the Angolan armed forces into the Forces Armadas Angolans (FAA) was largely symbolic and unsuccessful, with only 17.6% of the projected 50,000 soldiers integrated by the September 1992 elections.
• The disarmament effort in Mozambique was ineffective, with only a small percentage of registered weapons being secured and the majority of munitions being of poor quality or held in reserve.
• Ineffective demobilisation in Angola has led to a rise in violent crime and armed banditry, as ex-combatants lack literacy and employment opportunities, turning instead to illicit activities involving diamonds and ivory.
• The author identifies systemic failures in UN peace operations, including peace agreements that are not specific enough on disarmament, unrealistic timetables, and a lack of financial resources for effective weapons destruction.

APA

Potgieter, J. (n.d.). The Price of War and Peace: A Critical Assessment of the Disarmament Component of United Nations Operations in Southern Africa. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/SPOTGIETER.PDF

Chicago

Potgieter, Jakkie. The Price of War and Peace: A Critical Assessment of the Disarmament Component of United Nations Operations in Southern Africa. Institute for Security Studies, n.d. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/SPOTGIETER.PDF.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Potgieter |first1=Jakkie |title=The Price of War and Peace: A Critical Assessment of the Disarmament Component of United Nations Operations in Southern Africa |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |url=https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/SPOTGIETER.PDF |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{potgieterndprice, author = {Potgieter, Jakkie}, title = {{The Price of War and Peace: A Critical Assessment of the Disarmament Component of United Nations Operations in Southern Africa}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, url = {https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/SPOTGIETER.PDF}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }