FROM SOLDIERS TO CITIZENS

The report assesses the transition of former UNITA soldiers into civilian life following the 2002 Luena Memorandum of Understanding. Through surveys of 603 ex-combatants, it finds that while most feel welcomed by their communities and intend to participate in democratic elections, significant challenges remain. Economic vulnerability is high, with a heavy reliance on humanitarian food aid and a lack of formal employment due to low education levels. The study highlights a persistent 'demobilised' identity among many, particularly those of higher military rank or those without land access. It argues that reintegration is deeply tied to land ownership, family networks, and the influence of traditional authorities (Sobas), while noting that the vulnerability of ex-combatants is largely similar to that of other displaced populations in Angola.

• A significant portion of former UNITA combatants do not yet identify as full civilians; 48.6% describe themselves as 'demobilised' and 1% as 'military'.
• Economic vulnerability is widespread, with 54.7% of surveyed ex-combatants relying on agriculture as their primary income source, and many remaining dependent on World Food Programme (WFP) or NGO assistance.
• Access to and ownership of land strongly correlates with a person's sense of reintegration and identity; 57.6% of those with land access see themselves as civilians, compared to only 34.1% of those without land.
• Former combatants generally feel well-received by their communities, with 90% reporting a positive reception, often facilitated by existing family networks.
• There is a high level of political engagement and belief in democratic processes, with 97.7% of respondents intending to vote in future elections and 90% viewing voting as a right of citizenship.
• Traditional authorities, specifically the Soba, maintain high symbolic importance and are viewed as the most important figures in the community by the vast majority of ex-combatants.
• Military rank influences perceptions of reintegration; middle-ranking officers (majors, captains, lieutenant-colonels) are less likely to feel reintegrated than privates, often linking their civilian status to the attainment of a job.
• Education levels among the target group are low, with over half of the ex-combatants not progressing beyond the first level of primary school, which acts as a major barrier to formal employment.
• The vulnerability profile of former combatants is remarkably similar to that of other displaced civilians and returnees in Angola, suggesting that targeted support may be less critical than general poverty reduction.
• Information access is heavily dominated by radio, with 83.4% of respondents using it as their primary source, and state-run radio being the most listened-to station (33.2%).

APA

Porto, J. G., Parsons, I., & Alden, C. (2007). FROM SOLDIERS TO CITIZENS. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/MONO130FULL.PDF

Chicago

Porto, J Gomes, Imogen Parsons, and Chris Alden. FROM SOLDIERS TO CITIZENS. Institute for Security Studies, 2007. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/MONO130FULL.PDF.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Porto |first1=J Gomes |last2=Parsons |first2=Imogen |last3=Alden |first3=Chris |title=FROM SOLDIERS TO CITIZENS |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |date=March 2007 |url=https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/MONO130FULL.PDF |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{porto2007from, author = {Porto, J Gomes and Parsons, Imogen and Alden, Chris}, title = {{FROM SOLDIERS TO CITIZENS}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2007}, month = mar, url = {https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/MONO130FULL.PDF}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }