Hungarian soldiers in Angola

1. Participation of the Hungarian Defence Force in the UN’s Operations in Angola 09. 17. 2014. Lt Col JÁNOS BESENYŐ, PhD

2. AGENDA • Angola • The Angolan conflict • UN operations • Hungary’s involvement in the operations • Selection • Training • Equipment • Activities of peace-support personnel • Conclusions

4. Angola • Area: 1 246 700 km², • Variegated topography and climate • Polpulation: over 20 million – over 100 ethnic groups (Ovimbundu - 37%, Ambundu - 25%, Bakongó - 13%, Ovambo, Herrero, Lunda, Chokwe, Koisan, Mulat, Portuguese, etc.) • Religions: Christians (75 %), Animists (20%), negligible number of Muslims • Rich in natural resources, dynamically developing (mid-level income) country, agriculture has a prominent role in the economy

5. The Angolan Conflict I. • Portuguese colonisation – between 1480 and 1919 – Portuguese West Africa, mass immigration of Portuguese • 1961-1975 war of liberation against the Portuguese – MPLA, FNLA, UNITA • November 1975 – Angolan People’s Republic, president: Agostinho Neto • Conflict among MPLA on one side UNITA, FNLA organisations on the other; USSR and Cuba support the government (MPLA) • March 1976 – FNLA decively defeated, UNITA receives US and South-African support; conflict is internationalised • November 1987 to March 1988 – Cuito Cuanavale – stalemate in the war – a question of negotiations • 1988 – negotiations begin with US mediation • January 1988 – UNAVEM I. • 22 December 1988 – New York agreement, Cuban and South-African forces withdrawn

6. The Angolan Conflict II. • 1 May 1991 – Bicesse – peace agreement – UNAVEM II. begins operations • 29-30 September 1992 – parliamentary and presidential elections • October 1992 – renewed conflict between MPLA and UNITA – last nearly 10 years with variegated results • 15 November 1994 – Lusaka Accord • February 1995 to June 1997 – UNAVEM III. • 30 June 1997 to 26 February 1999 – MONUA • 1998 – ”Third Angolan War” • 1999 – the UN quits the Angolan conflict due to UNITA – sanctions against the organisation • 22 February 2002 - Moxico Province, death of Savimbi • 4 April 2002 – real peace agreement between government and UNITA – reconstruction of the country begins

7. UNAVEM II. • The UN’s second Angolan Verification Mission (UNAVEM-II) – between June 1991 and February 1995 • Mandate: • enforcement of the provisions of the peace accord • verification of ceasefire provisions • supervision of Angolan police • observation of elections and validation of results • Mediation between belligerents • Number of Hungarian military personnel: 42

8. UNAVEM III. • UN’s third Angolan Verification Mission (UNAVEM-III) - between February 1995 and June 1997 • Mandate: • enforcement of the provisions of the Lusaka Accord • verification of ceasefire provisions • support for the establishment of the state’s institutions • Conversion of UNITA from armed group to political party • disarmament of the armed groups and civilian population – DDR programmes • Number of Hungarian military personnel: about 20

9. MONUA • UN Observation Mission in Angola (MONUA) between 30 June 1997 and 26 february 1999 • Mandate: • verify the reconstruction of state administration • promote and verify assimilation of UNITA organisational units into the new government, armed forces, police and civilian life • verify and enforcement of the ceasefire provisions • collect and destroy weapons • support human rights for the population, create civil society, support the creation and functioning of various civil organisations • support the work of humanitarian organisations, coordinate aid to those in need • Number of Hungarian military personnel: 26

10. Hungary • Good relations with Angola – economic, educational, military, police, etc. • Monitoring the conflict from the 1980s • 1988 – possible Hungarian participation in resolving the conflict mentioned • 15 May 1991 – Hungary gives official notice of its intention to participate in UNAVEM II operations with 15 personnel • End of 1992 – evacuation of the Hungarian Embassy, due to an outbreak of hostilities • 1993 – Embassy reopened, then closed for good in accordance with Govt Decision 3188/1993 – part of the Hungarian contingent is withdrawn • 1993-1999 – reduced Hungarian contingent participates in UNAVEM II.; Hungary also participates in UNAVEM III. and MONUA • 20 March 1999 – last Hungarian peace-support personnel leave Angola

11. Selection • Personnel were selected by HDF GS Operations Directorate and Personnel Directorate • Requirements: • Mid-level English • Excellent health • Peace operations experience • Of the 155 00 military personnel 94 individuals and the specialist personnel of the Military Intelligence Bureau were qualified to participate. Therefore diplomats from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (as reservist officers) were drafted. • The selection process included thorough medical examination and language test (conversation, translation of professional text)

12. Training • The first group was trained at the Budapest installation of the HDF Force Reduction Information and Verification Center. Relief groups were trained by the Peace Support Training Centre in Budapest and Szolnok, with the assistance of military and diplomatic personnel. • Experience gained in previous peace saupport operations was utilised • Training: • health • driving • radio message traffic • mapreading • basic mission tasks – ceasefire verification, separation and disarmament of armed groups, organisation ofelections • survival skills • UN training on location – English test, driving test

13. Equipment • Standard Hungarian military equipment – limited utility (70M field uniform, boots, sleeping bag, sunglasses, duffle bag, etc) • Meteriel purchased specifically for the operation – better utility (mosquito net, athletic clothing, tropical uniform, etc) • Medical kit – ration packs • Equipment purchased locally by deployed personnel (shoes, boots, other equipment) • Equipment was generally suitable – clothing service survey, collection ofexperience – due to reorganisation and shortage of funds only minimal results

14. Activities of peace-support personnel • Rotation, deployment to camps (A, B, C) • Classic peace support operation activities • Patrolling on foot, ground vehicle and helicopter • Observation of belligerents, verification , documentation and reporting of their strength • Disarmament of belligerents, collection of weapons • Escorting humanitarian convoys • Runnig the parliamentary elections • Coordination, mediation between belligerents • Everyday activities – camp management, self-sufficiency (cooking, cleaning, carrying water, washing, etc)

17. Conclusions • Selection, training and equipment of the Hungarians deployed to Angola (in spite of minor deficiencies) matched those of other European nations. Due to our professionalism and human touch, we were among the top peace support personnel. • Experience was not processed adequately, although some of it was used in the Angola mission training • Some of the knowledge and experience gained in Angola was lost to the HDF • In accordancewith international trends, Africa’s role is becoming more important, due to economic, political, diplomatic and other (humanitarian, migration, etc.) reasons • The task is to involve those who participated in the mission and process the Angolan experience, then publish it to the widest possible audience

19. Biography • Besenyő János; Búr Gábor; Horváth Sándor; Rákóczi István: A participação da Hungria nas missões de paz da ONU em Angola. 214 p, Budapest: Honvéd Vezérkar Tudományos Kutatóhely (HVK TKH), 2017.(ISBN:978-615-80864-0-0), pp. 8-17. https://figshare.com/articles/Experi_ncias_dos_operacionais_h_ngaros_em_Angola_depoimentos/7092989 • János Besenyő: The participation of Hungarian soldiers in UN peacekeeping operations in Angola - Proelium – Revista cientifica da academia Militar (Portugal), Serie VII, no. 9, pp. 121-137. (2015), https://figshare.com/articles/The_participation_of_Hungarian_soldiers_in_UN_peacekeeping_operations_in_Angola/7016585

20. Questions? THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!