Lusaka Accords

Not to be confused with Lusaka Accord.

The Lusaka Accords of 1984 declared a ceasefire between Angola and South Africa during the Angolan Civil War and South African Border War, agreed to a withdrawal of South African troops from Angola, and established a commission to oversee the treaty's implementation. The agreement was short-lived due to widely differing interpretations of the treaty's implications. The South African Defence Force (SADF), represented by Johannes "Jannie" Geldenhuys, wished for a phased Cuban withdrawal in concert with their own units. They also insisted that the Accords obligated the Armed Forces for the Liberation of Angola (FAPLA) to assist in expelling Namibian insurgents from Angolan territory. However, FAPLA had no intention of allowing their Cuban allies to depart and remained noticeably unenthusiastic about referencing Namibian parties - particularly the South West African People's Organization and its military wing, the People's Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN) - in the agreement. For its part South Africa did nothing to combat the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), which also retained a presence in the SADF's operational area. The continued activity of PLAN and UNITA resulted in violations of the accords by both sides.

Fidel Castro criticised the Lusaka Accords as "impermissible and incredible", a statement echoed by the Soviet Union. This criticism by Angola's two chief military benefactors led to a breakdown in the treaty. It was annulled de facto on 16 May, 1985. An escalation of hostilities followed.

External links

• All Peace Agreements for Angola, UN Peacemaker
• All Peace Agreements for South Africa, UN Peacemaker