The Military Conundrum

Abstract

Any lasting solution of a long-standing civil war depends on a satisfactory resolution of the military element. There can be no hope of forging a unified, stable and democratic state so long as opposing armed factions roam the land. Angola was no exception. It is equally self-evident that the dissolution and disarming of the existing armies, and the creation of a unified national force, demand a high degree of commitment and sincerity on the part of all sides to the conflict, qualities not easy to come by in the atmosphere of mutual suspicion, distrust and often deep-rooted hatred that is invariably spawned by long years of strife. Again Angola bore tragic witness to these verities.