The Story
United Nations Angola Verification Mission (UNAVEM)
The United Nations Angola Verification Mission (UNAVEM) was established to verify the phased and total withdrawal of Cuban troops from the People’s Republic of Angola, in accordance with the timetable agreed upon by the parties involved. The mission, which began in January 1989, was set for a period of 31 months. To qualify for the UNAVEM medal, personnel were required to complete a minimum of 90 days of service in the mission.
The UNAVEM medal ribbon features a central broad band of UN blue, flanked by three equal stripes in black, white, and red, with wide yellow bands at either end. The colours black, red, and yellow represent the Angolan national flag, while white symbolises the presence of the United Nations in the country. Military observers for this mission were provided by Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Congo, Czechoslovakia, India, Jordan, Norway, Spain, and Yugoslavia.
In May 1991, UNAVEM’s mandate was expanded to include verification of the monitoring arrangements for the Angolan Police as stipulated in the Angola Peace Accords. Following this expansion, additional countries contributing military observers included: Canada, Egypt, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, Ireland, Malaysia, Morocco, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Senegal, Singapore, Sweden, and Zimbabwe. The medal criteria and qualifying time remained the same.
UNAVEM III's mandate included several key responsibilities: providing Good Offices and mediation to the Angolan parties, monitoring the extension of State administration and national reconciliation, supervising the disengagement of forces, monitoring the ceasefire, overseeing the quartering and demobilisation of UNITA forces, supervising the collection and storage of UNITA armaments, coordinating humanitarian activities linked to the peace process, participating in mine-clearing operations, and verifying the conditions for holding the second round of presidential elections.
The mission successfully completed its tasks and was terminated in June 1997.
Countries contributing troops, military observers, and civilian police to UNAVEM included: Argentina, Bangladesh, Brazil, Bulgaria, Congo, Egypt, Fiji, France, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, India, Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Korea, Malaysia, Mali, Namibia, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Romania, the Russian Federation, Senegal, Spain, Sweden, Tanzania, Ukraine, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Description
United Nations Angola Verification Mission (UNAVEM)
The United Nations Angola Verification Mission (UNAVEM) was established to verify the phased and total withdrawal of Cuban troops from the People’s Republic of Angola, in accordance with the timetable agreed upon by the parties involved. The mission, which began in January 1989, was set for a period of 31 months. To qualify for the UNAVEM medal, personnel were required to complete a minimum of 90 days of service in the mission.
The UNAVEM medal ribbon features a central broad band of UN blue, flanked by three equal stripes in black, white, and red, with wide yellow bands at either end. The colours black, red, and yellow represent the Angolan national flag, while white symbolises the presence of the United Nations in the country. Military observers for this mission were provided by Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Congo, Czechoslovakia, India, Jordan, Norway, Spain, and Yugoslavia.
In May 1991, UNAVEM’s mandate was expanded to include verification of the monitoring arrangements for the Angolan Police as stipulated in the Angola Peace Accords. Following this expansion, additional countries contributing military observers included: Canada, Egypt, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, Ireland, Malaysia, Morocco, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Senegal, Singapore, Sweden, and Zimbabwe. The medal criteria and qualifying time remained the same.
UNAVEM III's mandate included several key responsibilities: providing Good Offices and mediation to the Angolan parties, monitoring the extension of State administration and national reconciliation, supervising the disengagement of forces, monitoring the ceasefire, overseeing the quartering and demobilisation of UNITA forces, supervising the collection and storage of UNITA armaments, coordinating humanitarian activities linked to the peace process, participating in mine-clearing operations, and verifying the conditions for holding the second round of presidential elections.
The mission successfully completed its tasks and was terminated in June 1997.
Countries contributing troops, military observers, and civilian police to UNAVEM included: Argentina, Bangladesh, Brazil, Bulgaria, Congo, Egypt, Fiji, France, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, India, Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Korea, Malaysia, Mali, Namibia, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Romania, the Russian Federation, Senegal, Spain, Sweden, Tanzania, Ukraine, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
