United Nations Angola Verification Mission III

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United Nations Angola Verification Mission III

Abbreviation	UNAVEM III
Formation	February 1995
Legal status	Mandate completed on 30 June 1997
Headquarters	Luanda, Angola
Head	Margaret Joan Anstee (February 1992 - June 1993) Alioune Blondin Beye (June 1993 - Conclusion)
Parent organization	United Nations Security Council

The United Nations Angola Verification Mission III was the third peacekeeping mission operating in Angola from February 1995 until June 1997 during the Angolan Civil War.^[1] It was established by the United Nations Security Council in Resolution 976, after United Nations Angola Verification Mission II.

The Indian Army contributed to this mission by deploying one infantry battalion group (1000 personnel) and one engineers company group (200 personnel). There were a total of six infantry battalion groups operating in distinct regions of Angola, during this period: One each from India, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Brazil, Bangladesh, Uruguay and Romania.

The mandate of the various infantry battalion groups was to ensure ceasefire between the Angolan Army and the UNITA rebels who had control over more than half the country at that time, and then arrange for a safe "quartering" of these UNITA rebels once they laid down their arms. Subsequently, most of the arterial routes connecting major regions of the country were physically opened to traffic after de-mining them. The Indian Army initially sent 14 Punjab (Nabha Akal) as the infantry component and later replaced it with 16 Guards.

Upon its conclusion, the mission's total strength was 4,220 military personnel, comprising 283 military observers, 3,649 troops and 288 civilian police. Over the course of its two-year mission, UNAVEM III received 32 fatalities.