Agreement on Non-Aggression and Good Neighbourliness (Accord of Nkomati)4.1429 Treaty of Friendship and Concord
among Algeria, Tunisia, and Mauritania
Alliance Members:Algeria, Tunisia, and Mauritania (December 13,
1983)
Signed On:March 20, 1983, in the city of Tunis (Tunisia). In force
until February 17, 1989.
Alliance Type:Non-Aggression Pact (Type II)
Source:Christian Science Monitor,March 21, 1983.
Additional Citations:BBC Summary of World Broadcasts,March 21,
1983;Xinhua General Overseas News Service,December 14, 1983;
Keesing’s Record of World Events,June 1984.
SUMMARY
Signed by the Tunisian prime minister and the Algerian interior min-
ister after an exchange of visits during the preceding two months, this
treaty began the process toward a regional union of cooperation for
the Maghreb states. The agreement also resolved a dispute over the
delineation of the allies’ shared border.
The treaty proved provocative as Libya and Morocco quickly inked a
similar non-aggression agreement in August of 1983 (see Alliance no.
4.1431) and began holding regular joint defense meetings. This did
not prevent cooperation among the allies, however, who eventually
established the Maghreb Union (see Alliance no. 4.1434) on February
17, 1989.
Description of Terms
Both countries pledged that they would abstain from the threat
or use of force against the other. Further, both parties commit-
ted to not support or allow on their territory any group whose
aim was the overthrow of the other ally. The allies also agreed
on a resolution of their dispute over border demarcation.
Other parties from the Maghreb would be allowed to join
the alliance. The agreement was set to last for twenty years.
4.1430 Agreement on Non-Aggression and
Good Neighbourliness (Accord of Nkomati)
Alliance Members:Mozambique and South Africa
Signed On:March 16, 1984, in the city of Komatipoort (South
Africa). In force until July 4, 1992.
Alliance Type:Non-Aggression Pact (Type II)
Source:United Nations Treaty,no. 22802.
SUMMARY
The signing of the Accord of Nkomati followed a prolonged border
war between South Africa and Mozambique. Months before the agree-
ment, South Africa agreed to a treaty ending the fighting with guerril-
las in Angola. At the behest of mediation sanctioned by the United
States, Samora Machel, the Marxist president of Mozambique, and
Prime Minister Pieter W. Botha of South Africa committed to a writ-
ten accord.
The accord sought to stop both Mozambique and South Africa from
supporting or allowing rebel groups to infiltrate the other country.
South Africa had been supporting the Mozambican National Resis-
tance (RENAMO) against the black-ruled country, and Mozambique
had responded with support for antiapartheid insurgents. The treaty
included the elimination of bases and posts that incited aggression,
and it forbade the stationing or support of irregular or guerrilla forces.
With international support for RENAMO curtailed, a major obstacle
to peace was removed.
Throughout the 1980s, RENAMO continued to pose a grave threat to
Mozambique. Although it never achieved overwhelming political sup-
port within or beyond Mozambique, the group did prove destabilizing
to the country as a whole. Finally, in 1990, RENAMO and Mozam-
bique signed a peace treaty to end a conflict that had at that point
been frozen for several years. President Chissano of Mozambique and
the RENAMO leader Alfonso Dhlakama signed a final agreement in
October of 1992. The treaty pledged a cease-fire, democratic elections,
and the entry of United Nations peacekeeping forces.Alliance Text
The Government of the People’s Republic of Mozambique and
the Government of the Republic of South Africa, hereinafter
referred to as the High Contracting Parties,
Recognising the principles of strict respect for sovereignty
and territorial integrity, sovereign equality, political independ-
ence and the inviolability of the borders of all states;
Reaffirming the principle of non-interference in the internal
affairs of other states;
Considering the internationally recognized principle of the
right of peoples to self-determination and independence and
the principle of equal rights of all peoples;
Considering the obligation of all states to refrain, in their
international relations, from the threat or use of force against
the territorial integrity or political independence of any state;
Considering the obligation of states to settle conflicts by
peaceful means, and thus safeguard international peace and
security and justice;
Recognising the responsibility of states not to allow their ter-
ritory to be used for acts of war, aggression or violence against
other states;
Conscious of the need to promote relations of good neigh-
bourliness based on the principles of equality of rights and
mutual advantage;
Convinced that relations of good neighbourliness between
the High Contracting Parties will contribute to peace, security,
stability and progress in Southern Africa, the Continent and the
World;
Have solemnly agreed to the following:
Article One. The High Contracting Parties undertake to
respect each other’s sovereignty and independence and, in ful-
filment of this fundamental obligation, to refrain from interfer-
ing in the internal affairs of the other.
Article Two. (1) The High Contracting Parties shall resolve
differences and disputes that may arise between them and that
may or are likely to endanger mutual peace and security or
peace and security in the region, by means of negotiation,
enquiry, mediation, conciliation, arbitration or other peaceful