Luanda Defense ProtocolSUMMARY
In 1997, the Alliance of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of
the Congo (ADFL) ousted the leader of the Democratic Republic of
the Congo (Zaire), Mobutu Sese Seko, and replaced him with Laurent
Kabila. In 1998, conflict was renewed as ethnic Tutsis who had fought
with the ADFL turned against Kabila. The rebellion was backed by
Rwanda and Uganda.
As more African nations became involved in the war in the Congo,
regional leaders began to take sides in the conflict. The Central African
Republic (CAR) backed Kabila and signed this joint defense agree-
ment on May 11, 1998. The agreement declared that both nations
would provide “mutual assistance” to each other as well as give sup-
port the other’s “internal defence and security.” The two nations also
agreed to permanently consult regarding issues of security and
defense.
In 1999, the rebellion in the Congo was put down with aid from Zim-
babwe, Angola, and Namibia, but violence continued as Kabila was
assassinated and replaced by his son. Finally, in 2003, a peace accord
was reached between the government and the rebels. The government
of the CAR remained stable until 2003 when President Ange-Felix
Patasse was deposed and a new government was established.
Although the leaders have changed over time and this alliance has
probably remained dormant awaiting new leadership in the CAR, the
alliance has remained continuously in force since its signing.
Alliance Text
Conscious of their responsibility in connection with peacekeep-
ing and nonaggression, in line with the principles of the UN
Charter; taking into consideration that the Central African
Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo firmly desire
to cooperate in matters of defence; and in view of their desire to
determine the nature of this cooperation, they have agreed on
the following:
Article 1: The Central African Republic and the Democratic
Republic of Congo have agreed to establish a bilateral defence
agreement.
Article 2: The Central African Republic and the Democratic
Republic of Congo are responsible for internal and external
defence.
Article 3: To this end, the contracting parties will give one
another mutual assistance, and will permanently consult one
another on issues of defence and security.
Article 4: Each of the contracting parties undertakes to give
to the other party all the necessary facilities and any assistance
for internal defence and security, as well as for the security of
the borders of its territory.
Article 5: The defence forces are essentially the armed forces
of the two countries.
Article 6: This agreement will be completed later by one or
several memorandums.
Article 7: The present agreement will go into force after its
ratification.
4.1447 Luanda Defense Protocol
Alliance Members:Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo,
Namibia, and Zimbabwe
Signed On:April 9, 1999, in the city of Luanda (Angola). In force
until August 14, 2001.
Alliance Type:Defense Pact (Type I)
Source: Institute for Security Studies,www.iss.co.za/Pubs/Mono-
graphs/No43/BilateralTreaties.html.SUMMARY
The Luanda protocol was the attempt by the president of the Demo-
cratic Republic of the Congo, Laurent Kabila, to quell concerted action
by Rwanda and Uganda to back rebel groups within the Congo. The
Angolan president, José Eduardo dos Santos, responded by hosting a
one-day regional summit for the leaders, during which they signed
this defense alliance that committed all parties to come to the aid of
any ally if attacked. Angola, Namibia, and Zimbabwe were actually
already assisting Kabila with troops and munitions.
The leaders also expressed concern over the continued fighting of
UNITA forces in Angola and pledged aid to dos Santos, who had been
labeled a war criminal by Southern African leaders. The summit ended
with a call to all African nations to comply with the United Nations
Security Council sanctions against UNITA.
The alliance lasted only two years; it was replaced by an amended
Southern African Development Community (SADC) that included
terms for socioeconomic cooperation and integration as well as politi-
cal and security cooperation among the southern African nations. The
SADC serves as a regional complement to the African Union.Excerpts of Alliance Text
Article 4: “That an armed attack against one of them shall be
considered an attack against the other and that in the event of
such an attack, each of them will assist the Party so attacked by
taking forthwith individually or in collaboration with other
parties, such action as it deems necessary, including the use of
armed force, to repel such attack and restore peace and security
in the territory of the Party so attacked. Any such armed attack
and measures taken as a result thereof shall immediately be
reported to the Security Council of the United Nations.”
Article 7 determines that no action in terms of the protocol
may be undertaken within the territory of a signatory save at
the request of that country “... except where the extent, vio-
lence or rapidity of the aggression has disrupted the free and
effective functioning of its institutions and rendered the exer-
cise of its sovereignty impracticable.”
Article 9 demands co-operation in all defence matters, par-
ticularly regarding training, the exchange of military intelli-
gence, and military industrial co-operation.
Article 11 establishes “... a Joint Committee to be called the
‘Angola-DRC-Namibia-Zimbabwe Co-operation Committee’
whose function shall be to ensure the smooth implementation
of this Protocol.”