14 June 1998

It has been six years since the Rome peace accords marked the beginning of a new era in Mozambique: The signatures of the FRELIMO Government and their opponents, RENAMO, put an end to a bloody civil conflict that had ravaged the country for some 16 years, breaking out only shortly after independence from Portugal had been achieved in 1975. Several hundred United Nations Volunteers have since assisted the country on its difficult path from violence and destruction towards reconciliation and reconstruction. Starting with humanitarian aid, they subsequently helped with the demobilisation of soldiers, with the resettlement of returned refugees and with preparation and monitoring of the 1994 national elections. Today, some 90 United Nations Volunteers are involved in consolidating the peace process: They train a future generation of professionals, promote small enterprises and foster new skills in rural communities, and they render support for the municipal elections, thus building a bridge from relief efforts towards sustainable development. Nanette Braun reports for the current and upcoming issues of UNVNews.