Miranda Melcher’s Securing Peace in Angola and Mozambique: The Importance of Specificity in Peace Treaties is a rigorous and timely contribution to the field of peace and conflict studies, offering a fresh lens through which to analyze postconflict transitions. Melcher, through a thorough comparison of the peace processes in Angola and Mozambique, presents a convincing argument that the specificity—or lack thereof—of clauses in peace agreements is a crucial factor in deciding whether peace is maintained or breaks down. Based on factual data, this book contributes significantly to our knowledge of how peace is implemented in both countries. The book, which is divided into six chapters, opens with a theoretical and methodological framework that establishes the tone for the empirical case studies that follow.

In the introduction, the author contends that a major, yet underexplored, challenge facing researchers is our limited understanding of how civil wars come to an end—particularly the increasingly prevalent type that continues for years or even decades. She notes that this problem is compounded by the fact that far less scholarly attention has been devoted to the dynamics of civil war endings than to their causes. To address this gap, the book centers on the most common type of civil war termination—the negotiated settlement—as opposed to cases in which one side secures a clear military victory. It seeks to answer three core questions: (1) why are civil wars lasting longer; (2) what are the numerous stumbling blocks to successfully negotiating peace treaties; and (3) why do some peace treaties, once signed, nonetheless fail to be implemented?

Still in the introduction, the author outlines a framework for addressing these questions through the analysis of real-world attempts to end civil wars. Melcher argues that more civil wars today conclude through negotiation rather than outright military victory, a shift that alters the necessary conditions for ending conflict. She further explains that this increased complexity elevates the act of signing a peace treaty to a significant and difficult milestone—one that momentarily aligns competing interests in a single document. Finally, she suggests that these combined factors make the conditions under which a peace treaty can successfully bring an end to civil war appear almost functionally unattainable.

Chapters Three to Five compare the peace processes of Angola (1975–2002) and Mozambique (1975–1992), with the aim of demonstrating that peace agreements dealing with security issues must include realistic timelines and acknowledge logistical challenges. One of the most consistent implementation failures in both contexts was the inadequate planning and resourcing for disarmament, demobilization, and military reintegration. These shortcomings often resulted in costly extensions and created misaligned expectations among stakeholders, undermining trust in the peace process and, in some cases, leading to renewed violence. Through her examination of the Bicesse Accords in Angola and the Rome Agreement in Mozambique, Melcher highlights the importance of establishing a joint committee—composed of representatives from both sides and chaired by a neutral international actor such as the United Nations—to resolve disputes that arise during implementation.

One of the book’s key strengths lies in its innovative methodology. The case study approach allows for a deeper investigation within a defined category, offering insights that can inform broader theories on civil war termination and peacebuilding. Melcher bridges theory and practice by combining detailed textual analysis of peace agreements with elite interviews and archival research. The two cases were selected through a process that integrated three existing datasets to build a comprehensive list of post-Second World War civil wars. Her methodology offers practical lessons for those involved in designing and facilitating peace processes, with findings that are both empirically grounded and policy-relevant.

Nonetheless, the book is not without limitations. While Melcher briefly acknowledges the role of structural factors and external actors, these influences remain underdeveloped. For instance, Angola’s conflict was heavily shaped by the political economy of oil and diamond revenues—an aspect that could have received more thorough analysis. Additionally, although the author recognizes differences between the two countries, comparative analysis between Angola and Mozambique—nations that share little beyond a common colonial language—remains inherently challenging. While the book is clearly intended for an academic and policy-oriented audience, a clearer explanation of technical terms and acronyms would have improved accessibility for students and practitioners alike.

Despite these limitations, the book represents a significant contribution to the study of peace agreements and postconflict state-building. Its core argument is both timely and essential. By challenging dominant assumptions and expanding the empirical scope of peacebuilding literature to include two often-overlooked Southern African cases, Melcher offers an important and original perspective.