 He became UNITA's Vice President in 1992 when the Angolan Civil War resumed, succeeding Jeremias Chitunda, who was assassinated by the Angolan government in Luanda that year.He also became the general in charge of UNITA's Special Commandos, the Tupamaros.After the war turned against UNITA in 2001–2002, Dembo's forces were constantly on the run from government troops.