United Nations Security Council Resolution 1181
Encyclopedia
United Nations
Security Council Resolution
1181, adopted unanimously on July 13, 1998, after recalling all previous resolutions on the situation in Sierra Leone
, the Council established the United Nations Observer Mission in Sierra Leone (UNOMSIL) to monitor the military and security situation in the country for an initial period of six months until January 13, 1999.
The Security Council welcomed the efforts of the Sierra Leone government to restore peace and security in the country, including the democratic
process and national reconciliation and recognised the role of the Economic Community of West African States
(ECOWAS) during this process. It remained concerned at the loss of life and the suffering of refugee
s and displaced persons, particularly children, as a result of rebel attacks.
The resolution condemned continued resistance to the legitimate government and civilian population by remants of the former junta
and Revolutionary United Front
(RUF), calling on both to lay down their arms
immediately. A report by the Secretary-General Kofi Annan
proposed the establishment of the UNOMSIL peacekeeping
operation. Therefore, the Council established UNOMSIL for an initial period of six months until January 13, 1999, consisting of up to 70 military observers, a small medical unit and support staff, with a mandate
to:
monitor the security situation in the country; monitor the role of the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group
(ECOMOG) and the disarmament and demobilisation
of former combatants; assist in monitoring respect for international humanitarian law
; monitor voluntary disarmament of the Civil Defence Forces.
UNOMSIL would be headed by the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General who would be the Special Representative
for Sierra Leone. Close co-operation between UNOMSIL and ECOMOG was stressed, and the parties in Sierra Leone were urged to ensure the safety of United Nations personnel and organisations delivering humanitarian assistance
. Noting that illegal arms flows were taking place, all states were urged to strictly observe the arms embargo
against non-governmental forces in Sierra Leone, in accordance with Resolution 1171
(1998). The Government of Sierra Leone was co-ordinating a more effective response to the needs of children affected by the conflict.
Finally, the Secretary-General was required to submit reports within 30 days and every 60 days thereafter on the implementation of the current resolution and the progress of UNOMSIL in carrying out its mandate.
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Security Council Resolution
United Nations Security Council Resolution
A United Nations Security Council resolution is a UN resolution adopted by the fifteen members of the Security Council; the UN body charged with "primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security"....
1181, adopted unanimously on July 13, 1998, after recalling all previous resolutions on the situation in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
, the Council established the United Nations Observer Mission in Sierra Leone (UNOMSIL) to monitor the military and security situation in the country for an initial period of six months until January 13, 1999.
The Security Council welcomed the efforts of the Sierra Leone government to restore peace and security in the country, including the democratic
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
process and national reconciliation and recognised the role of the Economic Community of West African States
Economic Community of West African States
The Economic Community of West African States is a regional group of fifteen West African countries. Founded on 28 May 1975, with the signing of the Treaty of Lagos, its mission is to promote economic integration across the region....
(ECOWAS) during this process. It remained concerned at the loss of life and the suffering of refugee
Refugee
A refugee is a person who outside her country of origin or habitual residence because she has suffered persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or because she is a member of a persecuted 'social group'. Such a person may be referred to as an 'asylum seeker' until...
s and displaced persons, particularly children, as a result of rebel attacks.
The resolution condemned continued resistance to the legitimate government and civilian population by remants of the former junta
Military junta
A junta or military junta is a government led by a committee of military leaders. The term derives from the Spanish language junta meaning committee, specifically a board of directors...
and Revolutionary United Front
Revolutionary United Front
The Revolutionary United Front was a rebel army that fought a failed eleven-year war in Sierra Leone, starting in 1991 and ending in 2002. It later developed into a political party, which existed until 2007...
(RUF), calling on both to lay down their arms
Disarmament
Disarmament is the act of reducing, limiting, or abolishing weapons. Disarmament generally refers to a country's military or specific type of weaponry. Disarmament is often taken to mean total elimination of weapons of mass destruction, such as nuclear arms...
immediately. A report by the Secretary-General Kofi Annan
Kofi Annan
Kofi Atta Annan is a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the UN from 1 January 1997 to 31 December 2006...
proposed the establishment of the UNOMSIL peacekeeping
Peacekeeping
Peacekeeping is an activity that aims to create the conditions for lasting peace. It is distinguished from both peacebuilding and peacemaking....
operation. Therefore, the Council established UNOMSIL for an initial period of six months until January 13, 1999, consisting of up to 70 military observers, a small medical unit and support staff, with a mandate
Mandate (international law)
In international law, a mandate is a binding obligation issued from an inter-governmental organization like the United Nations to a country which is bound to follow the instructions of the organization....
to:
monitor the security situation in the country; monitor the role of the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group
Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group
The Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group, or ECOMOG, was a West African multilateral armed force established by the Economic Community of West African States . ECOMOG was a formal arrangement for separate armies to work together...
(ECOMOG) and the disarmament and demobilisation
Demobilization
Demobilization is the process of standing down a nation's armed forces from combat-ready status. This may be as a result of victory in war, or because a crisis has been peacefully resolved and military force will not be necessary...
of former combatants; assist in monitoring respect for international humanitarian law
International humanitarian law
International humanitarian law , often referred to as the laws of war, the laws and customs of war or the law of armed conflict, is the legal corpus that comprises "the Geneva Conventions and the Hague Conventions, as well as subsequent treaties, case law, and customary international law." It...
; monitor voluntary disarmament of the Civil Defence Forces.
UNOMSIL would be headed by the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General who would be the Special Representative
Special Representative of the Secretary-General
A Special Representative of the Secretary-General is a highly respected expert who has been appointed by the Secretary-General of the United Nations to represent her/him in meetings with heads of state on critical human rights issues...
for Sierra Leone. Close co-operation between UNOMSIL and ECOMOG was stressed, and the parties in Sierra Leone were urged to ensure the safety of United Nations personnel and organisations delivering humanitarian assistance
Humanitarian aid
Humanitarian aid is material or logistical assistance provided for humanitarian purposes, typically in response to humanitarian crises including natural disaster and man-made disaster. The primary objective of humanitarian aid is to save lives, alleviate suffering, and maintain human dignity...
. Noting that illegal arms flows were taking place, all states were urged to strictly observe the arms embargo
Arms embargo
An arms embargo is an embargo that applies to weaponry. It may also include "dual use" items. An arms embargo may serve one or more purposes:# to signal disapproval of behavior by a certain actor,# to maintain neutral standing in an ongoing conflict, or...
against non-governmental forces in Sierra Leone, in accordance with Resolution 1171
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1171
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1171, adopted unanimously on June 5, 1998, after recalling resolutions 1132 , 1156 and 1162 on the situation in Sierra Leone, the Council, acting under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, terminated the arms embargo against the Government of...
(1998). The Government of Sierra Leone was co-ordinating a more effective response to the needs of children affected by the conflict.
Finally, the Secretary-General was required to submit reports within 30 days and every 60 days thereafter on the implementation of the current resolution and the progress of UNOMSIL in carrying out its mandate.
See also
- History of Sierra LeoneHistory of Sierra LeoneThe history of Sierra Leone began when the lands became inhabited at least 2,500 years ago. Sierra Leone played a significant part in modern African political liberty and nationalism, and became an independent nation in 1961...
- List of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1101 to 1200 (1997 – 1998)
- Sierra Leone Civil WarSierra Leone Civil WarThe Sierra Leone Civil War began on 23 March 1991 when the Revolutionary United Front , with support from the special forces of Charles Taylor’s National Patriotic Front of Liberia , intervened in Sierra Leone in an attempt to overthrow the Joseph Momoh government...