United Nations Security Council Resolution 1231
Encyclopedia
United Nations
Security Council Resolution
1231, adopted unanimously on March 11, 1999, after recalling resolutions 1181
(1998) and 1220
(1999) on the situation in Sierra Leone
, the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Observer Mission in Sierra Leone (UNOMSIL) until June 13, 1999.
The resolution began by expressing concern over the fragile situation in Sierra Leone and expressed the commitment of all countries towards the sovereignty
and territorial integrity
of the country.
The Security Council welcomed the intention of the Secretary-General Kofi Annan
to re-establish UNOMSIL in the capital Freetown
and to increase the current number of military observers and human rights
personnel. It condemned atrocities and violations of international humanitarian law
committed against the population by rebels, especially against women and children and including the use of child soldiers
and for the perpetrators to be brought to justice. The parties were called upon to respect human rights and the neutrality of humanitarian workers.
There was concern that support had been offered to the rebels through weapon
s and mercenaries
through neighbouring Liberia
. It acknowledged a letter from the President of Liberia Charles Taylor regarding action it had taken to curtail the involvement of Liberian nationals in Sierra Leone. In this regard, the Economic Community of West African States
was requested to consider a deployment of Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group
(ECOMOG) and United Nations personnel along the border between Liberia and Sierra Leone. All states were asked to observe the arms embargo
imposed against Sierra Leone in Resolution 1171
(1998).
Finally, the Secretary-General was required to report on the situation by June 5, 1999 with recommendations on the future deployment of UNOMSIL.
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"....
1231, adopted unanimously on March 11, 1999, after recalling resolutions 1181
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1181
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 to monitor the military and security situation in the...
(1998) and 1220
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1220
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1220, adopted unanimously on January 12, 1999, after recalling Resolution 1181 on the situation in Sierra Leone, the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Observer Mission in Sierra Leone until March 13, 1999.The Security Council expressed...
(1999) 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 extended the mandate of the United Nations Observer Mission in Sierra Leone (UNOMSIL) until June 13, 1999.
The resolution began by expressing concern over the fragile situation in Sierra Leone and expressed the commitment of all countries towards the sovereignty
Sovereignty
Sovereignty is the quality of having supreme, independent authority over a geographic area, such as a territory. It can be found in a power to rule and make law that rests on a political fact for which no purely legal explanation can be provided...
and territorial integrity
Territorial integrity
Territorial integrity is the principle under international law that nation-states should not attempt to promote secessionist movements or to promote border changes in other nation-states...
of the country.
The Security Council welcomed the intention of 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...
to re-establish UNOMSIL in the capital Freetown
Freetown
Freetown is the capital and largest city of Sierra Leone, a country in West Africa. It is a major port city on the Atlantic Ocean located in the Western Area of the country, and had a city proper population of 772,873 at the 2004 census. The city is the economic, financial, and cultural center of...
and to increase the current number of military observers and human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
personnel. It condemned atrocities and violations of 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...
committed against the population by rebels, especially against women and children and including the use of child soldiers
Military use of children
The military use of children takes three distinct forms: children can take direct part in hostilities , or they can be used in support roles such as porters, spies, messengers, look outs, and sexual slaves; or they can be used for political advantage either as human shields or in...
and for the perpetrators to be brought to justice. The parties were called upon to respect human rights and the neutrality of humanitarian workers.
There was concern that support had been offered to the rebels through weapon
Weapon
A weapon, arm, or armament is a tool or instrument used with the aim of causing damage or harm to living beings or artificial structures or systems...
s and mercenaries
Mercenary
A mercenary, is a person who takes part in an armed conflict based on the promise of material compensation rather than having a direct interest in, or a legal obligation to, the conflict itself. A non-conscript professional member of a regular army is not considered to be a mercenary although he...
through neighbouring Liberia
Liberia
Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...
. It acknowledged a letter from the President of Liberia Charles Taylor regarding action it had taken to curtail the involvement of Liberian nationals in Sierra Leone. In this regard, 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....
was requested to consider a deployment of 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 United Nations personnel along the border between Liberia and Sierra Leone. All states were asked to 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...
imposed against Sierra Leone in 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).
Finally, the Secretary-General was required to report on the situation by June 5, 1999 with recommendations on the future deployment of UNOMSIL.
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 1201 to 1300 (1998 – 2000)
- 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...