United Nations Security Council Resolution 1289
Encyclopedia
United Nations
Security Council Resolution
1289, adopted unanimously on February 7, 2000, after recalling resolutions 1171
(1998), 1181
(1998), 1231
(1999), 1260
(1999), 1265
(1999) and 1270
(1999) on the situation in Sierra Leone
, the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone
(UNAMSIL) for a period of six months and expanded its military component.
The Security Council noted that the deployment of UNAMSIL was in the process of completion. There was progress towards peace but this was hampered by the lack of disarmament
, demobilisation
and reintegration of rebels, lack of progress on the release of abductees, use of child soldiers
and new attacks on aid workers. It was also concerned about continuing human rights
violations and emphasised that the peace deal agreed in the amnesty did not apply to violations committed after the date of signing of that agreement. The Revolutionary United Front
(RUF), the Civil Defence Forces
, the former Sierra Leone Armed Forces/Armed Forces Revolutionary Council
(AFRC) were urged to participate in the disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration programme.
The resolution noted the withdrawal of troops from Nigeria
, Ghana
and Guinea
from the Economic Community of West African States
(ECOWAS) peacekeeping force, the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group
(ECOMOG). It then decided that the military component of UNAMSIL would be expanded to 11,100 troops, including 260 military observers who were already deployed.
Acting under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter
, the peacekeeping force was given the additional responsibilities of guarding government buildings - mainly in the capital Freetown
, important intersections and major airports, assist in the distribution of relief supplies and securing the sites of the disarmament program and the collection of weapons. The mandate
of UNAMSIL was subsequently extended by a period of six months, a land mine
office was established and increases in civil affairs, civilian police, administrative and technical personnel were authorised. Additionally, UNAMSIL could take all necessary action to ensure its freedom of movement
and security and protect civilians under threat of violence.
The Council urged the parties to accelerate the establishment of commissions on human rights, truth and reconciliation and the consolidation of peace. It was also important that the Government of Sierra Leone had full control over the exploitation of diamond
s, gold
and other resources. Finally, the Secretary-General Kofi Annan
was requested to provide assessments every 45 days of security conditions in Sierra Leone.
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"....
1289, adopted unanimously on February 7, 2000, after recalling resolutions 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), 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), 1231
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1231
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1231, adopted unanimously on March 11, 1999, after recalling resolutions 1181 and 1220 on the situation in Sierra Leone, the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Observer Mission in Sierra Leone until June 13, 1999.The resolution began by...
(1999), 1260
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1260
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1260, adopted unanimously on August 20, 1999, after recalling resolutions 1171 , 1181 and 1231 on the situation in Sierra Leone, the Council strengthened the United Nations Observer Mission in Sierra Leone by up to 210 additional military observers.The...
(1999), 1265
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1265
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1265, adopted unanimously on September 17, 1999, in the first resolution to address the topic, the Council discussed the protection of civilians during armed conflict.-Observations:...
(1999) and 1270
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1270
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1270, adopted unanimously on October 22, 1999, after recalling resolutions 1171 , 1181 , 1231 and 1260 on the situation in Sierra Leone and Resolution 1265 on the protection of civilians in armed conflict, established the United Nations Mission in...
(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 Mission in Sierra Leone
United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone
The United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone was a United Nations peacekeeping operation in Sierra Leone from 1999 to 2005. It was created by the United Nations Security Council in October 1999 to help with the implementation of the Lomé Peace Accord, an agreement intended to end the Sierra Leonean...
(UNAMSIL) for a period of six months and expanded its military component.
The Security Council noted that the deployment of UNAMSIL was in the process of completion. There was progress towards peace but this was hampered by the lack of disarmament
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...
, 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...
and reintegration of rebels, lack of progress on the release of abductees, 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 new attacks on aid workers. It was also concerned about continuing 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...
violations and emphasised that the peace deal agreed in the amnesty did not apply to violations committed after the date of signing of that agreement. The 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), the Civil Defence Forces
Civil Defence Forces
The Civil Defense Forces or CDF were a paramilitary organization who fought in the Sierra Leone Civil War . They supported the elected government of Ahmed Tejan Kabbah against the rebel groups RUF and AFRC . Much of the CDF was made up of the Kamajors group, which is part of the larger Mende...
, the former Sierra Leone Armed Forces/Armed Forces Revolutionary Council
Armed Forces Revolutionary Council
The Armed Forces Revolutionary Council was a group of Sierra Leone soldiers that allied itself with the rebel Revolutionary United Front in the late 1990s. While the AFRC briefly controlled the country in 1998, it was driven from the capital by a coalition of West African troops...
(AFRC) were urged to participate in the disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration programme.
The resolution noted the withdrawal of troops from Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
, Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
and Guinea
Guinea
Guinea , officially the Republic of Guinea , is a country in West Africa. Formerly known as French Guinea , it is today sometimes called Guinea-Conakry to distinguish it from its neighbour Guinea-Bissau. Guinea is divided into eight administrative regions and subdivided into thirty-three prefectures...
from 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) peacekeeping force, 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). It then decided that the military component of UNAMSIL would be expanded to 11,100 troops, including 260 military observers who were already deployed.
Acting under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter
Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter
Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter sets out the UN Security Council's powers to maintain peace. It allows the Council to "determine the existence of any threat to the peace, breach of the peace, or act of aggression" and to take military and nonmilitary action to "restore international peace...
, the peacekeeping force was given the additional responsibilities of guarding government buildings - mainly 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...
, important intersections and major airports, assist in the distribution of relief supplies and securing the sites of the disarmament program and the collection of weapons. The 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....
of UNAMSIL was subsequently extended by a period of six months, a land mine
Land mine
A land mine is usually a weight-triggered explosive device which is intended to damage a target—either human or inanimate—by means of a blast and/or fragment impact....
office was established and increases in civil affairs, civilian police, administrative and technical personnel were authorised. Additionally, UNAMSIL could take all necessary action to ensure its freedom of movement
Freedom of movement
Freedom of movement, mobility rights or the right to travel is a human right concept that the constitutions of numerous states respect...
and security and protect civilians under threat of violence.
The Council urged the parties to accelerate the establishment of commissions on human rights, truth and reconciliation and the consolidation of peace. It was also important that the Government of Sierra Leone had full control over the exploitation of diamond
Diamond
In mineralogy, diamond is an allotrope of carbon, where the carbon atoms are arranged in a variation of the face-centered cubic crystal structure called a diamond lattice. Diamond is less stable than graphite, but the conversion rate from diamond to graphite is negligible at ambient conditions...
s, gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
and other resources. Finally, 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...
was requested to provide assessments every 45 days of security conditions in Sierra Leone.
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)
- Lomé Peace AccordLomé Peace AccordThe Lomé Peace Accord was a peace agreement signed on 7 July 1999 between the warring parties in the civil war that gripped Sierra Leone for almost a decade. President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah signed with the Revolutionary United Front leader, Foday Sankoh, granting Sankoh a position in the...
- 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...