United Nations Security Council Resolution 733
Encyclopedia
United Nations
Security Council Resolution
733, adopted unanimously on January 23, 1992, after expressing its alarm at the situation in Somalia
regarding the heavy loss of life, destruction to property and threat to regional stability, the Council, acting under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter
, decided to place a "general and complete" arms embargo
on the country for the purposes of establishing peace and stability. The situation was brought to the attention of the Security Council by the Somali government
.
The Council called upon then Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali
to immediately undertake actions to increase humanitarian assistance
by the United Nations and other international organisations to the affected population in Somalia. It also requested him, along with the Secretaries-General of the Organisation of African Unity and Arab League
to contact all the factions involved in order to end hostilities and permit the delivery of aid.
Resolution 733 urged all parties to guarantee the safety of all humanitarian personnel in Somalia and urged all Member States to contribute to the aid effort. The resolution did not include proposals for a peacekeeping
force as some Member States were reluctant on financial grounds, and also others, such as the United States
, stated they would not intervene at this stage as there was no invitation from the main host parties.
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"....
733, adopted unanimously on January 23, 1992, after expressing its alarm at the situation in Somalia
Somalia
Somalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
regarding the heavy loss of life, destruction to property and threat to regional stability, the Council, 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...
, decided to place a "general and complete" 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...
on the country for the purposes of establishing peace and stability. The situation was brought to the attention of the Security Council by the Somali government
Politics of Somalia
The politics of Somalia are defined by the state of civil war which, since 1991, has divided the country. What started out as various warring entities and autonomist and secessionist regions fighting for control developed into a fragile government fighting an Islamic insurgency. In 1991, Mohammed...
.
The Council called upon then Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali
Boutros Boutros-Ghali
Boutros Boutros-Ghali is an Egyptian politician and diplomat who was the sixth Secretary-General of the United Nations from January 1992 to December 1996...
to immediately undertake actions to increase 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...
by the United Nations and other international organisations to the affected population in Somalia. It also requested him, along with the Secretaries-General of the Organisation of African Unity and Arab League
Arab League
The Arab League , officially called the League of Arab States , is a regional organisation of Arab states in North and Northeast Africa, and Southwest Asia . It was formed in Cairo on 22 March 1945 with six members: Egypt, Iraq, Transjordan , Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and Syria. Yemen joined as a...
to contact all the factions involved in order to end hostilities and permit the delivery of aid.
Resolution 733 urged all parties to guarantee the safety of all humanitarian personnel in Somalia and urged all Member States to contribute to the aid effort. The resolution did not include proposals for a peacekeeping
Peacekeeping
Peacekeeping is an activity that aims to create the conditions for lasting peace. It is distinguished from both peacebuilding and peacemaking....
force as some Member States were reluctant on financial grounds, and also others, such as the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, stated they would not intervene at this stage as there was no invitation from the main host parties.
See also
- History of SomaliaHistory of SomaliaSomalia , officially the Republic of Somalia and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is bordered by Djibouti to the northwest, Kenya on its southwest, the Gulf of Aden with Yemen on its north, the Indian Ocean at its east, and Ethiopia...
- List of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 701 to 800 (1991 – 1993)
- Somali Civil WarSomali Civil WarThe Somali Civil War is an ongoing civil war taking place in Somalia. The conflict, which began in 1991, has caused destabilisation throughout the country, with the current phase of the conflict seeing the Somali government losing substantial control of the state to rebel forces...