United Nations Security Council Resolution 866
Encyclopedia
United Nations
Security Council Resolution
866, adopted unanimously on September 22, 1993, after reaffirming resolutions 813
(1993) and 856
(1993), the Council noted that United Nations involvement would contribute significantly to the effective implementation of the Peace Agreement in Liberia
and went on to establish the United Nations Observer Mission in Liberia
(UNOMIL).
The Council noted the Peace Agreement signed on July 25, 1993 and to the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group
(ECOMOG) for help in implementing it. Economic Community of West African States
(ECOWAS) would be responsible for the implementation of the military terms of the agreement while the United Nations would supervise, very much in the background. It would be the first time that a United Nations peacekeeping mission would cooperate alongside an already existing peacekeeping
mission of another organisation. The importance of close cooperation between UNOMIL, ECOMOG and the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) was stressed. At the same time, the Council welcomed the establishment of the Joint Cease-Fire Monitoring Committee (JCMC) composed of three Liberian parties, ECOMOG and the United Nations, and that the Peace Agreement called for elections to take place within seven months.
UNOMIL was then established under the direction of the Secretary-General through his Special Representative for a period of seven months, subject to the provision that it will continue beyond December 16, 1993 only upon a review by the Council on whether progress had been made in implementing the agreement. The mission would include military observers and medical, engineering, communications, transportation, electoral and support personnel in accordance with the Secretary-General's report, and would have the following mandate:
investigate violations of the ceasefire; ensure compliance with the peace agreement; monitor the electoral process; assist in the coordination of humanitarian assistance
; develop a plan and assess financial requirements for the demobilisation
of combatants; report violations of international humanitarian law
; train ECOMOG personnel in the demining
process; cooperate with ECOMOG in its duties.
The intention of Boutros-Ghali to define the roles and responsibilities of UNOMIL and ECOWAS in the implementation of the Peace Agreement was welcomed, requesting African states to provide troops when required to ECOMOG. The Secretary-General had established a fund through which Member States could contribute to the mission.
The resolution called upon the parties in Liberia to disarm
and demobilise. Their decision to form a provisional government
was welcomed by Council and was urged to sign a status of mission agreement
within sixty days of UNOMIL's installation. Preparations for the Election Commission were told to be finalised so that organisation of the elections by March 1994 could begin, to be held as envisaged in the peace agreement. Finally, they were called together to work on the safe distribution of relief supplies and protect UNOMIL and humanitarian personnel, requesting the Secretary-General to report back on December 16, 1993 and February 16, 1994 on the implementation of the current resolution.
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"....
866, adopted unanimously on September 22, 1993, after reaffirming resolutions 813
United Nations Security Council Resolution 813
United Nations Security Council Resolution 813, adopted unanimously on March 26, 1993, after reaffirming Resolution 788 and determining that the situation in Liberia constituted a threat to international peace and security, the Council condemned the failure of the parties in the country - the...
(1993) and 856
United Nations Security Council Resolution 856
United Nations Security Council Resolution 856, adopted unanimously on August 10, 1993, after reaffirming Resolution 813 and welcoming a peace agreement signed, under the auspices of the Economic Community of West African States , between the Interim Government of National Unity of Liberia , the...
(1993), the Council noted that United Nations involvement would contribute significantly to the effective implementation of the Peace Agreement in 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...
and went on to establish the United Nations Observer Mission in Liberia
United Nations Observer Mission in Liberia
The United Nations Observer Mission in Liberia was a United Nations peacekeeping mission in Liberia. It was established in Resolution 866 and headquartered in the capital Monrovia....
(UNOMIL).
The Council noted the Peace Agreement signed on July 25, 1993 and to 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) for help in implementing it. 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) would be responsible for the implementation of the military terms of the agreement while the United Nations would supervise, very much in the background. It would be the first time that a United Nations peacekeeping mission would cooperate alongside an already existing peacekeeping
Peacekeeping
Peacekeeping is an activity that aims to create the conditions for lasting peace. It is distinguished from both peacebuilding and peacemaking....
mission of another organisation. The importance of close cooperation between UNOMIL, ECOMOG and the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) was stressed. At the same time, the Council welcomed the establishment of the Joint Cease-Fire Monitoring Committee (JCMC) composed of three Liberian parties, ECOMOG and the United Nations, and that the Peace Agreement called for elections to take place within seven months.
UNOMIL was then established under the direction of the Secretary-General through his Special Representative for a period of seven months, subject to the provision that it will continue beyond December 16, 1993 only upon a review by the Council on whether progress had been made in implementing the agreement. The mission would include military observers and medical, engineering, communications, transportation, electoral and support personnel in accordance with the Secretary-General's report, and would have the following mandate:
investigate violations of the ceasefire; ensure compliance with the peace agreement; monitor the electoral process; assist in the coordination of 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...
; develop a plan and assess financial requirements for the 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 combatants; report 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...
; train ECOMOG personnel in the demining
Demining
Demining or mine clearance is the process of removing either land mines, or naval mines, from an area, while minesweeping describes the act of detecting of mines. There are two distinct types of mine detection and removal: military and humanitarian.Minesweepers use many tools in order to accomplish...
process; cooperate with ECOMOG in its duties.
The intention of Boutros-Ghali to define the roles and responsibilities of UNOMIL and ECOWAS in the implementation of the Peace Agreement was welcomed, requesting African states to provide troops when required to ECOMOG. The Secretary-General had established a fund through which Member States could contribute to the mission.
The resolution called upon the parties in Liberia to disarm
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...
and demobilise. Their decision to form a provisional government
Provisional government
A provisional government is an emergency or interim government set up when a political void has been created by the collapse of a very large government. The early provisional governments were created to prepare for the return of royal rule...
was welcomed by Council and was urged to sign a status of mission agreement
Status of Forces Agreement
A status of forces agreement is an agreement between a host country and a foreign nation stationing forces in that country. SOFAs are often included, along with other types of military agreements, as part of a comprehensive security arrangement...
within sixty days of UNOMIL's installation. Preparations for the Election Commission were told to be finalised so that organisation of the elections by March 1994 could begin, to be held as envisaged in the peace agreement. Finally, they were called together to work on the safe distribution of relief supplies and protect UNOMIL and humanitarian personnel, requesting the Secretary-General to report back on December 16, 1993 and February 16, 1994 on the implementation of the current resolution.
See also
- Charles Taylor
- First Liberian Civil War
- List of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 801 to 900 (1993 – 1994)