United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone
Encyclopedia
The United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) 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 civil war
. UNAMSIL expanded in size several times in 2000 and 2001. It concluded its mandate at the end of 2005, the Security Council having declared that its mission was complete.
The mandate was notable for authorizing UNAMSIL to protect civilians under imminent threat of physical violence (albeit "within its capabilities and areas of deployment") - a return to a more proactive style of UN peacekeeping.
UNAMSIL replaced a previous mission, the United Nations Observer Mission in Sierra Leone (UNOMSIL).
According to Security Council Resolution 1270
of 22 October 1999 which established the operation, UNAMSIL had the following mandate:
In February 2000 the mandate had been revised to include the following tasks:
Upon withdrawal, the remaining staff in Freetown
were transferred to United Nations Integrated Office in Sierra Leone
(UNIOSIL).
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...
peacekeeping
Peacekeeping
Peacekeeping is an activity that aims to create the conditions for lasting peace. It is distinguished from both peacebuilding and peacemaking....
operation 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...
from 1999 to 2005. It was created by the United Nations Security Council
United Nations Security Council
The United Nations Security Council is one of the principal organs of the United Nations and is charged with the maintenance of international peace and security. Its powers, outlined in the United Nations Charter, include the establishment of peacekeeping operations, the establishment of...
in October 1999 to help with the implementation of the Lomé Peace Accord
Lomé Peace Accord
The 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...
, an agreement intended to end the Sierra Leonean civil war
Sierra Leone Civil War
The 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...
. UNAMSIL expanded in size several times in 2000 and 2001. It concluded its mandate at the end of 2005, the Security Council having declared that its mission was complete.
The mandate was notable for authorizing UNAMSIL to protect civilians under imminent threat of physical violence (albeit "within its capabilities and areas of deployment") - a return to a more proactive style of UN peacekeeping.
UNAMSIL replaced a previous mission, the United Nations Observer Mission in Sierra Leone (UNOMSIL).
According to Security Council Resolution 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...
of 22 October 1999 which established the operation, UNAMSIL had the following mandate:
- To cooperate with the Government of Sierra Leone and the other parties to the Peace Agreement in the implementation of the Agreement
- To assist the Government of Sierra Leone in the implementation of the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration plan
- To that end, to establish a presence at key locations throughout the territory of Sierra Leone, including at disarmament/reception centres and demobilization centres
- To ensure the security and freedom of movement of United Nations personnel
- To monitor adherence to the ceasefire in accordance with the ceasefire agreement (whose signing was witnessed by Jesse JacksonJesse JacksonJesse Louis Jackson, Sr. is an African-American civil rights activist and Baptist minister. He was a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1984 and 1988 and served as shadow senator for the District of Columbia from 1991 to 1997. He was the founder of both entities that merged to...
) - To encourage the parties to create confidence-building mechanisms and support their functioning
- To facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance
- To support the operations of United Nations civilian officials, including the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and his staff, human rights officers and civil affairs officers
- To provide support, as requested, to the elections, which are to be held in accordance with the present constitution of Sierra Leone
In February 2000 the mandate had been revised to include the following tasks:
- To provide security at key locations and Government buildings, in particular in FreetownFreetownFreetown 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, including LungiLungiThe Lungi , also known as a sarong , is a traditional garment worn around the waist in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Burma, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the Horn of Africa and the southern Arabian Peninsula...
airport - To facilitate the free flow of people, goods and humanitarian assistance along specified thoroughfares
- To provide security in and at all sites of the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programme
- To coordinate with and assist, the Sierra Leone law enforcement authorities in the discharge of their responsibilities
- To guard weapons, ammunition and other military equipment collected from ex-combatants and to assists in their subsequent disposal or destruction
Upon withdrawal, the remaining staff in 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...
were transferred to United Nations Integrated Office in Sierra Leone
United Nations Integrated Office in Sierra Leone
The United Nations Integrated Office in Sierra Leone was established by Resolution 1620 of the United Nations Security Council in 2005 to begin operations in 2006 as a follow up to United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone which helped end the Sierra Leone Civil War.It was extended twice and ended...
(UNIOSIL).
External links
- UNAMSIL at UN.org
- UNIOSIL, the follow-up peace consolidation mission to UNAMSIL, at UN.org
- Detailed description of Op Khukri, launched by UN forces to rescue more than 200 peacekeepers from RUF