United Nations Security Council Resolution 1470
Encyclopedia
United Nations
Security Council Resolution
1470, adopted unanimously on March 28, 2003, after recalling all previous resolutions on the situation in Sierra Leone
, the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone
(UNAMSIL) for six months until September 30, 2003.
region, especially the civil war
in Liberia
and its consequences on nearby states including Côte d'Ivoire
and the humanitarian situation. It recognised the situation in Sierra Leone and the need to strengthen the Sierra Leone Police
in order to maintain security and stability. Furthermore, it was important that there was government authority throughout the country, particularly the diamond
fields, reintegration of ex-combatants, respect for human rights
and rule of law
and the return of refugee
s and internally displaced person
s. The importance of the Special Court for Sierra Leone
and support of UNAMSIL was stressed.
for an additional six months, the Council thanked countries contributing to the force and UNAMSIL for adjustments to its size, composition and deployment. It was asked to take responsibility for the country's internal and external security, while the Secretary-General Kofi Annan
was requested to detail plans for its drawdown and withdrawal.
The resolution expressed concern at a shortfall in donations and stressed that the development of administrative capabilities of the Sierra Leonean government was essential to long-term peace. Additionally, the government had made efforts to ensure effective control of the diamond mining areas in Sierra Leone and UNAMSIL civilian police were being deployed. The Council supported the Special Court for Sierra Leone and the launch of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Meanwhile, the presidents of the Mano River Union
were called upon to resume dialogue and commitments aimed at strengthening regional peace and security.
The Security Council noted instability on the border between Sierra Leone and Liberia and demanded that the Liberian Armed Forces
or other armed groups refrain from incursions into Sierra Leone. All states were asked to observe the arms embargo
against Liberia and restrictions concerning blood diamonds. The Secretary-General was to keep the situation in Sierra Leone under review, and the Sierra Leone government was requested to pay attention to the needs of women and children.
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"....
1470, adopted unanimously on March 28, 2003, after recalling all previous resolutions 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 six months until September 30, 2003.
Observations
The Security Council expressed concern at the continuing fragile security situation in the Mano RiverMano River
The Mano River is a river in west Africa, it originates in the Guinea Highlands in Liberia and forms part of the Liberia – Sierra Leone border....
region, especially the civil war
Second Liberian Civil War
The Second Liberian Civil War began in 1999 when a rebel group backed by the government of neighbouring Guinea, the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy , emerged in northern Liberia. In early 2003, a second rebel group, the Movement for Democracy in Liberia, emerged in the south, and...
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 its consequences on nearby states including Côte d'Ivoire
Côte d'Ivoire
The Republic of Côte d'Ivoire or Ivory Coast is a country in West Africa. It has an area of , and borders the countries Liberia, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso and Ghana; its southern boundary is along the Gulf of Guinea. The country's population was 15,366,672 in 1998 and was estimated to be...
and the humanitarian situation. It recognised the situation in Sierra Leone and the need to strengthen the Sierra Leone Police
Sierra Leone Police
The Sierra Leone Police locally known as Salone Police is the national police force of the Republic of Sierra Leone, responsible for law enforcement and crime investigation throughout Sierra Leone...
in order to maintain security and stability. Furthermore, it was important that there was government authority throughout the country, particularly the 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...
fields, reintegration of ex-combatants, respect for 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...
and rule of law
Rule of law
The rule of law, sometimes called supremacy of law, is a legal maxim that says that governmental decisions should be made by applying known principles or laws with minimal discretion in their application...
and the return of refugee
Refugee
A refugee is a person who outside her country of origin or habitual residence because she has suffered persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or because she is a member of a persecuted 'social group'. Such a person may be referred to as an 'asylum seeker' until...
s and internally displaced person
Internally displaced person
An internally displaced person is someone who is forced to flee his or her home but who remains within his or her country's borders. They are often referred to as refugees, although they do not fall within the current legal definition of a refugee. At the end of 2006 it was estimated there were...
s. The importance of the Special Court for Sierra Leone
Special Court for Sierra Leone
The Special Court for Sierra Leone is an independent judicial body set up to "try those who bear greatest responsibility" for the war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Sierra Leone after 30 November 1996 during the Sierra Leone Civil War...
and support of UNAMSIL was stressed.
Acts
Extending UNAMSIL's mandateMandate (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....
for an additional six months, the Council thanked countries contributing to the force and UNAMSIL for adjustments to its size, composition and deployment. It was asked to take responsibility for the country's internal and external security, while 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 detail plans for its drawdown and withdrawal.
The resolution expressed concern at a shortfall in donations and stressed that the development of administrative capabilities of the Sierra Leonean government was essential to long-term peace. Additionally, the government had made efforts to ensure effective control of the diamond mining areas in Sierra Leone and UNAMSIL civilian police were being deployed. The Council supported the Special Court for Sierra Leone and the launch of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Meanwhile, the presidents of the Mano River Union
Mano River Union
The Mano River Union is an international association established in 1973 between Liberia and Sierra Leone. In 1980, Guinea joined the union. The goal of the Union was to foster economic cooperation among the countries...
were called upon to resume dialogue and commitments aimed at strengthening regional peace and security.
The Security Council noted instability on the border between Sierra Leone and Liberia and demanded that the Liberian Armed Forces
Armed Forces of Liberia
The Armed Forces of Liberia are the armed forces of the Republic of Liberia. Founded as the Liberian Frontier Force in 1908, the military was retitled in 1956. For virtually all of its history, the AFL has received considerable materiel and training assistance from the United States. For most of...
or other armed groups refrain from incursions into 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...
against Liberia and restrictions concerning blood diamonds. The Secretary-General was to keep the situation in Sierra Leone under review, and the Sierra Leone government was requested to pay attention to the needs of women and children.
See also
- List of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1401 to 1500 (2002 – 2003)
- Second Liberian Civil WarSecond Liberian Civil WarThe Second Liberian Civil War began in 1999 when a rebel group backed by the government of neighbouring Guinea, the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy , emerged in northern Liberia. In early 2003, a second rebel group, the Movement for Democracy in Liberia, emerged in the south, and...
- 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...
- Special Court for Sierra LeoneSpecial Court for Sierra LeoneThe Special Court for Sierra Leone is an independent judicial body set up to "try those who bear greatest responsibility" for the war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Sierra Leone after 30 November 1996 during the Sierra Leone Civil War...