United Nations Security Council Resolution 1545
Encyclopedia
United Nations
Security Council Resolution
1545, adopted unanimously on May 21, 2004, after recalling all resolutions on the situation in Burundi
, particularly Resolution 1375
(2001), the Council established the United Nations Operation in Burundi
(ONUB) to bring about peace and national reconciliation in the country.
The ONUB operation would replace the African Union
mission in the country.
in 2000, calling on the relevant parties to honour their commitments under the agreement. Transitional institutions were urged to enact legislation for election preparations before the transitional period ended on October 31, 2004. It noted that two ceasefire
agreements were signed between the rebel National Council for the Defense of Democracy – Forces for the Defense of Democracy (CNDD-FDD) and the transitional government, though hostilities in parts of Burundi continued.
The preamble of the resolution also condemned all violations of human rights
and international humanitarian law
, including mass rape, and the need to bring the perpetrators to justice. There was concern at the economic and humanitarian situation of the majority of the civilian population. Meanwhile, the Council welcomed progress in preparing the disarmament
, demobilisation
and reintegration
(DDR) programme for combatants, and the efforts of a mission of the African Union
deployed in Burundi were praised. It was also aware of the difficulties of maintaining stability in Burundi unless it was achieved in neighbouring states, particularly the Democratic Republic of the Congo
.
, the Council authorised the ONUB operation for an initial period of six months, beginning on June 1, 2004. It would be headed by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General
, and consist of 5,650 military personnel and 120 police. Furthermore, it was authorised to use all necessary means to fulfill the following mandate
:
ONUB was also tasked with assisting the Burundian government through monitoring of the country's borders; institutional reforms; training of the army and police; electoral activities; reforming the judiciary
and penal systems; promoting and protecting human rights; extending the authority of the state throughout the country; and running the national DDR programme.
The resolution asked Burundi to conclude a Status of Forces Agreement
with the Secretary-General Kofi Annan
within 30 days, and all parties were called upon to co-operate with ONUB. It was also necessary that ONUB had access to effective public channels such as radio, television and newspapers to promote the peace process and the role of the operation in Burundi. Meanwhile, donors were urged to contribute towards the long-term development of Burundi.
Finally, the Council directed the operation in Burundi and the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) to co-ordinate their activities and share military information, particularly with regard to movement of rebels and weapon
s. The Secretary-General was asked to report on the situation in Burundi at regular intervals.
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"....
1545, adopted unanimously on May 21, 2004, after recalling all resolutions on the situation in Burundi
Burundi
Burundi , officially the Republic of Burundi , is a landlocked country in the Great Lakes region of Eastern Africa bordered by Rwanda to the north, Tanzania to the east and south, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west. Its capital is Bujumbura...
, particularly Resolution 1375
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1375
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1375, adopted unanimously on October 29, 2001, after reaffirming all resolutions and statements by the President of the Security Council on the civil war in Burundi, endorsed efforts by South Africa and other states to implement the Arusha Agreement and...
(2001), the Council established the United Nations Operation in Burundi
United Nations Operation in Burundi
The United Nations Operation in Burundi was established by United Nations Security Council in May 2004 to ensure the continuation of the Arusha Peace and Reconciliation Agreement signed on 28 August 2000....
(ONUB) to bring about peace and national reconciliation in the country.
The ONUB operation would replace the African Union
African Union
The African Union is a union consisting of 54 African states. The only all-African state not in the AU is Morocco. Established on 9 July 2002, the AU was formed as a successor to the Organisation of African Unity...
mission in the country.
Observations
The Security Council reiterated its support for the Peace and Reconciliation Agreement signed in ArushaArusha
Arusha is a city in northern Tanzania. It is the capital of the Arusha Region, which claims a population of 1,288,088, including 281,608 for the Arusha District . Arusha is surrounded by some of Africa's most famous landscapes and national parks...
in 2000, calling on the relevant parties to honour their commitments under the agreement. Transitional institutions were urged to enact legislation for election preparations before the transitional period ended on October 31, 2004. It noted that two ceasefire
Ceasefire
A ceasefire is a temporary stoppage of a war in which each side agrees with the other to suspend aggressive actions. Ceasefires may be declared as part of a formal treaty, but they have also been called as part of an informal understanding between opposing forces...
agreements were signed between the rebel National Council for the Defense of Democracy – Forces for the Defense of Democracy (CNDD-FDD) and the transitional government, though hostilities in parts of Burundi continued.
The preamble of the resolution also condemned all violations of 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 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...
, including mass rape, and the need to bring the perpetrators to justice. There was concern at the economic and humanitarian situation of the majority of the civilian population. Meanwhile, the Council welcomed progress in preparing the 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
Social integration
Social integration, in sociology and other social sciences, is the movement of minority groups such as ethnic minorities, refugees and underprivileged sections of a society into the mainstream of societies...
(DDR) programme for combatants, and the efforts of a mission of the African Union
African Union
The African Union is a union consisting of 54 African states. The only all-African state not in the AU is Morocco. Established on 9 July 2002, the AU was formed as a successor to the Organisation of African Unity...
deployed in Burundi were praised. It was also aware of the difficulties of maintaining stability in Burundi unless it was achieved in neighbouring states, particularly the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
.
Acts
Acting under Chapter VII of the United Nations CharterChapter 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 Council authorised the ONUB operation for an initial period of six months, beginning on June 1, 2004. It would be headed by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General
Special Representative of the Secretary-General
A Special Representative of the Secretary-General is a highly respected expert who has been appointed by the Secretary-General of the United Nations to represent her/him in meetings with heads of state on critical human rights issues...
, and consist of 5,650 military personnel and 120 police. Furthermore, it was authorised to use all necessary means to fulfill the following 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....
:
- Monitor and investigate any violations of the ceasefire;
- Promote trust between the Burundian forces, collecting and securing weapons;
- Disarm and demobilise combatants;
- Monitor the cantonment of the armed forcesMilitary of BurundiThe Military of Burundi consists of the Army and the Gendarmerie. The naval and air units are incorporated within the Army.Army equipment includes BTR-40, Panhard AML, Shorland armoured car, and Walid armoured vehicles, ZPUair defence guns, and Heckler & Koch G3 and FN MAG small arms.- Small Arms...
and their heavy weapons; - Monitor the illegal arms trade;
- Provide secure conditions for humanitarian aidHumanitarian aidHumanitarian 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...
delivery and the return of refugeeRefugeeA 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; - Provide a safe environment for the electoral processElections in BurundiElections in Burundi gives information on election and election results in Burundi.Burundi elects on national level a head of state - the president - and a legislature. The National Assembly has 118 members, elected for a five year term by proportional representation with a 2% barrier...
; - Protect the population against imminent threats;
- Protect United Nations personnel and facilities, co-ordinate deminingDeminingDemining 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...
efforts.
ONUB was also tasked with assisting the Burundian government through monitoring of the country's borders; institutional reforms; training of the army and police; electoral activities; reforming the judiciary
Judiciary
The judiciary is the system of courts that interprets and applies the law in the name of the state. The judiciary also provides a mechanism for the resolution of disputes...
and penal systems; promoting and protecting human rights; extending the authority of the state throughout the country; and running the national DDR programme.
The resolution asked Burundi to conclude a Status of Forces 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...
with 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...
within 30 days, and all parties were called upon to co-operate with ONUB. It was also necessary that ONUB had access to effective public channels such as radio, television and newspapers to promote the peace process and the role of the operation in Burundi. Meanwhile, donors were urged to contribute towards the long-term development of Burundi.
Finally, the Council directed the operation in Burundi and the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) to co-ordinate their activities and share military information, particularly with regard to movement of rebels and weapon
Weapon
A weapon, arm, or armament is a tool or instrument used with the aim of causing damage or harm to living beings or artificial structures or systems...
s. The Secretary-General was asked to report on the situation in Burundi at regular intervals.
See also
- Burundi Civil WarBurundi Civil WarThe Burundi Civil War was an armed conflict lasting from 1993 to 2005. The civil war was the result of long standing ethnic divisions between the Hutu and the Tutsi tribes in Burundi...
- List of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1501 to 1600 (2003 – 2005)
- United Nations Integrated Office in BurundiUnited Nations Integrated Office in BurundiThe United Nations Integrated Office in Burundi was established by the United Nations Security Council to support the government of Burundi in its efforts towards long-term peace and stability and to replace the work of United Nations Operation in Burundi...