United Nations Security Council Resolution 851
Encyclopedia
United Nations
Security Council Resolution
851, adopted unanimously on July 15, 1993, after reaffirming resolutions 696
(1991), 747
(1992), 785
(1992), 793
(1992), 804
(1993), 811
(1993), 823
(1993) and 834
(1993), the Council noted the continuing deterioration of the situation in Angola
and extended the mandate of the United Nations Angola Verification Mission II
(UNAVEM II) until September 15, 1993, discussing further the peace process in the country.
The resolution began by welcoming statements and declarations made by the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), Portugal
, Russia
, the United States
and the World Conference on Human Rights
in Vienna, Austria
. There was concern however for the suspension of peace talks, lack of a ceasefire
and the deteriorating political, military and humanitarian situation in the country. The efforts of the Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali
and his Special Representative Margaret Anstee
to bring about an end to the crisis through negotiations were supported, emphasising the importance of a continued United Nations presence in Angola.
The Council reiterated its readiness to substantially expand the United Nations presence in the country in the event of significant progress in the peace process. It also demanded that UNITA
accept the outcome of the elections in 1992 and abide by the "Acordos de Paz" peace agreement. UNITA's continued military actions which resulted in harm to the civilian population and Angolan economy
as well as repeated attempts to seize additional territory and non-withdrawal of troops were all condemned. The Council stated that such violations were incompatible with the peace accords, stressing the need to immediately resume a ceasefire
and implement the peace agreement and relevant Security Council resolutions. Meanwhile, all states were urged not to give military support to UNITA that could harm the peace process.
The Security Council stated it would consider further action under the United Nations Charter
, including a compulsory arms embargo
against UNITA, unless the Secretary-General reported by September 15, 1993 that a ceasefire was being observed and an agreement was reached on the implementation of the peace agreement and relevant Security Council resolutions. The legality of the Angolan government was recognised and welcomed the provision of assistance to the government in support of the democratic
process and steps taken by Boutros-Ghali to implement the emergency humanitarian assistance
plan. Taking note of UNITA's intention not to impede the delivery humanitarian aid, the resolution urged Member States, specialised agencies of the United Nations and non-governmental organisations
to increase humanitarian relief assistance to Angola.
Further addressing UNITA, the Council asked it to ensure the evacuation of foreign nationals and their family members from Huambo
and other locations occupied by UNITA. An attack by UNITA forces on a train on May 27, 1993 in southern Angola which killed around 100 people, was condemned as an violation of international humanitarian law
. In this regard, both parties were urged to ensure the safety of UNAVEM II and respect international humanitarian law and to guarantee unimpeded access for humanitarian assistance to the civilian population, praising the Secretary-General and his Special Representative for establishing agreed humanitarian aid corridors.
The resolution concluded by requesting the Secretary-General to report on developments in Angola by September 15, 1993, and submit as soon as possible the budgetary implications of bringing UNAVEM II up to its full strength as mandated in Resolution 696
(1991).
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"....
851, adopted unanimously on July 15, 1993, after reaffirming resolutions 696
United Nations Security Council Resolution 696
United Nations Security Council Resolution 696, adopted unanimously on May 30, 1991, after noting the recent desire to sign the Bicesse Accords between the MPLA and UNITA in Angola, the recent withdrawal of all Cuban troops and considering a report by the Secretary-General, the Council approved...
(1991), 747
United Nations Security Council Resolution 747
United Nations Security Council Resolution 747, adopted unanimously on March 24, 1992, after recalling Resolution 696 and noting a report by the Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali, the Council approved the report concerning observations of elections and an enlargement for the United Nations...
(1992), 785
United Nations Security Council Resolution 785
United Nations Security Council Resolution 785, adopted unanimously on October 30, 1992, after recalling resolutions 696 and 747 , and expressing its concern at the deteriorating political situation and the resumption of hostilities by UNITA in Angola, the Council approved a recommendation by the...
(1992), 793
United Nations Security Council Resolution 793
United Nations Security Council Resolution 793, adopted unanimously on November 30, 1992, after recalling resolutions 696 , 747 and 785 , and expressing its concern at the deteriorating political situation and the resumption of hostilities in Angola, the Council approved a recommendation by the...
(1992), 804
United Nations Security Council Resolution 804
United Nations Security Council Resolution 804, adopted unanimously on January 29, 1993, after reaffirming resolutions 696 , 747 , 785 and 793 , and expressing its concern at lack of implementation of the "Acordos de Paz para Angola" in Angola, the Council approved a recommendation by the...
(1993), 811
United Nations Security Council Resolution 811
United Nations Security Council Resolution 811, adopted unanimously on March 12, 1993, after reaffirming resolutions 696 , 747 , 785 , 793 and 804 , the Council expressed its concern at recent fighting and condemned the violations of the "Acordos de Paz" peace agreement in Angola by UNITA,...
(1993), 823
United Nations Security Council Resolution 823
United Nations Security Council Resolution 823, adopted unanimously on April 30, 1993, after reaffirming resolutions 696 , 747 , 785 , 793 , 804 and 811 , the Council expressed support for the ongoing peace talks in Abidjan between the Government of Angola and UNITA under United Nations auspices...
(1993) and 834
United Nations Security Council Resolution 834
United Nations Security Council Resolution 834, adopted unanimously on June 1, 1993, after reaffirming resolutions 696 , 747 , 785 , 793 , 804 , 811 and 823 , the Council indicated its concern at the deteriorating political, military and humanitarian situation inAngola and extended the mandate of...
(1993), the Council noted the continuing deterioration of the situation in Angola
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
and extended the mandate of the United Nations Angola Verification Mission II
United Nations Angola Verification Mission II
The United Nations Angola Verification Mission II , established May 1991 and lasting until February 1995, was the second United Nations peacekeeping mission, of a total of four, deployed to Angola during the course of the Angolan Civil War, the longest war in modern African history...
(UNAVEM II) until September 15, 1993, discussing further the peace process in the country.
The resolution began by welcoming statements and declarations made by the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and the World Conference on Human Rights
World Conference on Human Rights
The World Conference on Human Rights was held by the United Nations in Vienna, Austria, on 14 to 25 June 1993. It was the first human rights conference held since the end of the Cold War...
in Vienna, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
. There was concern however for the suspension of peace talks, lack of a 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...
and the deteriorating political, military and humanitarian situation in the country. The efforts of the 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...
and his Special Representative Margaret Anstee
Margaret Anstee
Dame Margaret Joan Anstee, DCMG served at the United Nations for over four decades , rising to the rank of Under-Secretary General in 1987. She worked on operational programmes of economic and social development in all regions of the world, mostly with the United Nations Development Programme...
to bring about an end to the crisis through negotiations were supported, emphasising the importance of a continued United Nations presence in Angola.
The Council reiterated its readiness to substantially expand the United Nations presence in the country in the event of significant progress in the peace process. It also demanded that UNITA
UNITA
The National Union for the Total Independence of Angola is the second-largest political party in Angola. Founded in 1966, UNITA fought with the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola in the Angolan War for Independence and then against the MPLA in the ensuing civil war .The war was one...
accept the outcome of the elections in 1992 and abide by the "Acordos de Paz" peace agreement. UNITA's continued military actions which resulted in harm to the civilian population and Angolan economy
Economy of Angola
The Economy of Angola is one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, with the Economist asserting that for 2001 to 2010, Angolas' Annual average GDP growth was 11.1 percent. It is still recovering from the Angolan Civil War that plagued Angola from independence in 1975 until 2002...
as well as repeated attempts to seize additional territory and non-withdrawal of troops were all condemned. The Council stated that such violations were incompatible with the peace accords, stressing the need to immediately resume a 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...
and implement the peace agreement and relevant Security Council resolutions. Meanwhile, all states were urged not to give military support to UNITA that could harm the peace process.
The Security Council stated it would consider further action under the United Nations Charter
United Nations Charter
The Charter of the United Nations is the foundational treaty of the international organization called the United Nations. It was signed at the San Francisco War Memorial and Performing Arts Center in San Francisco, United States, on 26 June 1945, by 50 of the 51 original member countries...
, including a compulsory 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 UNITA, unless the Secretary-General reported by September 15, 1993 that a ceasefire was being observed and an agreement was reached on the implementation of the peace agreement and relevant Security Council resolutions. The legality of the Angolan government was recognised and welcomed the provision of assistance to the government in support of the democratic
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
process and steps taken by Boutros-Ghali to implement the emergency 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...
plan. Taking note of UNITA's intention not to impede the delivery humanitarian aid, the resolution urged Member States, specialised agencies of the United Nations and non-governmental organisations
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
to increase humanitarian relief assistance to Angola.
Further addressing UNITA, the Council asked it to ensure the evacuation of foreign nationals and their family members from Huambo
Huambo
Huambo, formerly Nova Lisboa , is the capital of Huambo province in Angola. The city is located about 220 km E from Benguela and 600 km SE from Luanda. The city's last known population count was 225,268...
and other locations occupied by UNITA. An attack by UNITA forces on a train on May 27, 1993 in southern Angola which killed around 100 people, was condemned as an violation 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...
. In this regard, both parties were urged to ensure the safety of UNAVEM II and respect international humanitarian law and to guarantee unimpeded access for humanitarian assistance to the civilian population, praising the Secretary-General and his Special Representative for establishing agreed humanitarian aid corridors.
The resolution concluded by requesting the Secretary-General to report on developments in Angola by September 15, 1993, and submit as soon as possible the budgetary implications of bringing UNAVEM II up to its full strength as mandated in Resolution 696
United Nations Security Council Resolution 696
United Nations Security Council Resolution 696, adopted unanimously on May 30, 1991, after noting the recent desire to sign the Bicesse Accords between the MPLA and UNITA in Angola, the recent withdrawal of all Cuban troops and considering a report by the Secretary-General, the Council approved...
(1991).
See also
- Angolan Civil WarAngolan Civil WarThe Angolan Civil War was a major civil conflict in the Southern African state of Angola, beginning in 1975 and continuing, with some interludes, until 2002. The war began immediately after Angola became independent from Portugal in November 1975. Prior to this, a decolonisation conflict had taken...
- Angolan legislative election, 1992
- Angolan presidential election, 1992Angolan presidential election, 1992General elections were held in Angola on 29 and 30 September 1992 to elect a President and National Assembly, the first time multi-party elections had been held in the country. They followed the signing of the Bicesse Accord on 31 May 1991 in an attempt to end the 17-year long civil war...
- List of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 801 to 900 (1993 – 1994)
- United Nations Angola Verification Mission IIIUnited Nations Angola Verification Mission IIIThe United Nations Angola Verification Mission III is a peacekeeping mission that began operating in Angola in February 1995 during the civil war. It was established by the United Nations Security Council in Resolution 976....