United Nations Security Council Resolution 950
Encyclopedia
United Nations
Security Council Resolution
950, adopted unanimously on October 21, 1994, after reaffirming resolutions 813
(1993), 856
(1993), 866
(1993) and 911
(1994), the Council noted the deteriorating situation in Liberia
and extended the mandate of the United Nations Observer Mission in Liberia
(UNOMIL) until January 13, 1995.
The Council began by commending the Economic Community of West African States
(ECOWAS) and its president, the President of Ghana
Jerry Rawlings
, for their role in Liberia. The importance of strengthening the authority of the Liberian National Transitional Government (LNTG) was stressed, and states that had contributed to the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group
(ECOMOG) were commended. ECOMOG itself was praised for preventing an attempted coup d'état
against the LNTG in the capital Monrovia
. Concern was expressed at the breakdown in the ceasefire
and the impact of the deteriorating security situation due to the increasing level of warfare on the civilian population in Liberia.
The intention of the Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali
to send a high-level mission to consult ECOWAS member states on the role of the international community
in Liberia. The Council recognised that, after extending the mandate of UNOMIL, its reduction was necessary due to the prevailing situation on the ground. An increase was dependent on conditions improving and a further report from the Secretary-General.
All factions in Liberia were called upon to cease hostilities and agree a timetable for the disengagement of forces, disarmament
and demobilisation
. Meanwhile, the LNTG and the population were called upon to seek national reconciliation and co-operate with the Chairman of ECOWAS and with the Special Representative of the Secretary-General. All states were instructed to strictly abide by the general and complete arms embargo
on Liberia, in accordance with Resolution 788
(1992) under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter
.
The resolution condemned the widespread killing of civilians, violations of international humanitarian law
and the detention and mistreatment of UNOMIL observers, ECOMOG soldiers, humanitarian relief workers and other personnel. It demanded that all factions in Liberia respect the status of ECOMOG and UNOMIL personnel, refraining from intimidation or acts of violence towards them and return all equipment seized.
Member States were urged to contribute to the peace process in Liberia and commended those that had provided humanitarian aid
to the country. Finally, the Secretary-General was asked to report back to the Council before the end of UNOMIL's current mandate on developments in Liberia and the situation on the ground.
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"....
950, adopted unanimously on October 21, 1994, 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), 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), 866
United Nations Security Council Resolution 866
United Nations Security Council Resolution 866, adopted unanimously on September 22, 1993, after reaffirming resolutions 813 and 856 , the Council noted that United Nations involvement would contribute significantly to the effective implementation of the Peace Agreement in Liberia and went on to...
(1993) and 911
United Nations Security Council Resolution 911
United Nations Security Council Resolution 911, adopted unanimously on April 21, 1994, after reaffirming resolutions 813 , 856 and 866 , the Council welcomed progress made towards establishing the Liberian National Transitional Government but was concerned about subsequent delays in implementing...
(1994), the Council noted the deteriorating situation 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 extended the mandate of 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) until January 13, 1995.
The Council began by commending the 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) and its president, the President of Ghana
President of Ghana
The President of Ghana is the elected head of state and head of government of Ghana. Officially styled President of the Republic of Ghana and Commander-in-Chief of the Ghanaian Armed Forces. The current President of Ghana is Prof. John Atta Mills, who took office in January...
Jerry Rawlings
Jerry Rawlings
Jerry John Rawlings is a former leader of the Republic of Ghana and now the African Union envoy to Somalia. Rawlings ruled Ghana as a military dictator in 1979 and from 1981 to 1992 and then as the first elected president of the Fourth Republic from 1993 to 2001...
, for their role in Liberia. The importance of strengthening the authority of the Liberian National Transitional Government (LNTG) was stressed, and states that had contributed 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) were commended. ECOMOG itself was praised for preventing an attempted coup d'état
Coup d'état
A coup d'état state, literally: strike/blow of state)—also known as a coup, putsch, and overthrow—is the sudden, extrajudicial deposition of a government, usually by a small group of the existing state establishment—typically the military—to replace the deposed government with another body; either...
against the LNTG in the capital Monrovia
Monrovia
Monrovia is the capital city of the West African nation of Liberia. Located on the Atlantic Coast at Cape Mesurado, it lies geographically within Montserrado County, but is administered separately...
. Concern was expressed at the breakdown in the 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 impact of the deteriorating security situation due to the increasing level of warfare on the civilian population in Liberia.
The intention 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...
to send a high-level mission to consult ECOWAS member states on the role of the international community
International community
The international community is a term used in international relations to refer to all peoples, cultures and governments of the world or to a group of them. The term is used to imply the existence of common duties and obligations between them...
in Liberia. The Council recognised that, after extending the mandate of UNOMIL, its reduction was necessary due to the prevailing situation on the ground. An increase was dependent on conditions improving and a further report from the Secretary-General.
All factions in Liberia were called upon to cease hostilities and agree a timetable for the disengagement of forces, 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...
and 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...
. Meanwhile, the LNTG and the population were called upon to seek national reconciliation and co-operate with the Chairman of ECOWAS and with the Special Representative of the Secretary-General. All states were instructed to strictly abide by the general and complete 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...
on Liberia, in accordance with Resolution 788
United Nations Security Council Resolution 788
United Nations Security Council Resolution 788, adopted unanimously on November 19, 1992, after determining that the deterioration of the situation in Liberia constituted a threat to international peace and security, the Council imposed an arms embargo on the country for the purposes of...
(1992) under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter
Chapter 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 resolution condemned the widespread killing of civilians, 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...
and the detention and mistreatment of UNOMIL observers, ECOMOG soldiers, humanitarian relief workers and other personnel. It demanded that all factions in Liberia respect the status of ECOMOG and UNOMIL personnel, refraining from intimidation or acts of violence towards them and return all equipment seized.
Member States were urged to contribute to the peace process in Liberia and commended those that had provided humanitarian aid
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...
to the country. Finally, the Secretary-General was asked to report back to the Council before the end of UNOMIL's current mandate on developments in Liberia and the situation on the ground.
See also
- Charles Taylor
- First Liberian Civil War
- List of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 901 to 1000 (1994 – 1995)