United Nations Security Council Resolution 972
Encyclopedia
United Nations
Security Council Resolution
972, adopted unanimously on January 13, 1995, after reaffirming resolutions 813
(1993), 856
(1993), 866
(1993), 911
(1994) and 950
(1994), the Council discussed the peace process in Liberia
and extended the mandate of the United Nations Observer Mission in Liberia
(UNOMIL) until April 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 efforts in Liberia and the signing of the Accra Agreement on December 21, 1994. States that had contributed to the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group
(ECOMOG) were praised. It was hoped that a summit would be convened with the ECOWAS member states to harmonise their policies. Concern was expressed at continuing flow of weapon
s into the country in violation of an arms embargo
, and that as a result of poor security, the humanitarian situation had deteriorated. The Liberian leaders and parties were called upon to uphold a ceasefire
agreed in the Accra Agreement.
The parties were then asked to co-operate with regards to the cease-fire, disarmament
, demobilisation
and the installation of a new State Council. Returning UNOMIL to its previously authorised level would depend upon the implementation of the ceasefire, requesting the Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali
to report back on or before March 1, 1995 on developments. All countries were required to strictly observe the arms embargo on Liberia and contribute towards the trust fund, providing assistance to ECOMOG. The resolution concluded by calling upon the Liberian parties to guarantee the safety of United Nations personnel and respect international humanitarian law
.
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"....
972, adopted unanimously on January 13, 1995, 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), 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) and 950
United Nations Security Council Resolution 950
United Nations Security Council Resolution 950, adopted unanimously on October 21, 1994, after reaffirming resolutions 813 , 856 , 866 and 911 , the Council noted the deteriorating situation in Liberia and extended the mandate of the United Nations Observer Mission in Liberia until January 13,...
(1994), the Council discussed the peace process 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 April 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 efforts in Liberia and the signing of the Accra Agreement on December 21, 1994. 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 praised. It was hoped that a summit would be convened with the ECOWAS member states to harmonise their policies. Concern was expressed at continuing flow of 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 into the country in violation of an 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...
, and that as a result of poor security, the humanitarian situation had deteriorated. The Liberian leaders and parties were called upon to uphold 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...
agreed in the Accra Agreement.
The parties were then asked to co-operate with regards to the cease-fire, 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 the installation of a new State Council. Returning UNOMIL to its previously authorised level would depend upon the implementation of the ceasefire, requesting 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 report back on or before March 1, 1995 on developments. All countries were required to strictly observe the arms embargo on Liberia and contribute towards the trust fund, providing assistance to ECOMOG. The resolution concluded by calling upon the Liberian parties to guarantee the safety of United Nations personnel and respect 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...
.
See also
- Charles Taylor
- First Liberian Civil War
- List of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 901 to 1000 (1994 – 1995)