United Nations Security Council Resolution 1343

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UN Security Council
Resolution 1343
Locator SL-LR.png
Locations of Sierra Leone and Liberia in Africa
Date7 March 2001
Meeting no.4,287
CodeS/RES/1343 (Document)
SubjectThe situation in Sierra Leone
Voting summary
  • 15 voted for
  • None voted against
  • None abstained
ResultAdopted
Security Council composition
Permanent members
Non-permanent members

United Nations Security Council resolution 1343, adopted unanimously on 7 March 2001, after recalling resolutions on Sierra Leone and the region, including resolutions 1132 (1997), 1171 (1998) and 1306 (2000), the Council demanded that Liberia end its support for rebels in Sierra Leone and threatened the imposition of wide-ranging sanctions unless the country complied with the Security Council. [1]

Contents

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) urged the United Nations to delay the coming into force of the restrictions against Liberia. [2] The sanctions came into effect in May 2001, after the Liberian government maintained contacts with rebels in Sierra Leone in violation of Security Council demands. [3]

Resolution

Observations

It was recognised that diamonds provided a major source of income for the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) and other armed groups in Sierra Leone. The diamonds would leave Sierra Leone through Liberia with permission from Liberian authorities, and there was concern at evidence that the Liberian government was supporting the RUF at all levels. [4] The illicit diamond trade was fuelling the conflict in Sierra Leone and transiting neighbouring countries including Liberia.

The council reiterated the call on all West African states, particularly Liberia, to cease military support for armed groups in neighbouring countries or allowing their territory to be used for attacks by individuals against other states. It determined that the support for RUF rebels in Sierra Leone by the Liberian government constituted a threat to international peace and security.

Acts

The following provisions were enacted under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, thus making them legally enforceable.

A

The security council recalled resolutions 788 (1992) and 985 (1995) and noted that the Liberian conflict had been resolved and elections had taken place. The arms embargo was terminated and Committee established to monitor the sanctions dissolved.

B

The resolution demanded that the Liberian government end its support for rebels in Sierra Leone and expel RUF members from its country; end financial and military support; cease import of rough diamonds; freeze RUF assets and ground Liberia-registered aircraft operating within its jurisdiction until a proper registration system was in place. [5] Furthermore, the President of Liberia Charles Taylor was asked to allow the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) freedom of movement in the country and return seized weapons and equipment; release all abductees and enter their fighters into disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programmes. It demanded that all states in the region take action to prevent armed attacks against neighbouring countries that could contribute to the destabilisation of the situation at the borders between Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia.

All countries were then instructed to implement an arms embargo against Liberia including the prevention of military assistance; the measures would not apply to resources destined for United Nations or humanitarian personnel. The import of rough diamonds from Liberia was prohibited and a travel ban imposed on senior Liberian government officials, army officials and others providing aid to rebels in Sierra Leone; humanitarian and religious exceptions to the restrictions would be granted by a Committee of the Security Council established in the current resolution. [6] The Council decided that the sanctions would come into effect at 00:01 EST two months following the adoption of the current resolution unless Liberia had complied with Security Council demands. If there was no compliance, the arms embargo would be in effect for 14 months and the arms embargo and travel ban for 12 months, both of which were to be followed by a review. In this regard, the Secretary-General Kofi Annan was requested to submit his first report on 30 April 2001 and every six months thereafter on whether there had been progress on Liberian compliance with Security Council demands and other aspects of the situation in the country.

The security council authorised the establishment of a Committee to gather information on what measures states had taken to implement the restrictions, investigate violations and make recommendations to improve their effectiveness. The Liberian government and diamond exporting countries in West Africa were called upon to establish Certificate of Origin regimes. Countries were asked to combat the proliferation and trafficking of weapons in West Africa and to report within 30 days on the measures they had taken to implement the sanctions against Liberia.

The secretary-general was requested to establish an expert panel for six months consisting of up to five members to investigate links between the exploitation of natural resources and the conflict in Sierra Leone and neighbouring countries and monitor the compliance of the Liberian government with security council demands. Any information the panel found, particularly regarding violations of the sanctions, would be brought to the concerned Member States' attention. All countries were urged to co-operate with the committee and expert panel, with the Council decided to conduct a review of the sanctions within 60 days and every six months thereafter.

See also

Related Research Articles

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United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone

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United Nations Security Council resolution 1132, adopted on 8 October 1997, after expressing concern at the situation in Sierra Leone, the council, acting under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, imposed an oil and arms embargo on the country.

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1171

United Nations Security Council resolution 1171, adopted unanimously on 5 June 1998, after recalling resolutions 1132 (1997), 1156 (1998) and 1162 (1998) on the situation in Sierra Leone, the council, acting under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, terminated the arms embargo against the Government of Sierra Leone.

United Nations Security Council resolution 1181, adopted unanimously on 13 July 1998, after recalling all previous resolutions on the situation in Sierra Leone, the council established the United Nations Observer Mission in Sierra Leone (UNOMSIL) to monitor the military and security situation in the country for an initial period of six months until 13 January 1999.

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1231

United Nations Security Council resolution 1231, adopted unanimously on 11 March 1999, after recalling resolutions 1181 (1998) and 1220 (1999) on the situation in Sierra Leone, the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Observer Mission in Sierra Leone (UNOMSIL) until 13 June 1999.

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1306

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United Nations Security Council Resolution 1395

United Nations Security Council resolution 1395, adopted unanimously on 27 February 2002, after reaffirming Resolution 1343 (2001) which imposed sanctions on Liberia for support of rebels during the civil war in Sierra Leone, the Council re-established an expert panel to monitor compliance with the restrictions relating to embargoes on arms and unofficial rough diamonds from Sierra Leone.

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1408

United Nations Security Council resolution 1408, adopted unanimously on 6 May 2002, after recalling resolutions 1132 (1997), 1171 (1998), 1306 (2000), 1343 (2001), 1385 (2001), 1395 (2002) and 1400 (2002) on the situation in Sierra Leone, the Council extended sanctions against Liberia for its support of rebels in the civil war in Sierra Leone.

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1436

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United Nations Security Council Resolution 1458

United Nations Security Council resolution 1458, adopted unanimously on 28 January 2003, after reaffirming Resolution 1408 (2002) on the situation in Liberia, and recognising the importance of implementing Resolution 1343 (2001), the Council re-established an expert panel to monitor the implementation of sanctions against the Liberian government including an arms embargo, travel ban for officials, and prohibitions on the import of its rough diamonds.

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1470

United Nations Security Council resolution 1470, adopted unanimously on 28 March 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 30 September 2003.

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1478

United Nations Security Council resolution 1478, adopted unanimously on 6 May 2003, after recalling resolutions 1132 (1997), 1171 (1998), 1306 (2000), 1343 (2001), 1385 (2001), 1395 (2002), 1400 (2002), 1408 (2002), 1458 (2003), 1467 (2003) and others on the situation in Liberia, the Council extended sanctions against the Liberian government for an additional period of twelve months until 7 May 2004 and imposed a ban on imports of its timber for ten months.

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1497

United Nations Security Council resolution 1497, adopted on 1 August 2003, after expressing concern at the situation in Liberia, the Council authorised a multinational force to intervene in the civil war to support the implementation of a ceasefire agreement using "all necessary measures".

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1508

United Nations Security Council resolution 1508, adopted unanimously on 19 September 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 31 March 2004.

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1521

United Nations Security Council resolution 1521, adopted unanimously on 22 December 2003, after recalling all previous resolutions on the situation in Liberia and West Africa, the Council established a monitoring body to oversee international sanctions against Liberia. It was the final Security Council resolution adopted in 2003.

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1940

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United Nations Security Council Resolution 1689

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1689, adopted unanimously on June 20, 2006, after recalling all previous resolutions on the situation in Liberia and West Africa, the Council decided to continue sanctions against the import of diamonds from the country for six months, though similar restrictions relating to timber imports were lifted.

United Nations Observer Mission in Sierra Leone

The United Nations Observer Mission in Sierra Leone (UNOMSIL) was a United Nations peacekeeping operation in Sierra Leone from 1998 to 1999 that was established with the passage of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1181. Its mission was to monitor the military and security situation in Sierra Leone. The mission was terminated in October 1999, when the Security Council authorized deployment of a new, and significantly larger peacekeeping operation, the Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL).

References

  1. ↑ "Security Council demands that Liberia immediately cease support Sierra Leone's RUF and other armed rebel groups". United Nations. 7 March 2001.
  2. ↑ Brzoska, Michael; Lopez, George A. (2009). Putting teeth in the tiger: improving the effectiveness of arms embargoes. Emerald Group Publishing. p. 107. ISBN   978-1-84855-202-9.
  3. ↑ "UN imposes sanctions on Liberia". BBC News. 4 May 2001.
  4. ↑ Fischer, Horst; McDonald, Avril; Dugard, John; Gasser, Hans-Peter; Greenwood, Christopher; Fenrick, William; Posse, Hortensia Gutierrez (2004). Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law:, Volume 4; Volume 2001. Cambridge University Press. p. 306. ISBN   978-90-6704-169-0.
  5. ↑ Crossette, Barbara (8 March 2001). "Behave or Face a Diamond Ban, Security Council Tells Liberians". The New York Times .
  6. ↑ Sillinger, Brett (2003). Sierra Leone: current issues and background. Nova Publishers. p. 46. ISBN   978-1-59033-662-5.
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