The First Liberian Civil War was the first in a series of two civil wars within the West African nation of Liberia. It lasted from 1989 to 1997. President Samuel Doe had established a regime in 1980 but totalitarianism and corruption led to unpopularity and the withdrawal of support from the United States by the late 1980s. The National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL) led by Charles Taylor invaded Liberia from the Ivory Coast to overthrow Doe in December 1989 and gained control over most of the country within a year. Doe was captured and executed by the Independent National Patriotic Front of Liberia (INPFL), a splinter faction of the NPFL led by Prince Johnson, in September 1990. The NPFL and INPFL fought each other for control of the capital city, Monrovia and against the Armed Forces of Liberia and pro-Doe United Liberation Movement of Liberia for Democracy. Peace negotiations and foreign involvement led to a ceasefire in 1995 but fighting continued until a peace agreement between the main factions occurred in August 1996. Taylor was elected President of Liberia following the 1997 Liberian general election and entered office in August of the same year.
The United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) was a peacekeeping operation established in September 2003 to monitor a ceasefire agreement in Liberia following the resignation of President Charles Taylor and the conclusion of the Second Liberian Civil War (1999–2003). At its peak it consisted of up to 15,000 U.N. military personnel and 1,115 police officers, along with civilian political advisors and aid workers.
United Nations Security Council resolution 834, adopted unanimously on 1 June 1993, after reaffirming resolutions 696 (1991), 747 (1992), 785 (1992), 793 (1992), 804 (1993), 811 (1993) and 823 (1993), the council indicated its concern at the deteriorating political, military and humanitarian situation in Angola and extended the mandate of the United Nations Angola Verification Mission II for a period of 45 days ending 15 July 1993.
United Nations Security Council resolution 866, adopted unanimously on 22 September 1993, after reaffirming resolutions 813 (1993) and 856 (1993), the council noted that United Nations involvement would contribute significantly to the effective implementation of the peace agreement in Liberia and went on to establish the United Nations Observer Mission in Liberia (UNOMIL).
United Nations Security Council resolution 872, adopted unanimously on 5 October 1993, after reaffirming resolutions 812 (1993) and 846 (1993) on the situation in Rwanda and Resolution 868 (1993) on the security of United Nations operations, the council stressed the need for an international force in the country and therefore established the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda (UNAMIR).
United Nations Security Council resolution 909, adopted unanimously on 5 April 1994, after reaffirming resolutions 812 (1993), 846 (1993), 872 (1993), 891 (1993) and 893 (1994) on Rwanda, the Council expressed concern at deteriorating security and humanitarian situation in the country, particularly in Kigali, and extended the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda (UNAMIR) until 29 July 1994.
United Nations Security Council resolution 922, adopted unanimously on 31 May 1994, after reaffirming Resolution 696 (1991) and all subsequent resolutions on Angola, the council discussed the peace process during the civil war and extended the mandate of the United Nations Angola Verification Mission II until 30 June 1994.
United Nations Security Council resolution 950, adopted unanimously on 21 October 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 13 January 1995.
United Nations Security Council resolution 972, adopted unanimously on 13 January 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 13 April 1995.
United Nations Security Council resolution 985, adopted unanimously on 13 April 1995, after reaffirming resolutions 813 (1993), 856 (1993), 866 (1993), 911 (1994), 950 (1994) and 972 (1995), and 788 (1992) which imposed an arms embargo on Liberia, the council established a committee to monitor the implementation of the embargo and extended the mandate of the United Nations Observer Mission in Liberia (UNOMIL) until 30 June 1995.
United Nations Security Council resolution 1001, adopted unanimously on 30 June 1995, after reaffirming resolutions 813 (1993), 856 (1993), 866 (1993), 911 (1994), 950 (1994) and 972 (1995), and 985 (1995) on Liberia, the Council discussed the implementation of peace agreements in the country and extended the mandate of the United Nations Observer Mission in Liberia (UNOMIL) until 15 September 1995.
United Nations Security Council resolution 1014, adopted unanimously on 15 September 1995, after recalling all resolutions on the situation in Liberia, particularly 1001 (1995), the council discussed various aspects of the civil war and extended the mandate of the United Nations Observer Mission in Liberia (UNOMIL) until 31 January 1996.
United Nations Security Council resolution 1020, adopted unanimously on 10 November 1995, after recalling all resolutions on the situation in Liberia, particularly 1001 (1995), the Council discussed the implementation of the peace process during the First Liberian Civil War and adjusted the mandate of the United Nations Observer Mission in Liberia (UNOMIL) to include other functions.
United Nations Security Council resolution 1041, adopted unanimously on 29 January 1996, after recalling all resolutions on the situation in Liberia, particularly 1020 (1995), the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Observer Mission in Liberia (UNOMIL) until 31 May 1996 and discussed efforts to restore stability in the country.
United Nations Security Council resolution 1059, adopted unanimously on 31 May 1996, after recalling all resolutions on the situation in Liberia, particularly Resolution 1041 (1996), the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Observer Mission in Liberia (UNOMIL) until 31 August 1996 and discussed the security situation in the country.
United Nations Security Council resolution 1071, adopted unanimously on 30 August 1996, after recalling all resolutions on the situation in Liberia, particularly Resolution 1059 (1996), the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Observer Mission in Liberia (UNOMIL) until 30 November 1996 and discussed matters relating to UNOMIL.
United Nations Security Council resolution 1083, adopted unanimously on 27 November 1996, after recalling all resolutions on the situation in Liberia, particularly Resolution 1071 (1996), the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Observer Mission in Liberia (UNOMIL) until 31 March 1997 and discussed matters relating to UNOMIL.
United Nations Security Council resolution 1233, adopted unanimously on 6 April 1999, after reaffirming Resolution 1216 (1998) on the situation in Guinea-Bissau, the council established the United Nations Peacebuilding Support Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNOGBIS) to facilitate the implementation of the Abuja Accord.
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 1509, adopted unanimously on 19 September 2003, after recalling all previous resolutions on the situation in Liberia, including Resolution 1497 (2003), the council established the 15,000-strong United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) to assist in implementing a ceasefire and peace agreement.
