United Nations Security Council Resolution 1011
Encyclopedia
United Nations
Security Council Resolution
1011, adopted unanimously on August 16, 1995, after recalling resolutions 918
(1994), 997
(1995) and 1005
(1995) on the situation in Rwanda
, the Council suspended the arms embargo
against the Government of Rwanda.
The Security Council received a report from the Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali
on the monitoring of restrictions on the transfer of weapon
s and on the progress of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda
mission. Possession of arms among the population was a major destabilising factor in the Great Lakes region
. Zaire
had proposed an international commission under the auspices of the United Nations to investigate arms supplies to former Rwandan government forces. The registration and marking of weapons would do much to control and enforce restrictions.
There was concern regarding incursions into Rwanda by elements of the former regime and underlining the need for effective measures to ensure that Rwandan nationals in neighbouring countries could not undertake activities or receive weapons in order to destabilise the country. All sections of the Rwandan population, except those involved in genocide
, had to begin talks. Rwanda demanded that the arms embargo against the Rwandan government be lifted to ensure the security of its people. It was originally recalled that the arms embargo was in place to prevent the use of weapons and equipment in the massacres of innocent people. There had already decided to reduce the size of UNAMIR and that the Rwandan government was responsible for the safety of the population.
The Council drew attention to Rwanda's legal system, particularly overcrowding, lack of judge
s, the detention of minors and the elderly and the lack of a quick judicial process. In this regard, efforts by the United Nations and donors in collaboration with Rwanda to improve the situation were welcomed.
The Secretary-General was requested as soon as possible to make recommendations on a Commission to conduct an investigation into the arms flows to former Rwandan government forces in the Great Lakes region. At the same time, Rwanda and its neighbours were asked to co-operate with the Commission. Within a month, Boutros-Ghali was to report on preparations for convening a regional Conference on Security, Stability and Development and the repatriation
of refugee
s. The Rwandan government was called upon to create an atmosphere of trust and confidence for the safe return of refugees and resolve humanitarian problems in its prison
s.
Acting under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter
, the Council then decided that the arms embargo against the Rwandan government would be suspended until September 1, 1996, through a number of access points to the country, of which Member States would be notified. After that date, the weapon restrictions against the Rwandan government would be terminated. Arms deliveries to groups other than that to the Rwandan government were prohibited, and the resale of the weapons was also prevented. In this regard, countries providing weapons to Rwanda would be required to notify the Committee established by Resolution 918. The Secretary-General was requested within six and then within twelve months to report on those supplies.
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"....
1011, adopted unanimously on August 16, 1995, after recalling resolutions 918
United Nations Security Council Resolution 918
United Nations Security Council Resolution 918, adopted without a vote on May 17, 1994, after reaffirming all resolutions on the situation in Rwanda, particularly resolutions 872 , 909 and 912 , the Council expressed its alarm and condemnation at the continuing large-scale violence in the country...
(1994), 997
United Nations Security Council Resolution 997
United Nations Security Council Resolution 997, adopted unanimously on June 9, 1995, after reaffirming all resolutions on the situation in Rwanda, particularly resolutions 872 , 912 , 918 , 925 , 955 and 965 , the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda ...
(1995) and 1005
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1005
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1005, adopted unanimously on July 17, 1995, after recalling resolutions 918 and 997 on the situation in Rwanda, the Council noted the hazards posed by land mines and, acting under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, authorised appropriate amounts...
(1995) on the situation in Rwanda
Rwanda
Rwanda or , officially the Republic of Rwanda , is a country in central and eastern Africa with a population of approximately 11.4 million . Rwanda is located a few degrees south of the Equator, and is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
, the Council suspended the 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 the Government of Rwanda.
The Security Council received a report from 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...
on the monitoring of restrictions on the transfer 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 and on the progress of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda
United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda
The United Nations Assistance Mission In Rwanda was a mission instituted by the United Nations to aid the implementation of the Arusha Accords, signed August 4, 1993, which were meant to end the Rwandan Civil War. The mission lasted from October 1993 to March 1996...
mission. Possession of arms among the population was a major destabilising factor in the Great Lakes region
African Great Lakes
The African Great Lakes are a series of lakes and the Rift Valley lakes in and around the geographic Great Rift Valley formed by the action of the tectonic East African Rift on the continent of Africa...
. Zaire
Zaire
The Republic of Zaire was the name of the present Democratic Republic of the Congo between 27 October 1971 and 17 May 1997. The name of Zaire derives from the , itself an adaptation of the Kongo word nzere or nzadi, or "the river that swallows all rivers".-Self-proclaimed Father of the Nation:In...
had proposed an international commission under the auspices of the United Nations to investigate arms supplies to former Rwandan government forces. The registration and marking of weapons would do much to control and enforce restrictions.
There was concern regarding incursions into Rwanda by elements of the former regime and underlining the need for effective measures to ensure that Rwandan nationals in neighbouring countries could not undertake activities or receive weapons in order to destabilise the country. All sections of the Rwandan population, except those involved in genocide
Genocide
Genocide is defined as "the deliberate and systematic destruction, in whole or in part, of an ethnic, racial, religious, or national group", though what constitutes enough of a "part" to qualify as genocide has been subject to much debate by legal scholars...
, had to begin talks. Rwanda demanded that the arms embargo against the Rwandan government be lifted to ensure the security of its people. It was originally recalled that the arms embargo was in place to prevent the use of weapons and equipment in the massacres of innocent people. There had already decided to reduce the size of UNAMIR and that the Rwandan government was responsible for the safety of the population.
The Council drew attention to Rwanda's legal system, particularly overcrowding, lack of judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
s, the detention of minors and the elderly and the lack of a quick judicial process. In this regard, efforts by the United Nations and donors in collaboration with Rwanda to improve the situation were welcomed.
The Secretary-General was requested as soon as possible to make recommendations on a Commission to conduct an investigation into the arms flows to former Rwandan government forces in the Great Lakes region. At the same time, Rwanda and its neighbours were asked to co-operate with the Commission. Within a month, Boutros-Ghali was to report on preparations for convening a regional Conference on Security, Stability and Development and the repatriation
Repatriation
Repatriation is the process of returning a person back to one's place of origin or citizenship. This includes the process of returning refugees or soldiers to their place of origin following a war...
of refugee
Refugee
A refugee is a person who outside her country of origin or habitual residence because she has suffered persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or because she is a member of a persecuted 'social group'. Such a person may be referred to as an 'asylum seeker' until...
s. The Rwandan government was called upon to create an atmosphere of trust and confidence for the safe return of refugees and resolve humanitarian problems in its prison
Prison
A prison is a place in which people are physically confined and, usually, deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Imprisonment or incarceration is a legal penalty that may be imposed by the state for the commission of a crime...
s.
Acting 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 Council then decided that the arms embargo against the Rwandan government would be suspended until September 1, 1996, through a number of access points to the country, of which Member States would be notified. After that date, the weapon restrictions against the Rwandan government would be terminated. Arms deliveries to groups other than that to the Rwandan government were prohibited, and the resale of the weapons was also prevented. In this regard, countries providing weapons to Rwanda would be required to notify the Committee established by Resolution 918. The Secretary-General was requested within six and then within twelve months to report on those supplies.
See also
- List of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1001 to 1100 (1995 – 1997)
- Rwandan Civil WarRwandan Civil WarThe Rwandan Civil War was a conflict within the Central African nation of Rwanda between the government of President Juvénal Habyarimana and the rebel Rwandan Patriotic Front...
- Rwandan GenocideRwandan GenocideThe Rwandan Genocide was the 1994 mass murder of an estimated 800,000 people in the small East African nation of Rwanda. Over the course of approximately 100 days through mid-July, over 500,000 people were killed, according to a Human Rights Watch estimate...
- United Nations Observer Mission Uganda–Rwanda