United Nations Security Council Resolution 1508
Encyclopedia
United Nations
Security Council Resolution
1508, adopted unanimously on September 19, 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 March 31, 2004.
The resolution stated that stability in Sierra Leone would depend on the situation in neighbouring Liberia. On the same day, the Security Council adopted Resolution 1509
(2003) establishing the United Nations Mission in Liberia
.
which was experiencing its second civil war
. It stressed the importance of establishing authority throughout Sierra Leone, including the diamond
fields in addition to the reintegration of ex-combatants, the return of refugee
s and internally displaced person
s and respect for human rights
and the rule of law
.
for an additional six months, the Council thanked countries contributing to the force and UNAMSIL for adjustments to its size, composition and deployment in accordance with resolutions 1436
(2002) and 1492
(2003).
The resolution stressed that the development of administrative capabilities of the Sierra Leonean government was essential to long-term peace. Additionally, the government was urged to increase control of diamond mining. Meanwhile, the Council expressed concern at the serious financial situation of the Special Court for Sierra Leone
and countries were asked to contribute generously to both the Court and Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The presidents of the Mano River Union
to resume dialogue and commitments aimed at strengthening regional peace and security.
The Council welcomed the deployment of forces from the Economic Community of West African States
(ECOWAS) to Liberia, supported by UNAMSIL. It demanded that armed groups in Liberia end incursions into Sierra Leone, urging the Sierra Leone Armed Forces
and UNAMSIL to patrol the border. Finally, the Secretary-General was to keep the situation in Sierra Leone under review.
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"....
1508, adopted unanimously on September 19, 2003, after recalling all previous resolutions on the situation in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
, the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone
United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone
The United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone was a United Nations peacekeeping operation in Sierra Leone from 1999 to 2005. It was created by the United Nations Security Council in October 1999 to help with the implementation of the Lomé Peace Accord, an agreement intended to end the Sierra Leonean...
(UNAMSIL) for six months until March 31, 2004.
The resolution stated that stability in Sierra Leone would depend on the situation in neighbouring Liberia. On the same day, the Security Council adopted Resolution 1509
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1509
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1509, adopted unanimously on September 19, 2003, after recalling all previous resolutions on the situation in Liberia, including Resolution 1497 , the Council established the 15,000-strong United Nations Mission in Liberia to assist in implementing a...
(2003) establishing the United Nations Mission in Liberia
United Nations Mission in Liberia
The United Nations Mission in Liberia is a peace-keeping force 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....
.
Observations
The Security Council welcomed the stabilising security situation in Sierra Leone and noted that its stability would depend on peace in the region, particularly in LiberiaLiberia
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...
which was experiencing its second civil war
Second Liberian Civil War
The Second Liberian Civil War began in 1999 when a rebel group backed by the government of neighbouring Guinea, the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy , emerged in northern Liberia. In early 2003, a second rebel group, the Movement for Democracy in Liberia, emerged in the south, and...
. It stressed the importance of establishing authority throughout Sierra Leone, including the diamond
Diamond
In mineralogy, diamond is an allotrope of carbon, where the carbon atoms are arranged in a variation of the face-centered cubic crystal structure called a diamond lattice. Diamond is less stable than graphite, but the conversion rate from diamond to graphite is negligible at ambient conditions...
fields in addition to the reintegration of ex-combatants, the return 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 and internally displaced person
Internally displaced person
An internally displaced person is someone who is forced to flee his or her home but who remains within his or her country's borders. They are often referred to as refugees, although they do not fall within the current legal definition of a refugee. At the end of 2006 it was estimated there were...
s and respect for human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
and the rule of law
Rule of law
The rule of law, sometimes called supremacy of law, is a legal maxim that says that governmental decisions should be made by applying known principles or laws with minimal discretion in their application...
.
Acts
Extending UNAMSIL's mandateMandate (international law)
In international law, a mandate is a binding obligation issued from an inter-governmental organization like the United Nations to a country which is bound to follow the instructions of the organization....
for an additional six months, the Council thanked countries contributing to the force and UNAMSIL for adjustments to its size, composition and deployment in accordance with resolutions 1436
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1436
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1436, adopted unanimously on September 24, 2002, after recalling all previous resolutions on the situation in Sierra Leone, the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone for a further six months beginning on September 30,...
(2002) and 1492
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1492
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1492, adopted unanimously on July 18, 2003, after recalling all previous resolutions on the situation in Sierra Leone, the Council approved a four stage reduction of the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone , culmuinating in a complete withdrawal by...
(2003).
The resolution stressed that the development of administrative capabilities of the Sierra Leonean government was essential to long-term peace. Additionally, the government was urged to increase control of diamond mining. Meanwhile, the Council expressed concern at the serious financial situation of the Special Court for Sierra Leone
Special Court for Sierra Leone
The Special Court for Sierra Leone is an independent judicial body set up to "try those who bear greatest responsibility" for the war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Sierra Leone after 30 November 1996 during the Sierra Leone Civil War...
and countries were asked to contribute generously to both the Court and Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The presidents of the Mano River Union
Mano River Union
The Mano River Union is an international association established in 1973 between Liberia and Sierra Leone. In 1980, Guinea joined the union. The goal of the Union was to foster economic cooperation among the countries...
to resume dialogue and commitments aimed at strengthening regional peace and security.
The Council welcomed the deployment of forces from 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) to Liberia, supported by UNAMSIL. It demanded that armed groups in Liberia end incursions into Sierra Leone, urging the Sierra Leone Armed Forces
Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces
The Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces is the armed forces of Sierra Leone, responsible for the territorial security of Sierra Leone's border and defending the national interests of Sierra Leone, within the framework of its international obligations...
and UNAMSIL to patrol the border. Finally, the Secretary-General was to keep the situation in Sierra Leone under review.
See also
- List of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1501 to 1600 (2003 – 2005)
- Second Liberian Civil WarSecond Liberian Civil WarThe Second Liberian Civil War began in 1999 when a rebel group backed by the government of neighbouring Guinea, the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy , emerged in northern Liberia. In early 2003, a second rebel group, the Movement for Democracy in Liberia, emerged in the south, and...
- Sierra Leone Civil WarSierra Leone Civil WarThe Sierra Leone Civil War began on 23 March 1991 when the Revolutionary United Front , with support from the special forces of Charles Taylor’s National Patriotic Front of Liberia , intervened in Sierra Leone in an attempt to overthrow the Joseph Momoh government...
- Special Court for Sierra LeoneSpecial Court for Sierra LeoneThe Special Court for Sierra Leone is an independent judicial body set up to "try those who bear greatest responsibility" for the war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Sierra Leone after 30 November 1996 during the Sierra Leone Civil War...