United Nations Security Council Resolution 1971
Encyclopedia
United Nations
Security Council Resolution
1971, adopted unanimously on March 3, 2011, after recalling previous resolutions on the situation in Liberia
and Sierra Leone
, including Resolution 1626
(2005), the Council requested the United Nations Mission in Liberia
(UNMIL) to withdraw its military personnel providing security for the Special Court for Sierra Leone
, and placed the responsibility for security with the Sierra Leone Police
.
n contingent of the mission. It noted that the Registrar of the Special Court had stated that there would be no need for a military guard after February 2011, while the Sierra Leone government had requested that a withdrawal be postponed until late February or early March 2011.
, the Council ended the authorisation given to 150 UNMIL personnel to protect the Special Court and asked it to withdraw by 7 March 2011. UNMIL could also no longer evacuate officials of the Special Court in the event of an emergency. The Council awaited security to be provided by local security, while the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Sierra Leone
(UNIPSIL) was instructed to include officials of the Special Court within its evacuation procedures.
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"....
1971, adopted unanimously on March 3, 2011, after recalling previous resolutions on the situation 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 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...
, including Resolution 1626
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1626
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1626, adopted unanimously on September 19, 2005, after recalling all previous resolutions on the situations in Liberia and Sierra Leone, particularly resolutions 1509 , 1610 and 1620 , the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission in...
(2005), the Council requested 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....
(UNMIL) to withdraw its military personnel providing security for 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 placed the responsibility for security with the Sierra Leone Police
Sierra Leone Police
The Sierra Leone Police locally known as Salone Police is the national police force of the Republic of Sierra Leone, responsible for law enforcement and crime investigation throughout Sierra Leone...
.
Observations
Resolution 1626 had authorised an UNMIL contingent to protect the Special Court. The Security Council praised the role of UNMIL, particularly the MongoliaMongolia
Mongolia is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. Although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, its western-most point is only from Kazakhstan's eastern tip. Ulan Bator, the capital and largest...
n contingent of the mission. It noted that the Registrar of the Special Court had stated that there would be no need for a military guard after February 2011, while the Sierra Leone government had requested that a withdrawal be postponed until late February or early March 2011.
Acts
Acting under Chapter VII of the United Nations CharterChapter 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 ended the authorisation given to 150 UNMIL personnel to protect the Special Court and asked it to withdraw by 7 March 2011. UNMIL could also no longer evacuate officials of the Special Court in the event of an emergency. The Council awaited security to be provided by local security, while the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Sierra Leone
United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Sierra Leone
The United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Sierra Leone was established by the United Nations Security Council in 2008 to provide support to the Government of Sierra Leone in identifying and resolving tensions and threats of potential conflict, monitoring and promoting human rights, and...
(UNIPSIL) was instructed to include officials of the Special Court within its evacuation procedures.
See also
- List of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1901 to 2000 (2009 – 2011)
- 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...