United Nations Security Council Resolution 788
Encyclopedia
United Nations
Security Council Resolution
788, adopted unanimously on November 19, 1992, after determining that the deterioration of the situation in Liberia
constituted a threat to international peace and security, the Council imposed an arms embargo
on the country for the purposes of establishing peace and stability.
The Council began by commending the efforts of the Economic Community of West African States
(ECOWAS) and reaffirmed the Yamoussoukro IV Accord, signed on October 30, 1991 as the best possible framework for a peaceful resolution of the Liberian conflict. The Accord provided for a Transitional Government with legislative, executive and judicial branches as well as allowing presidential elections to take place within seven months of the agreement being signed.
The resolution then condemned a violation of the ceasefire
on November 28, 1990 and attacks on the ECOWAS Monitoring Group
in Liberia, calling upon all parties to respect international law
and implement the relevant agreements. It also requested the Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali
to send a Special Representative to Liberia to assess the situation, reporting to the Council with any recommendations.
Then, acting under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter
, the Council decided that all states should immediately implement a general and complete embargo on all deliveries of weapons and military equipment to Liberia until the Security Council decided otherwise. The embargo however, would not apply to weapons and military equipment destined for the ECOWAS peacekeeping
forces, and subsequently it was violated and exacerbated the conflict. Finally, the Council commended the work of international humanitarian organisations and Member States in providing humanitarian aid
to the population.
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"....
788, adopted unanimously on November 19, 1992, after determining that the deterioration of 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...
constituted a threat to international peace and security, the Council imposed an 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...
on the country for the purposes of establishing peace and stability.
The Council began by commending the efforts of 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) and reaffirmed the Yamoussoukro IV Accord, signed on October 30, 1991 as the best possible framework for a peaceful resolution of the Liberian conflict. The Accord provided for a Transitional Government with legislative, executive and judicial branches as well as allowing presidential elections to take place within seven months of the agreement being signed.
The resolution then condemned a violation of the ceasefire
Ceasefire
A ceasefire is a temporary stoppage of a war in which each side agrees with the other to suspend aggressive actions. Ceasefires may be declared as part of a formal treaty, but they have also been called as part of an informal understanding between opposing forces...
on November 28, 1990 and attacks on the ECOWAS Monitoring Group
Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group
The Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group, or ECOMOG, was a West African multilateral armed force established by the Economic Community of West African States . ECOMOG was a formal arrangement for separate armies to work together...
in Liberia, calling upon all parties to respect international law
International law
Public international law concerns the structure and conduct of sovereign states; analogous entities, such as the Holy See; and intergovernmental organizations. To a lesser degree, international law also may affect multinational corporations and individuals, an impact increasingly evolving beyond...
and implement the relevant agreements. It also requested 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...
to send a Special Representative to Liberia to assess the situation, reporting to the Council with any recommendations.
Then, 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 decided that all states should immediately implement a general and complete embargo on all deliveries of weapons and military equipment to Liberia until the Security Council decided otherwise. The embargo however, would not apply to weapons and military equipment destined for the ECOWAS peacekeeping
Peacekeeping
Peacekeeping is an activity that aims to create the conditions for lasting peace. It is distinguished from both peacebuilding and peacemaking....
forces, and subsequently it was violated and exacerbated the conflict. Finally, the Council commended the work of international humanitarian organisations and Member States in providing humanitarian aid
Humanitarian aid
Humanitarian aid is material or logistical assistance provided for humanitarian purposes, typically in response to humanitarian crises including natural disaster and man-made disaster. The primary objective of humanitarian aid is to save lives, alleviate suffering, and maintain human dignity...
to the population.
See also
- Charles Taylor
- First Liberian Civil War
- List of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 701 to 800 (1991 – 1993)