United Nations Security Council Resolution 925
Encyclopedia
United Nations
Security Council Resolution
925, adopted unanimously on June 8, 1994, after reaffirming all resolutions on the situation in Rwanda
, particularly resolutions 912
(1994) and 918
(1994), and Resolution 868
(1993) on the safety of United Nations peacekeepers
, the Council deployed additional battalion
s and extended the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda
(UNAMIR) until December 9, 1994.
and the violence affecting the population had not stopped. In particular, there were reports of genocide
occurring. The violence and the systematic murder of thousands of civilians were severely condemned by the Council, and that the perpetrators were acting with impunity
. The Council noted that the purpose of UNAMIR was not to act as a buffer between the two sides, and that its expanded military component will continue only as long as it is needed to protect displaced civilians, refugee
s and humanitarian aid
workers.
The displacement of some 1.5 million Rwandans, for whom famine
and disease was a risk, along with the mass exodus of refugees, was a huge humanitarian crisis. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights had visited the region and a Special Rapporteur
for Rwanda was appointed. The contributions of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) and neighbouring countries was welcomed.
The resolution stressed the importance of the Arusha Accords
as a basis for a peaceful solution to the conflict in Rwanda, while reaffirming the territorial integrity
and unity of the country.
concerning the deployment of the expanded UNAMIR, principally:
the deployment of two battalions for phase 2 in synchronisation with phase 1; urgent preparations for the deployment of two battalions for phase 3; the flexible implementation of all three phases.
After extending UNAMIR's mandate in mediating for a ceasefire
, the Council reaffirmed that UNAMIR should:
contribute towards the security of refugees and displaced persons; provide security for humanitarian workers and deliveries.
It was recognised that UNAMIR may require to take action in self-defense
against persons threatening protected sites and populations and humanitarian workers. The mission was to accelerate the provision of additional troops and equipment, and support and co-operate with the Special Rapporteur
.
The Council demanded that all parties should end hostilities, murder and inciting ethnic hatred
in the state media
and agree a ceasefire. Both parties had ensured that they would co-operate with UNAMIR, particularly as it was necessary that the security of all UNAMIR's staff was assured.
The intention of the Secretary-General to a establish a fund for Rwanda was welcomed. The situation in Rwanda and the role of UNAMIR were to be constantly followed, with the Secertary-General being requested to report to the Council no later than August 9 and October 9, 1994 on the progress of the mission, the security situation of the population, the humanitarian situation and the prospects for a ceasefire and reconciliation.
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"....
925, adopted unanimously on June 8, 1994, after reaffirming all resolutions 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...
, particularly resolutions 912
United Nations Security Council Resolution 912
United Nations Security Council Resolution 912, adopted unanimously on April 21, 1994, after reaffirming all resolutions on the situation in Rwanda, particularly resolutions 872 and 909 , the Council expressed its alarm and condemnation of the large-scale violence in the country which resulted in...
(1994) and 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), and Resolution 868
United Nations Security Council Resolution 868
United Nations Security Council Resolution 868, adopted unanimously on September 29, 1993, after expressing concern at the increasing number of attacks and use of force against persons engaged in United Nations peackeeping operations, the Council established new safety mandates for United Nations...
(1993) on the safety of United Nations peacekeepers
Peacekeeping
Peacekeeping is an activity that aims to create the conditions for lasting peace. It is distinguished from both peacebuilding and peacemaking....
, the Council deployed additional battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
s and extended the mandate 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...
(UNAMIR) until December 9, 1994.
Observations
The Security Council noted that the hostilities were still continuing, that there was no ceasefireCeasefire
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...
and the violence affecting the population had not stopped. In particular, there were reports of 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...
occurring. The violence and the systematic murder of thousands of civilians were severely condemned by the Council, and that the perpetrators were acting with impunity
Impunity
Impunity means "exemption from punishment or loss or escape from fines". In the international law of human rights, it refers to the failure to bring perpetrators of human rights violations to justice and, as such, itself constitutes a denial of the victims' right to justice and redress...
. The Council noted that the purpose of UNAMIR was not to act as a buffer between the two sides, and that its expanded military component will continue only as long as it is needed to protect displaced civilians, 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 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...
workers.
The displacement of some 1.5 million Rwandans, for whom famine
Famine
A famine is a widespread scarcity of food, caused by several factors including crop failure, overpopulation, or government policies. This phenomenon is usually accompanied or followed by regional malnutrition, starvation, epidemic, and increased mortality. Every continent in the world has...
and disease was a risk, along with the mass exodus of refugees, was a huge humanitarian crisis. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights had visited the region and a Special Rapporteur
Special Rapporteur
Special Rapporteur is a title given to individuals working on behalf of the United Nations within the scope of "Special Procedures" mechanisms who bear a specific mandate from the United Nations Human Rights Council....
for Rwanda was appointed. The contributions of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) and neighbouring countries was welcomed.
The resolution stressed the importance of the Arusha Accords
Arusha Accords
The Arusha Accords were a set of five accords signed in Arusha, Tanzania on August 4, 1993, by the government of Rwanda and the rebel Rwandan Patriotic Front , under mediation, to end a three-year Rwandan Civil War...
as a basis for a peaceful solution to the conflict in Rwanda, while reaffirming the territorial integrity
Territorial integrity
Territorial integrity is the principle under international law that nation-states should not attempt to promote secessionist movements or to promote border changes in other nation-states...
and unity of the country.
Acts
The Council supported the recommendations of the Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-GhaliBoutros 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...
concerning the deployment of the expanded UNAMIR, principally:
the deployment of two battalions for phase 2 in synchronisation with phase 1; urgent preparations for the deployment of two battalions for phase 3; the flexible implementation of all three phases.
After extending UNAMIR's mandate in mediating for a 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...
, the Council reaffirmed that UNAMIR should:
contribute towards the security of refugees and displaced persons; provide security for humanitarian workers and deliveries.
It was recognised that UNAMIR may require to take action in self-defense
Self-defense
Self-defense, self-defence or private defense is a countermeasure that involves defending oneself, one's property or the well-being of another from physical harm. The use of the right of self-defense as a legal justification for the use of force in times of danger is available in many...
against persons threatening protected sites and populations and humanitarian workers. The mission was to accelerate the provision of additional troops and equipment, and support and co-operate with the Special Rapporteur
Special Rapporteur
Special Rapporteur is a title given to individuals working on behalf of the United Nations within the scope of "Special Procedures" mechanisms who bear a specific mandate from the United Nations Human Rights Council....
.
The Council demanded that all parties should end hostilities, murder and inciting ethnic hatred
Ethnic hatred
Ethnic hatred, inter-ethnic hatred, racial hatred, or ethnic tension refers to feelings and acts of prejudice and hostility towards an ethnic group in various degrees. See list of anti-ethnic and anti-national terms for specific cases....
in the state media
State media
State media or state-owned media is media for mass communication which is ultimately controlled and/or funded by the state. These news outlets may be the sole media outlet or may exist in competition with privately-controlled media.-Overview:...
and agree a ceasefire. Both parties had ensured that they would co-operate with UNAMIR, particularly as it was necessary that the security of all UNAMIR's staff was assured.
The intention of the Secretary-General to a establish a fund for Rwanda was welcomed. The situation in Rwanda and the role of UNAMIR were to be constantly followed, with the Secertary-General being requested to report to the Council no later than August 9 and October 9, 1994 on the progress of the mission, the security situation of the population, the humanitarian situation and the prospects for a ceasefire and reconciliation.
See also
- History of RwandaHistory of RwandaHuman occupation of Rwanda is thought to have begun shortly after the last ice age. By the fifteenth century the inhabitants had organized into a number of kingdoms...
- List of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 901 to 1000 (1994 – 1995)
- Hutu PowerHutu PowerHutu Power was an ideology propounded by the Akazu and other Hutu extremists in Rwanda. It contributed to the Rwandan Genocide in 1994 against the Tutsi and moderate Hutu.-Background:...
- 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