United Nations Security Council Resolution 997
Encyclopedia
United Nations
Security Council Resolution
997, adopted unanimously on June 9, 1995, after reaffirming all resolutions on the situation in Rwanda
, particularly resolutions 872
(1993), 912
(1994), 918
(1994), 925
(1994), 955
(1994) and 965
(1994), the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda
(UNAMIR) until December 8, 1995 and adjusted its operations from peacekeeping
to confidence-building.
National reconciliation in Rwanda was important for the Council. There were reports that members of the former regime in Rwanda were increasing incursions into the country and military planning and in this respect measures were urged to prevent Rwandan nationals in other countries do not undertake in activities aimed at destabilising Rwanda. More international support was needed for the rehabilitation and reconciliation process. Meanwhile, the Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali
intended for a conference to be held on matters relating to the refugee
problem in the Great Lakes region
.
After extending UNAMIR's mandate, its size was reduced to 2,330 troops within three months and 1,800 within four months, though the number of military observers and police personnel was to be maintained. UNAMIR's mandate was adapted to:
help achieve national reconciliation; facilitate the return of refugees and displaced persons; support humanitarian assistance
and demining
; assist in the training of a national police force; protect United Nations agencies, humanitarian organisations and the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda
.
Countries neighbouring Rwanda were urged to address and prevent factors destabilising Rwanda, including the transfer of weapon
s and materiel
into the country from their territory. The Secretary-General was asked to consult with neighbouring countries on the deployment of military observers to the border regions, including airfields
in eastern Zaire
, to monitor the transfer of arms and materiel.
Finally, all countries and donors were urged to provide assistance to Rwanda in line with their commitments, and the Secretary-General was requested to submit reports on the humanitarian situation to the Council by August 9, 1995 and October 9, 1995.
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"....
997, adopted unanimously on June 9, 1995, 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 872
United Nations Security Council Resolution 872
United Nations Security Council Resolution 872, adopted unanimously on October 5, 1993, after reaffirming resolutions 812 and 846 on the situation in Rwanda and Resolution 868 on the security of United Nations operations, the Council stressed the need for an international force in the country...
(1993), 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), 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), 925
United Nations Security Council Resolution 925
United Nations Security Council Resolution 925, adopted unanimously on June 8, 1994, after reaffirming all resolutions on the situation in Rwanda, particularly resolutions 912 and 918 , and Resolution 868 on the safety of United Nations peacekeepers, the Council deployed additional battalions and...
(1994), 955
United Nations Security Council Resolution 955
United Nations Security Council Resolution 955, adopted on November 8, 1994, after recalling all resolutions on Rwanda, the Council noted that serious violations of international humanitarian law had taken place in the country and, acting under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, established...
(1994) and 965
United Nations Security Council Resolution 965
United Nations Security Council Resolution 965, adopted unanimously on November 30, 1994, after reaffirming all resolutions on the situation in Rwanda, particularly resolutions 872 , 912 , 918 , 925 and 955 , the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda ...
(1994), the Council 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 8, 1995 and adjusted its operations from peacekeeping
Peacekeeping
Peacekeeping is an activity that aims to create the conditions for lasting peace. It is distinguished from both peacebuilding and peacemaking....
to confidence-building.
National reconciliation in Rwanda was important for the Council. There were reports that members of the former regime in Rwanda were increasing incursions into the country and military planning and in this respect measures were urged to prevent Rwandan nationals in other countries do not undertake in activities aimed at destabilising Rwanda. More international support was needed for the rehabilitation and reconciliation process. Meanwhile, 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...
intended for a conference to be held on matters relating to the 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...
problem 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...
.
After extending UNAMIR's mandate, its size was reduced to 2,330 troops within three months and 1,800 within four months, though the number of military observers and police personnel was to be maintained. UNAMIR's mandate was adapted to:
help achieve national reconciliation; facilitate the return of refugees and displaced persons; support humanitarian assistance
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...
and demining
Demining
Demining or mine clearance is the process of removing either land mines, or naval mines, from an area, while minesweeping describes the act of detecting of mines. There are two distinct types of mine detection and removal: military and humanitarian.Minesweepers use many tools in order to accomplish...
; assist in the training of a national police force; protect United Nations agencies, humanitarian organisations and the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda
International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda
The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda is an international court established in November 1994 by the United Nations Security Council in Resolution 955 in order to judge people responsible for the Rwandan Genocide and other serious violations of international law in Rwanda, or by Rwandan...
.
Countries neighbouring Rwanda were urged to address and prevent factors destabilising Rwanda, including 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 materiel
Materiel
Materiel is a term used in English to refer to the equipment and supplies in military and commercial supply chain management....
into the country from their territory. The Secretary-General was asked to consult with neighbouring countries on the deployment of military observers to the border regions, including airfields
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
in eastern 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...
, to monitor the transfer of arms and materiel.
Finally, all countries and donors were urged to provide assistance to Rwanda in line with their commitments, and the Secretary-General was requested to submit reports on the humanitarian situation to the Council by August 9, 1995 and October 9, 1995.
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)
- 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