United Nations Security Council resolution 1132, adopted on 8 October 1997, after expressing concern at the situation in
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone,)]. officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country on the southwest coast of West Africa. It is bordered by Liberia to the southeast and Guinea surrounds the northern half of the nation. Covering a total area of , Sierra ...
, the council, acting under
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 an ...
, imposed an oil and
arms embargo
An arms embargo is a restriction or a set of sanctions that applies either solely to weaponry or also to "dual-use technology." An arms embargo may serve one or more purposes:
* to signal disapproval of the behavior of a certain actor
* to maintain ...
on the country.
Background
A series of
military governments held power in Sierra Leone and there was violence in the country and at the border with
Liberia
Liberia (), officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country on the West African coast. It is bordered by Sierra Leone to Liberia–Sierra Leone border, its northwest, Guinea to its north, Ivory Coast to its east, and the Atlantic Ocean ...
. The
Revolutionary United Front
The Revolutionary United Front (RUF) was a rebel group that fought a failed eleven-year war in Sierra Leone, beginning in 1991 and ending in 2002. It later transformed into a political party, which still exists today. The three most senior surv ...
(RUF) established a military government, however due to international pressure and popular demands held elections in 1996, agreeing to hand over power to a civilian government.
Ahmad Tejan Kabbah
Alhaji Ahmad Tejan Kabbah (February 16, 1932 – March 13, 2014) was a Sierra Leonean politician who served twice as the 3rd President of Sierra Leone, from 1996 to 1997 and again from 1998 to 2007. An economist and attorney by profession, Ka ...
won the election, and the
Abidjan Peace Accord
The Abidjan Peace Accord was a treaty signed in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire on 30 November 1996 to try to bring an end to the Sierra Leone Civil War (1991–2002). (document download required) The two main signatories were President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah ...
was signed with the RUF and
Sierra Leone People's Party
The Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP) is one of the two major political parties in Sierra Leone, along with its main political rival the All People's Congress (APC). It has been the ruling party in Sierra Leone since April 4, 2018. The SLPP do ...
. The agreement later broke down, and the civilian government was toppled and was replaced with a
military junta
A military junta () is a government led by a committee of military leaders. The term ''junta'' means "meeting" or "committee" and originated in the national and local junta organized by the Spanish resistance to Napoleon's invasion of Spain in ...
. It was later removed by the
Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group
The Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) was a West African multilateral armed force established by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). ECOMOG was a formal arrangement for separate armies to work ...
forces and civilian government was restored. After further violence, the civil war ended in 2002.
Resolution
The
president of the security council
The presidency of the United Nations Security Council is responsible for leading the United Nations Security Council. It rotates among the 15 member-states of the council monthly. The head of the country's delegation is known as the President of t ...
had earlier condemned the coup d'état in Sierra Leone and the
Economic Community of West African States
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS; also known as in French and Portuguese) is a regional political union, political and economic union of fifteen countries located in West Africa. Collectively, these countries comprise an ...
(ECOWAS) had imposed
sanctions on the junta. The Abidjan Agreement was reaffirmed as providing a basis for peace, security and reconciliation. It deplored the junta's refusal to take steps to restore the democratically elected government, and was concerned about the level of violence in the country.
Acting under Chapter VII, the security council demanded that the junta relinquish power and to cease all attacks and violence in the country, so that
humanitarian aid
Humanitarian aid is material and logistic assistance to people who need help. It is usually short-term help until the long-term help by the government and other institutions replaces it. Among the people in need are the homeless, refugees, and ...
could be delivered to the civilian population. Sanctions were then placed on Sierra Leone military government, which included a travel ban on members of the junta and their immediate families and an oil and arms embargo. A committee was established to manage those sanctions, suggest ways to improve their effectiveness and report periodically to the council on the implementation of the sanctions. Any oil for humanitarian purposes had to be approved by the committee. It also authorised, under
Chapter VIII of the United Nations Charter
Chapter VIII of the United Nations Charter deals with regional arrangements. It authorizes regional organizations (such as the African Union) and even requires attempts to resolve disputes through such agencies (if available) prior to intervention ...
, ECOWAS and the legitimate government of Sierra Leone to co-operate with the implementation of the current resolution.
It was then decided that, if the measures had not been terminated within 180 days, a thorough review would be undertaken, including on whether the junta had complied with the current resolution. The Secretary-General
Kofi Annan
Kofi Atta Annan (; 8 April 193818 August 2018) was a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh secretary-general of the United Nations from 1997 to 2006. Annan and the UN were the co-recipients of the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize. He was the founder ...
was requested to submit a report within 15 days of the adoption of the current resolution detailing the humanitarian situation in Sierra Leone and compliance from the junta, and thereafter every 60 days.
See also
*
History of Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone first became inhabited by indigenous African peoples at least 2,500 years ago. The Limba were the first tribe known to inhabit Sierra Leone. The dense tropical rainforest partially isolated the region from other West African cult ...
*
(1997–1998)
References
External links
*
Text of the Resolution at undocs.org*
{{UNSCR 1997
1132
1997 in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone Civil War
1132
United Nations Security Council sanctions regimes
October 1997 events