United Nations Mission in Liberia

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Abbreviation	UNMIL
Formation	19 September 2003
Dissolved	30 March 2018
Type	Peacekeeping mission
Legal status	Completed
Headquarters	Monrovia, Liberia
Final head	Farid Zarif
Parent organization	United Nations Security Council
Website	unmil.unmissions.org

The United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) was a United Nations peacekeeping operation in Liberia established by United Nations Security Council Resolution 1509 on 19 September 2003, following the resignation of President Charles Taylor, the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, and the end of major fighting in the Second Liberian Civil War.^[1][2]

UNMIL followed earlier United Nations involvement in Liberia, including the United Nations Observer Mission in Liberia (UNOMIL), which had been established in 1993 to support peacekeeping efforts by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) during the First Liberian Civil War.^[3] UNOMIL was an observer mission and did not have enforcement powers; the armed peacekeeping force on the ground was the ECOWAS Monitoring Group (ECOMOG). UNOMIL ended in 1997 after Liberia's 1997 elections, but renewed conflict beginning in 1999 led to a second civil war and, eventually, the establishment of a new United Nations peacekeeping operation in 2003. UNMIL took over peacekeeping responsibilities from the ECOWAS-led ECOWAS Mission in Liberia (ECOMIL) on 1 October 2003.

The mission was authorized with a strength of up to 15,000 military personnel and 1,115 police officers, along with civilian, political, human rights, humanitarian, and administrative components.^[1] Its mandate included supporting implementation of the ceasefire and peace agreement, protecting civilians and United Nations personnel, assisting humanitarian access, supporting disarmament and demobilization, helping restructure Liberia's security institutions, and supporting elections.^[1]

UNMIL remained in Liberia for nearly fifteen years. Its military and police presence was gradually reduced as responsibility for national security was transferred to Liberian authorities. The mission formally ended on 30 March 2018.^[4] Assessments of UNMIL have generally credited the mission with helping restore security, supporting post-war elections, and strengthening public confidence in the rule of law, although the mission was also criticized over allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse, including transactional sex involving some United Nations personnel.^[5][6]

Civil war in Liberia claimed the lives of more than 150,000 people^[7] - mostly civilians - and led to a complete breakdown of law and order. It displaced tens of thousands of people, both internally and beyond the borders, resulting in some 850,000 refugees in the neighboring countries. Fighting began in late 1989, and by early 1990, several hundred deaths had already occurred in confrontations between government forces and fighters who claimed membership in an opposition group, the National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL), led by a former government official, Mr. Charles Taylor.

From the outset of the conflict, a subregional organization, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), undertook various initiatives aimed at a peaceful settlement. The United Nations supported ECOWAS in its efforts to end a civil war. These efforts included establishing, in 1990, an ECOWAS's military observer force, the Military Observer Group (ECOMOG). The Security Council in 1992 imposed an arms embargo on Liberia, and the Secretary-General appointed a Special Representative to assist in talks between ECOWAS and the warring parties.

After ECOWAS brokered a peace agreement in Cotonou, Benin, in 1993, the Security Council established the United Nations Observer Mission in Liberia (UNOMIL) under Security Council Resolution 866. Its task was to support ECOMOG in implementing the Cotonou peace agreement - especially compliance with and impartial implementation of the agreement by all parties. UNOMIL was the first United Nations peacekeeping mission undertaken in cooperation with a peacekeeping operation already established by another organization.

Delays in the implementation of the peace agreement and resumed fighting among Liberian factions made it impossible to hold elections in February/March 1994, as scheduled. In the following months, a number of supplementary peace agreements, amending and clarifying the Cotonou agreement, were negotiated. With the ceasefire in force, the United Nations successfully observed the conduct of the elections in July 1997. Mr. Charles Taylor was elected president. Following his inauguration on 2 August 1997, President Taylor formed a new Government and announced a policy of reconciliation and national unity. UNOMIL's principal objective was achieved.

However, the Second Liberian Civil War began in 1999 when a rebel group backed by the government of neighboring Guinea, the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD), emerged in northern Liberia. In early 2003, a second rebel group, the Movement for Democracy in Liberia, emerged in the south, and by June–July 2003, Charles Taylor's government controlled only a third of the country. The capital Monrovia was besieged by LURD, and that group's shelling of the city resulted in the deaths of many civilians. Thousands of people were displaced from their homes as a result of the conflict.

In November 1997, following the completion of UNOMIL's mandate on 30 September, the United Nations established the United Nations Peace-building Support Office in Liberia (UNOL), headed by a Representative of the Secretary-General. That first United Nations post-conflict peace-building support office was tasked primarily with assisting the Government in consolidating peace following the July 1997 multiparty elections.

With the full support of the Security Council, UNOL facilitated the promotion of national reconciliation and good governance and helped mobilize international support for the implementation of reconstruction and development programmes.

However, the peace-building efforts of UNOL were seriously hindered by the inability of the Government and opposition party leaders to resolve their political differences. Meanwhile, the promotion of national reconciliation was undermined by systematic abuses of human rights, the exclusion and harassment of political opponents and the absence of security sector reform. These elements contributed to the resumption of civil war in Liberia, prompting the international community to call on the warring parties to seek a negotiated settlement of the conflict.

On 8 July 2003, as fighting between Government forces and various warring factions intensified and humanitarian tragedy threatened, the Secretary-General decided (S/2003/695) to appoint Jacques Paul Klein of the United States his Special Representative for Liberia. He was entrusted with the task of coordinating the activities of the United Nations agencies in Liberia and supporting the emerging transitional arrangements. On 29 July, the Secretary-General outlined (S/2003/769) a three-phased deployment of international troops to Liberia, leading to a multidimensional United Nations peacekeeping operation. He also indicated that, in view of the appointment of Mr. Klein, and the envisaged establishment of a United Nations operation in Liberia, the mandate of UNOL would naturally have to be terminated.

On 1 August 2003, the Security Council adopted Resolution 1497 (2003), authorizing the establishment of a multinational force in Liberia and declaring its readiness to establish a follow-on United Nations stabilization force to be deployed no later than 1 October 2003. On 18 August 2003, the Liberian parties signed a Comprehensive Peace Agreement in Accra. By that Agreement, the parties requested the United Nations to deploy a force to Liberia under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations to support the National Transitional Government of Liberia and assist in the implementation of the Agreement. With the subsequent deployment of the ECOWAS Mission in Liberia, the security situation in the country improved.

As requested by the Security Council, the Secretary-General submitted on 11 September a report (S/2003/875) providing an update on the situation in the country, and containing his recommendations on the role the United Nations could play to facilitate the effective implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, as well as on the size, structure and mandate of a peacekeeping operation in Liberia.^[8]

The Secretary-General recommended that the Council, acting under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, authorize the deployment of a United Nations peacekeeping operation with a troop strength of up to 15,000, including 250 military observers, 160 staff officers, up to 875 civilian police officers and an additional five armed formed units each comprising 120 officers, and a significant civilian component and necessary support staff.^[8]

He said that the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) would be a multidimensional operation composed of political, military, civilian police, criminal justice, civil affairs, human rights, gender, child protection, disarmament, demobilization and reintegration, public information and support components, as well as an electoral component in due course. The Mission would include a mechanism for the coordination of its activities with those of the humanitarian and development community. UNMIL would coordinate closely with ECOWAS and the African Union. In order to ensure a coordinated United Nations response to the many subregional issues, UNMIL would also work closely with the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL), the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI) and the United Nations Office for West Africa (UNOWA).

The Mission would be headed by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, who would have overall authority for the activities of the Mission and of the United Nations system in Liberia. The Special Representative would be assisted by a senior management team consisting of, among others, two Deputies, a Force Commander with the rank of Lieutenant General, and a Police Commissioner.^[8]

A senior gender adviser, with staff, would be part of the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General to undertake and support gender mainstreaming within the various pillars of the Office and with civil society and other external partners. An HIV/AIDS policy adviser, with supporting staff, would also be attached to the Office of the Special Representative, to coordinate activities in the Mission area for the prevention of HIV transmission among civilian and military personnel and host communities.^[8]

The Secretary-General proposed that the mandate of UNMIL would be to support the National Transitional Government of Liberia and the other parties in the effective and timely implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement; to monitor adherence to the ceasefire agreement of June 17, 2003; to assist the National Transitional Government in extending State authority throughout Liberia; to provide security at key government installations, in particular, ports, airports and other vital infrastructure; to ensure the security and freedom of movement of United Nations personnel; to facilitate the free movement of people, humanitarian assistance and goods; to support the safe and sustainable return of refugees and internally displaced persons; and to protect civilians under imminent threat of physical violence in the areas of immediate deployment of United Nations formed military units.

In addition, the force would advise, train and assist the Liberian law enforcement authorities and other criminal justice institutions; assist the National Transitional Government in the implementation of a disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programme; guard weapons, ammunition and other military equipment collected from ex-combatants and assist in their subsequent disposal or destruction; assist in the preparation of elections; monitor and report on the human rights situation and provide training and capacity-building in the field of human rights and child protection; provide support for gender mainstreaming, including training; support the establishment and operations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission; and cooperate with ECOWAS, the African Union and the United Nations on cross-cutting political and security issues.

In his report the Secretary-General observed that the transfer of power from President Charles Taylor to Vice-President Moses Blah and the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement by the Liberian parties offered a unique window of opportunity to end the suffering inflicted on the people of Liberia and to find a peaceful solution to a conflict that had been the centre of instability in the subregion. While the United Nations and the international community at large stood ready to support the Liberian peace process, the effective and successful implementation of the Peace Agreement remained the primary responsibility of the Liberian parties themselves, he stressed.

In September 2003, the Security Council welcomed the Secretary-General's report of 11 September 2003 and its recommendations^[8] and unanimously adopted Resolution 1509 establishing UNMIL with up to 15,000 United Nations military personnel, including up to 250 military observers and 160 staff officers, and up to 1,115 civilian police officers, including formed units to assist in the maintenance of law and order throughout Liberia, and the appropriate civilian component.^[9]

The Council requested the Secretary-General to transfer authority to UNMIL on 1 October from forces led by ECOWAS, which it commended for its rapid and professional deployment. Among other things, the Council also took note of the intention of the Secretary-General to terminate the mandate of UNOL and to transfer the major functions performed by that Office to UNMIL.

As scheduled, UNMIL took over peacekeeping duties from ECOWAS forces on October 1, 2003. Lieutenant General Daniel Opande of Kenya was appointed Force Commander. Some 3,500 West African troops who had been serving with ECOMIL vanguard force were provisionally "re-hatted" as United Nations peacekeepers. In a statement issued on that day, the Secretary-General welcomed this very important development and saluted ECOWAS for its role in establishing the security climate that paved the way for the deployment of UNMIL. He commended the Governments of Benin, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal and Togo who have contributed to UNMIL, as well as the United States for its support to the regional force. The Commander of Nigerian contingent Brigadier-General Ebiowei Awala proclaimed that Nigeria had contributed 21,160 troops to UNMIL mission between 2003 and 2009. The Secretary-General expressed confidence that UNMIL would be able to contribute in a major way towards the resolution of conflict in Liberia, provided all parties concerned cooperate fully with the force and the international community provides the necessary resources.

A 2006 assessment by Colin Robinson described UNMIL as having achieved many of its early objectives, including maintaining the ceasefire, supporting disarmament, helping dismantle warring factions, facilitating elections, and beginning the restoration of state institutions. Robinson cautioned, however, that Liberia's public institutions remained weak and that long-term international engagement would still be needed to sustain the peace.^[10]

The Security Council extended UNMIL's mandate repeatedly after its initial twelve-month authorization. As Liberia's security situation improved, the mission began a phased drawdown. In 2015, the Security Council extended the mission while preparing for the Liberian government to assume full responsibility for national security.^[11] On 30 June 2016, security responsibilities were formally transferred to Liberian authorities, with a reduced UNMIL presence retained during the transition period.^[12]

On 22 December 2016, the Security Council extended UNMIL's mandate for the final time, setting 30 March 2018 as the mission's closing date.^[13] UNMIL formally completed its mandate and withdrew on 30 March 2018.^[14] By the time of its closure, more than 126,000 military personnel, 16,000 police officers, and 23,000 civilian staff had served with the mission.^[15]

In its final months, UNMIL continued to support rule-of-law and human-rights initiatives. In 2018, the mission provided textbooks, furniture, and equipment for a human rights library at the Liberia National Bar Association headquarters in Monrovia.^[16]

According to a 2018 International Peace Institute report, UNMIL's transition was generally viewed as a positive example of a United Nations peacekeeping drawdown, but the process also revealed weaknesses in how peacekeeping missions shift from military-led stabilization to civilian peacebuilding support.^[17] The report found that early transition planning focused heavily on the handover of security responsibilities to Liberian authorities, while civilian transition planning received less sustained attention.^[17]

After UNMIL's closure, the United Nations continued its presence in Liberia through a strengthened resident coordinator's office, a political, peace, and development analysis unit, a stand-alone office of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the wider United Nations country team.^[17] The report also noted remaining challenges, including gaps in post-mission capacity, funding shortfalls, the closure of UNMIL field offices outside Monrovia, and local perceptions that the mission's withdrawal had negatively affected Liberia's economy.^[17]

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The UNMIL peacekeeping force included military, police, and civilian components. Earlier in the mission, the force was organized into four sector commands, with sector headquarters and supporting combat, engineering, medical, logistics, and police units. The force structure changed over time as UNMIL drew down and transferred security responsibilities to Liberian authorities.

The force listing below reflects an earlier stage of the mission before later reductions in strength.

• Pakistan Army Mechanized Infantry Battalion
• Infantry Battalion (Pakistan)
• Mechanized Infantry Company (Sweden) (Rapid Reaction Force)
• Mechanized Infantry Company (Ireland) (Rapid Reaction Force)
• Infantry Company (Nigeria)
• Engineering Company (Bangladesh)
• Engineering Company (Pakistan)
• Engineering Company (Pakistan)
• Transport Company (China)
• Military Police Company (Nepal)
• Hospital (Jordan) (sharing facilities with John F. Kennedy Hospital in Monrovia)
• 56th Helicopter Company (Armed Forces of Ukraine)^[18]
• Philippine Contingent (Clerical and VIP Security)

• 2 x Infantry Battalion (Pakistan) (1xTubmanburg and 1x Voinjama)
• Infantry Battalion (Namibia)
• Engineering Battalion (Pakistan)
• Hospital (Pakistan)

• 2 x Infantry Battalion
• Infantry Battalion (Ghana)
• Engineering Battalion (Pakistan)

• 3 x Infantry Battalion (Bangladesh)
• Engineering Company (Bangladesh)
• Hospital (Bangladesh)

• 3 x Infantry Battalion (Ethiopia)
• Infantry Battalion (Senegal)
• Hospital (Senegal)
• Hospital (China)
• Engineering Company (China)

The Sector B area of responsibility covers Lofa, Bong, Nimba, Grand Gedeh, River Gee, Maryland and Grand Kru Counties. The sector headquarters is in Gbarnga, Bong County. Military units within this sector include one Pakistan infantry battalion, one Bangladesh infantry battalion and one Ghanaian infantry battalion, UNMO Teams 6-11, three level-2 hospitals (China, Bangladesh and Pakistan), Bangladesh signal company, Bangladesh logistics company and Bangladesh military police unit.^[19]

The Canadian Forces designation for troops sent to the mission was "Liane", including SHIRBRIG augmentation personnel in late 2003.

• UNMIL website
• UN UNMIL website

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