The need for United Nations peacekeeping operations in Liberia came after several years of ethnic and political violence antagonized by President Samuel Doe’s government in the 1980s. The provocation of a failed 1985 coup attempt derives from Doe’s blatant agenda of ethnic exploitation, which limited most ethnic groups from government auspices. Subsequently, after several years of pervasive corruption and the slaughter of ethnic groups, the political state of Liberia led to social turbulence within these many ethnic factions. The eventual formation of the National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL), led by American Liberian Charles Taylor, sought an anti-governmental agenda that set off the 1989-1997 civil war (Adebajo 601). With a civil war underway, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) took an essential step by forming the Military Observer Group (ECOMOG) in 1990 (“UNMIL-Background”). ECOWAS was an essential organization during the beginning of the civil war, and well up to the 2003 deployment of UNMIL operations, because of their many programs aimed at solving the Liberian crisis. In 1993, the United Nations Security Council stepped into the conflict by establishing the United Nations Observer Mission in Liberia (UNOMIL) (“UNMIL-Background”). UNOMIL completed its undertaking of aiding an eventual peace agreement on August 2, 1997, when the nation democratically elected Charles Taylor president under the new government establishment (“UNMIL-Background”).
With UNOMIL’s mandate complete, the UN established the United Nations Peace-building Support Office in Liberia (UNOL) in November 1997, aimed primarily at facilitating national reconciliation after the multiparty elections (Annan 1). Importantly, UNOL was backed by the Security Council, the United Nations country team, and well-known civil society organizations (Annan 1). Additionally, in the midst of UNOL’s peace-building efforts, the hindrance of their intended operations began with conflicts arising in government and political opposition parties. Two important rebel groups, Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD), and the Movement for Democracy in Liberia (MODEL) emerged between 1999 and 2002 and aimed to overthrow President Taylor’s government, (Annan 2). In September 2002, the International Contact Group on Liberia was created in New York under the co-chairmanship of ECOWAS and the European Union in order to involve the international community (Annan 2). Subsequently, the Security Council pushed for the development of a strategy to address the problems in Liberia, and the threat it posed to international and regional peace and security (Annan 2).
After intense regional and international pressure, ECOWAS initiated peace talks on June 4, 2003 in Accra, Ghana, with the support of representatives of the United Nations, the African Union, the United States and the International Contact Group (Annan 3). Consequently, a ceasefire agreement was signed on June 17, 2003; however, LURD forces forcefully entered Monrovia and broke the peace agreement. In August 2003, President Taylor officially handed over power to Vice-President Moses Blah, and peace talks in Accra between the two rebel parties began. With the help of representatives from international and regional entities, the peace negotiations eventually led to an agreement. This agreement stipulated the end to the war and the creation of the National Transitional Government of Liberia. The two rebel parties requested under the peace agreement, and in accordance with Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, that the United Nations deploy a force to Liberia to help support the National Transitional Government (Annan 4). Following international pressure, the Security Council adopted Resolution 1497 on August 1, 2003, allowing the establishment of a multinational force and a United Nations stabilization force in Liberia. After further United Nations evaluation of the situation, the adoption of Resolution 1509 on September 19, 2003 created the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) (Annan 16). Additionally, under request of the Secretary-General, UNOL was to terminate its offices and transfer its functions to UNMIL (Resolution 1509 (2003) 2).
The mandate, likewise, addresses a multitude of humanitarian, military, and financial issues, as well as the implementation of various agreements between the rival parties (“UNMIL-Mandate”). More importantly, the mandate demands the “support for implementation of the ceasefire agreement, the protection of UN staff, facilities and civilians, the support for humanitarian and human rights assistance, the support for security reform, and the support for implementation of the peace process” (“UNMIL-Mandate”).” The aforementioned covers a comprehensive strategy of how to address the many issues in Liberia while clarifying the intentions of UNMIL and all international entities involved. Additionally, while considering the history of the conflict, and the problems involved therein, the mandate explains the necessity for humanitarian and human rights assistance, and infrastructure building. For example, the mandate states UNMIL’s responsibility to “help establish the necessary security conditions for humanitarian assistance…to assist the transitional government of Liberia in monitoring and restructuring the police force of Liberia…” (“UNMIL-Mandate”). This demonstrates the mandates intention for protecting the humanitarian aid going through Liberia, which will help control the growing human rights and humanitarian problems.
UNMIL’s peacekeeping operation in Liberiawarrants a second-generation peacekeeping mission. Not only does the mandate stipulate humanitarian support, but it also specifies security reform and government building, which the UN sees as imperative to building peace.Moreover, the mandate states its intention “to assist the transitional government in conjunction with ECOWAS and other international partners in developing a strategy to consolidate governmental institutions…” (“UNMIL-Mandate”). The mandate calls for international collaboration to help with building workable government institutions in order to ensure effective rule-of-law for the Liberian people. In addition, the protection of these key government institutions--including ports, airports and other important infrastructures--is a main goal of the mandate (“UNMIL-Mandate”). Another important goal of UNMIL is to create a workable government adherent to the many ethnic factions of Liberia, given their understanding that the reason for the violence is ethnically motivated. Additionally, UNMIL understands the importance of ECOWAS and international partners in effectively helping the Liberian government implement the mandate.
The international composition of the peacekeeping force currently involves 63 countries contributing to military and police personnel (“Facts and Figures”). Additional forces include 506 international civilian personnel, 933 local staff and 245 UN Volunteers (“Facts and Figures”) The neutrality of the forces deployed from various states is important to note, given the climate of the modern international system. The United States and China, being respective powers within the international system, both contribute military and police personnel to UNMIL. Richard Boucher, a spokesman for the US Department of State, noted in a press statement that the United States, as of October 2003, had provided $26 million in contracted logistics support, including equipment to aid the peacekeeping role (1). Boucher also noted that the United States was sending nine officers, including military observers, to help in the operation (1). Additionally, two of the world’s largest powers, and a variety of other important international actors, including Germany and the United Kingdom, make up some of UNMIL’s forces. All of the international forces involved, including non-governmental organizations (NGO’s) continue to play an important role in the effective implementation of UNMIL’s mandate.
Works Cited
Adebajo, Adekeye. "Liberia: A Warlord's Peace." Ending Civil Wars : The Implementation ofPeace Agreements. Ed. Stephen John Stedman, Donald Rothchild and Elizabeth Cousens.New York: Lynne Rienner, Incorporated, 2002. 601
Annan Kofi. Report of the Secretary-General to the Security Council on Liberia. Rep.No. S/2003/875. Security Council, United Nations. 1-4. Liberia-UNMIL-UN Documents. 11Sept. 2003. United Nations. 9 Oct. 2008 .
"Facts and Figures."United nations Peacekeeping. 2003. United Nations. 8 Oct. 2008 .
Resolution 1509 (2003). Rep.No. S/RES/1509 (2003). Security Council, United Nations. 2. 19Sept. 2003. United Nations. 9 Oct. 2008 .
"UNMIL-Background."United Nations Peacekeeping. 2005. United Nations. 8 Oct. 2008 .
The need for United Nations peacekeeping operations in 
