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{{Short description|Peacekeeping operation in West Africa}}
{{Primary sources|date=September 2008}}
{{Infobox United Nations
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}}
{{Politics of Liberia}}
The '''
UNMIL superseded the [[United Nations Observer Mission in Liberia]] (UNOMIL), which had been established in 1993 to support the peacekeeping efforts of the [[Economic Community of West African States]] (ECOWAS) during the [[First Liberian Civil War]] (1989–1996).<ref>Adibe, Clement E. (1997). "The Liberian conflict and the ECOWAS-UN partnership". ''Third World Quarterly''. '''18''' (3): 471–488. [[Doi (identifier)|doi]]:10.1080/01436599714821.</ref> Two years of relative peace ended with another civil war, triggered by conflict between rebel groups and Taylor's administration. Large scale fighting ended following the [[Accra Peace Agreement]] in August 2003, and UNMIL was subsequently formed to implement the terms of the agreement and help establish a new transitional government.
Through a [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 1509|unanimous resolution]] of the [[United Nations Security Council|UN Security Council]] (UNSC), UNMIL was initially given a one-year mandate that included providing security, protecting UN personnel and facilities, supporting humanitarian assistance, promoting security reform, and implementing the peace process, which included elections in 2005. The mission would be regularly extended for another fifteen years, during which it successfully facilitated two free and fair elections, maintained security, and helped rebuild infrastructure and political institutions, often in close cooperation with local civil society groups.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Goldberg |first=Mark Leon |date=2018-03-21 |title=The UN Peacekeeping Mission in Liberia is Coming to a Successful End |url=https://www.undispatch.com/un-peacekeeping-mission-liberia-coming-successful-end/ |access-date=2022-08-30 |website=UN Dispatch |language=en-US}}</ref>
In light of the improving political and security situation, in 2015, the UNSC resolved to gradually wind down UNMIL in preparation for the Liberian government to take full responsibility for peace and security.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-09-17 |title=With eye on security transition, Security Council extends UN mission in Liberia for another year |url=https://news.un.org/en/story/2015/09/509102-eye-security-transition-security-council-extends-un-mission-liberia-another |access-date=2022-08-30 |website=UN News |language=en}}</ref> By June 2016, UNMIL's mandate was officially transferred to local authorities, with the force reduced to 1,240 U.N. military and 606 police personnel only in case of emergency;<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFKCN0ZH3XD|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160702140811/http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFKCN0ZH3XD|url-status=dead|archive-date=2016-07-02|title=U.N. peacekeeping mission leaves Liberia after 13 years|website=af.reuters.com|date=July 2016|access-date=2016-07-05}}</ref> the peacekeeping mission formally withdrew on 30 March 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |title=UNMIL |url=https://peacekeeping.un.org/en/mission/unmil |access-date=2022-08-30 |website=United Nations Peacekeeping |language=en}}</ref> By that time, a total of 126,000 military, 16,000 police and 23,000 civilian staff had been deployed as part of the operation.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Welle (www.dw.com) |first=Deutsche |title=UN hails Liberia peacekeeping mission as a 'success' {{!}} DW {{!}} 22.03.2018 |url=https://www.dw.com/en/un-hails-liberia-peacekeeping-mission-as-a-success/a-43084970 |access-date=2022-08-30 |website=DW.COM |language=en-GB}}</ref>
UNMIL is largely considered to have been effective, credited with restoring long-lasting democracy, political stability, and rule of law in Liberia.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |title=Analysis {{!}} In Liberia, the U.N. mission helped restore confidence in the rule of law |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/04/30/liberia-un-mission-helped-restore-confidence-rule-law/ |access-date=2022-08-30 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> Though marred by some controversies, including instances of abuse and transactional sex engaged by some peacekeepers,<ref name=":1" /> the mission's overall result has been described as one of the U.N.'s biggest achievements.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Roby |first=Christin |date=5 April 2018 |title=UNMIL provides lessons on what makes a successful peacekeeping mission |url=https://www.devex.com/news/unmil-provides-lessons-on-what-makes-a-successful-peacekeeping-mission-92477 |website=Devex.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Welle (www.dw.com) |first=Deutsche |title=UN hails Liberia peacekeeping mission as a 'success' {{!}} DW {{!}} 22.03.2018 |url=https://www.dw.com/en/un-hails-liberia-peacekeeping-mission-as-a-success/a-43084970 |access-date=2022-08-30 |website=DW.COM |language=en-GB}}</ref>
==Background==
Civil war in Liberia claimed the lives of more than 150,000 people<ref>{{cite web|url=https://unmil.unmissions.org/background|title=Background|date=6 August 2015}}</ref> - mostly civilians - and led to a complete breakdown of law and order. It displaced scores of thousands of people, both internally and beyond the borders, resulting in some 850,000 refugees in the neighboring countries. [[First Liberian Civil War|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.
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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.
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==Recommendation for the establishment of a UN peacekeeping mission==
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.
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.
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As scheduled, UNMIL took over peacekeeping duties from ECOWAS forces on October 1, 2003. Lieutenant General Daniel Opande of [[Military of Kenya|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.
Since 2009, the mandate has been extended annually. The most recent extension of the mandate happened when the UN Security Council on 22 December 2016 extended the mandate to 30 March 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://unmil.unmissions.org/un-security-council-extends-unmil%E2%80%99s-mandate-one-last-time|title=UN Security Council Extends UNMIL's Mandate One Last Time|date=27 December 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/missions/unmil/facts.shtml |title=UNMIL Facts and Figures - United Nations Mission in Liberia |website=un.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100112073245/http://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/missions/unmil/facts.shtml |archive-date=2010-01-12}} </ref>
In 2018, through the Deputy Secretary General for the Rule of Law, [[Waldemar Wray]]'s office, the UNMIL has "provided textbooks, furniture, and equipment" to establish
==Peacekeeping Force==
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*[[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]])
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===Sector B===
The Sector B area of responsibility covers [[Lofa County|Lofa]], [[Bong County|Bong]], [[Nimba County|Nimba]], [[Grand Gedeh County|Grand Gedeh]], [[River Gee County|River Gee]], [[Maryland County|Maryland]] and [[Grand Kru County|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.<ref>UNMIL: United Nations Mission in Liberia - {{cite web|url=http://unmil.unmissions.org/Default.aspx?tabid%3D3960 |title=
The [[Canadian Forces]] designation for troops sent to the mission was "Liane", including [[SHIRBRIG]] augmentation personnel in late 2003.
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[[Category:United Nations operations in Africa|Liberia]]
[[Category:Foreign relations of Liberia]]
[[Category:
[[Category:United Nations Security Council mandates|1509]]
[[Category:Pakistan military presence in other countries]]
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