United Nations Mission in Liberia: Difference between revisions

The '''[[United Nations]] Mission in Liberia''' ('''UNMIL''') was a [[United Nations peacekeeping]] operation established in September 2003 to monitor a ceasefire agreement in [[Liberia]] following the resignation of President [[Charles G. Taylor|Charles Taylor]] and the conclusion of the [[Second Liberian Civil War]] (1999–2003).<ref name="UN_SRES15092003">{{UN document |docid=S-RES-1509(2003) |type=Resolution |body=Security Council |year=2003 |resolution_number=1509 |accessdate=2008-04-13|date=19 September 2003}}</ref> At its peak it consisted of up to 15,000 U.N.UN military personnel and 1,115 police officers, along with a civilian political advisors and aid workers.

BackedThrough bya [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 1509|a 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 {{!}} Top News {{!}} Reuters|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 a successeffective, 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 observerscontroversies, including instances of abuse and transactional sex engaged by some peacekeepers,<ref name=":1" /> the mission's overall result has describingbeen itdescribed 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-statushails-liberia-peacekeeping-mission-as-a-success/a-43084970 |access-date=live2022-08-30 |website=DevexDW.comCOM |language=en-GB}}</ref>

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=www.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 a human right library at the [[Ashmun Street Headquarter of the Liberia National Bar Association]] (LNBA). Wray stated that the library "is meant to primarily enhance the human right's knowledge of members of the bar" giving the lawyers the needed resources to aid in their ability to "protect the interests of their clients.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.frontpageafricaonline.com/index.php/news/6795-unmil-sets-up-human-rights-library-in-bar-association-office|title=FPA - UNMIL Sets Up Human Rights Library in Bar Association Office|last=[email protected]Yangian|first=Kennedy L. Yangian -|website=www.frontpageafricaonline.com|language=en-gb|access-date=2018-03-04}}</ref>

[[Category:History2003 ofestablishments in Liberia]]