Communique Issued at the Conclusion of the Peace Talks on Liberia, Geneva

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Country/entity: Liberia
Region: Africa (excl MENA)
Agreement name: Communique Issued at the Conclusion of the Peace Talks on Liberia, Geneva
Date: 17 Jul 1993
Agreement status: Multiparty signed/agreed
Interim arrangement: Yes
Agreement/conflict level: Intrastate/intrastate conflict
Liberian Civil Wars (1989 - 1997) (1999 - 2005)
In 1989, the National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL) attacked border posts as part of a campaign to oust the dictatorship of Samuel Doe. This triggered a violent civil war that by 1995 had killed around 150,000 and displaced an estimated 850,000 people. The outbreak of war is attributed to the domestic socio-economic and political environment in the country of the 1980s, such as poverty, discrimination and repression. However, its sustenance is also related to past discrimination against indigenous Liberians by ‘Americo-Liberians’, and deep ethnic divisions that resulted.

Peace negotiations began in 1992 and completed by 1997. However, the peace lasted only a short period and in 1999 there was renewed fighting against the elected president, Charles Taylor. The Guinea-backed organisation, Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD), together with the armed Movement for Democracy in Liberia (MODEL) controlled two thirds of the country by 2003 and besieged the capital Monrovia, forcing Charles Taylor into exile in Nigeria. In August that same year, the conflict parties signed the Accra Comprehensive Peace Agreement and in 2005 new general elections were held.
Stage: Pre-negotiation/process
Conflict nature: Government
Peace process: Liberia peace process
Parties: Signed:
G. Baccus Matthews
Momolu Sirleaf
Alhaji Kromah
Third parties: Not signed by third parties but preamble notes that the talks were facilitated and chaired by the UN, ECOWAS and the OAU.

Page 1, Untitled Preamble: At the invitation of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali, on behalf of H.E. President Nicephore Soglo, current Chairman of ECOWAS, and Dr. Salim A. Salim, Secretary-General of OAU, the parties to the Liberian conflict met in Geneva, Switzerland from 10th to l7th July, 1993 to take part and fully participate in Liberia Peace Talks aimed at ending three (3) and a half years of civil war.
These talks were held under the co-chairmanship of Mr. Trevor Gordon-Somers, Special Representative of UN Secretary-General on Liberia, President Canaan Banana, Eminent Person, OAU and Dr. Abbas Bundu, Executive Secretary of ECOWAS.
Description: A short agreement summarising the issues agreed for inclusion in the agreement to be signed at Cotonou on 24 July 1993.

Agreement document: LR_930717 Conclusion of Geneva Peace Talks.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF

Groups

Children/youth: Groups→Children/youth→Rhetorical
Page 1, Humanitarian Assistance: The Parties agreed that every effort should be made to deliver humanitarian assistance to all Liberians particularly children, who are malnourished and suffering from related diseases. Convoys of humanitarian assistance should travel to all areas of Liberia through the most direct routes.
Disabled persons: No specific mention.
Elderly/age: No specific mention.
Migrant workers: No specific mention.
Racial/ethnic/national group: No specific mention.
Religious groups: No specific mention.
Indigenous people: No specific mention.
Other groups: No specific mention.
Refugees/displaced persons: Groups→Refugees/displaced persons→Substantive
Page 1, Untitled Preamble, Para 4: The Parties adopted an Agreement containing decisions with respect to political, military, humanitarian and refugee repatriation issues. This Agreement will be signed by the leaders of the Parties during the ECOWAS Summit in Cotonou, Benin, on 24th July, 1993.

Page 2, Repatriation of Refugees: UNHCR presented to the Parties a summary of their plants for refugees repatriation and re-integration in the country. UNHCR called specific attention to the need for security and protection of United Nations staff working in the country. The Parties called upon the United Nations, particularly UNHCR, to carry out the necessary planning and resource mobilisation to facilitate a speedy return of refugees to Liberia.
Social class: No specific mention.

Gender

Women, girls and gender: No specific mention.
Men and boys: No specific mention.
LGBTI: No specific mention.
Family: No specific mention.

State definition

Nature of state (general): No specific mention.
State configuration: No specific mention.
Self determination: No specific mention.
Referendum: No specific mention.
State symbols: No specific mention.
Independence/secession: No specific mention.
Accession/unification: No specific mention.
Border delimitation: No specific mention.
Cross-border provision: No specific mention.

Governance

Political institutions (new or reformed): Governance→Political institutions (new or reformed)→Temporary new institutions
Page 1, Political: The Agreement on political issues reaffirmed that the Yamoussoukro Accords provide the best framework for peace. It was agreed that Liberia would be unified under a civil Transitional Government to run for a period of seven months. Various proposals were made with respect to the Executive, Judiciary and Legislative branches of government, with decisions in some cases deferred for consultation among the leaders of the parties.
Elections: No specific mention.
Electoral commission: No specific mention.
Political parties reform: No specific mention.
Civil society: Page 1, Humanitarian Assistance: The Parties agreed that every effort should be made to deliver humanitarian assistance to all Liberians particularly children, who are malnourished and suffering from related diseases. Convoys of humanitarian assistance should travel to all areas of Liberia through the most direct routes.

Page 2, Repatriation of Refugees: UNHCR presented to the Parties a summary of their plants for refugees repatriation and re-integration in the country. UNHCR called specific attention to the need for security and protection of United Nations staff working in the country. The Parties called upon the United Nations, particularly UNHCR, to carry out the necessary planning and resource mobilisation to facilitate a speedy return of refugees to Liberia.
Traditional/religious leaders: No specific mention.
Public administration: No specific mention.
Constitution: No specific mention.

Power sharing

Political power sharing: No specific mention.
Territorial power sharing: No specific mention.
Economic power sharing: No specific mention.
Military power sharing: No specific mention.

Human rights and equality

Human rights/RoL general: No specific mention.
Bill of rights/similar: No specific mention.
Treaty incorporation: No specific mention.
Civil and political rights: No specific mention.
Socio-economic rights: No specific mention.

Rights related issues

Citizenship: No specific mention.
Democracy: No specific mention.
Detention procedures: No specific mention.
Media and communication: No specific mention.
Mobility/access: Page 1, Humanitarian Assistance: The Parties agreed that every effort should be made to deliver humanitarian assistance to all Liberians particularly children, who are malnourished and suffering from related diseases. Convoys of humanitarian assistance should travel to all areas of Liberia through the most direct routes.
Protection measures: No specific mention.
Other: No specific mention.

Rights institutions

NHRI: No specific mention.
Regional or international human rights institutions: No specific mention.

Justice sector reform

Criminal justice and emergency law: No specific mention.
State of emergency provisions: No specific mention.
Judiciary and courts: No specific mention.
Prisons and detention: No specific mention.
Traditional Laws: No specific mention.

Socio-economic reconstruction

Development or socio-economic reconstruction: Socio-economic reconstruction→Development or socio-economic reconstruction→Humanitarian assistance
Page 1, Untitled Preamble, Para 4: The Parties adopted an Agreement containing decisions with respect to political, military, humanitarian and refugee repatriation issues. This Agreement will be signed by the leaders of the Parties during the ECOWAS Summit in Cotonou, Benin, on 24th July, 1993.

Page 1, Humanitarian Assistance: The Parties agreed that every effort should be made to deliver humanitarian assistance to all Liberians particularly children, who are malnourished and suffering from related diseases. Convoys of humanitarian assistance should travel to all areas of Liberia through the most direct routes.
National economic plan: No specific mention.
Natural resources: No specific mention.
International funds: No specific mention.
Business: No specific mention.
Taxation: No specific mention.
Banks: No specific mention.

Land, property and environment

Land reform/rights: No specific mention.
Pastoralist/nomadism rights: No specific mention.
Cultural heritage: No specific mention.
Environment: No specific mention.
Water or riparian rights or access: No specific mention.

Security sector

Security Guarantees: No specific mention.
Ceasefire: Security sector→Ceasefire→Ceasefire provision
Page 1, Military: The Agreement on military issues contained conditions for a cease-fire, the establishment of a supervisory and monitoring authority, bringing together representatives of the three parties, ECOMOG, and UN Observer Mission. Attention was given to monitoring of cease-fire violations and the process of disarmament, encampment and demobilization consistent with the terms and conditions of the ECOWAS Peace Plan and the Yamoussoukro Accords.
Police: No specific mention.
Armed forces: Page 1, Untitled Preamble, Para 4: The Parties adopted an Agreement containing decisions with respect to political, military, humanitarian and refugee repatriation issues. This Agreement will be signed by the leaders of the Parties during the ECOWAS Summit in Cotonou, Benin, on 24th July, 1993.

Page 1, Military: The Agreement on military issues contained conditions for a cease-fire, the establishment of a supervisory and monitoring authority, bringing together representatives of the three parties, ECOMOG, and UN Observer Mission. Attention was given to monitoring of cease-fire violations and the process of disarmament, encampment and demobilization consistent with the terms and conditions of the ECOWAS Peace Plan and the Yamoussoukro Accords.
DDR: Security sector→DDR→DDR programmes
Page 1, Military: The Agreement on military issues contained conditions for a cease-fire, the establishment of a supervisory and monitoring authority, bringing together representatives of the three parties, ECOMOG, and UN Observer Mission. Attention was given to monitoring of cease-fire violations and the process of disarmament, encampment and demobilization consistent with the terms and conditions of the ECOWAS Peace Plan and the Yamoussoukro Accords.
Intelligence services: No specific mention.
Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces: No specific mention.
Withdrawal of foreign forces: No specific mention.
Corruption: No specific mention.
Crime/organised crime: No specific mention.
Drugs: No specific mention.
Terrorism: No specific mention.

Transitional justice

Transitional justice general: No specific mention.
Amnesty/pardon: No specific mention.
Courts: No specific mention.
Mechanism: No specific mention.
Prisoner release: No specific mention.
Vetting: No specific mention.
Victims: No specific mention.
Missing persons: No specific mention.
Reparations: No specific mention.
Reconciliation: No specific mention.

Implementation

UN signatory: No specific mention.
Other international signatory: No specific mention.
Referendum for agreement: No specific mention.
International mission/force/similar: Page 1, Military: The Agreement on military issues contained conditions for a cease-fire, the establishment of a supervisory and monitoring authority, bringing together representatives of the three parties, ECOMOG, and UN Observer Mission. Attention was given to monitoring of cease-fire violations and the process of disarmament, encampment and demobilization consistent with the terms and conditions of the ECOWAS Peace Plan and the Yamoussoukro Accords.

Page 2, Repatriation of Refugees: UNHCR presented to the Parties a summary of their plants for refugees repatriation and re-integration in the country. UNHCR called specific attention to the need for security and protection of United Nations staff working in the country. The Parties called upon the United Nations, particularly UNHCR, to carry out the necessary planning and resource mobilisation to facilitate a speedy return of refugees to Liberia.
Enforcement mechanism: No specific mention.
Related cases: No specific mention.
Source: Official Journal of the ECOWAS, Vol. 22, 1997 (Special Edition).

COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE PEACE TALKS ON LIBERIA HELD AT GENEVA 10TH TO 17TH JULY, 1993

Begins

At the invitation of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali, on behalf of H.E. President Nicephore Soglo, current Chairman of ECOWAS, and Dr. Salim A. Salim, Secretary-General of OAU, the parties to the Liberian conflict met in Geneva, Switzerland from 10th to l7th July, 1993 to take part and fully participate in Liberia Peace Talks aimed at ending three (3) and a half years of civil war.

These talks were held under the co-chairmanship of Mr. Trevor Gordon-Somers, Special Representative of UN Secretary-General on Liberia, President Canaan Banana, Eminent Person, OAU and Dr. Abbas Bundu, Executive Secretary of ECOWAS.

This historical meeting provided a unique opportunity for the three parties to engage in a friendly and conciliatory dialogue among themselves with a view to advancing the search for a peaceful and lasting settlement of the Liberian crisis in accordance with ECOWAS Peace Plan and Yamoussoukro Accords.

The Parties adopted an Agreement containing decisions with respect to political, military, humanitarian and refugee repatriation issues.

This Agreement will be signed by the leaders of the Parties during the ECOWAS Summit in Cotonou, Benin, on 24th July, 1993.

Political

The Agreement on political issues reaffirmed that the Yamoussoukro Accords provide the best framework for peace.

It was agreed that Liberia would be unified under a civil Transitional Government to run for a period of seven months.

Various proposals were made with respect to the Executive, Judiciary and Legislative branches of government, with decisions in some cases deferred for consultation among the leaders of the parties.

Military

The Agreement on military issues contained conditions for a cease-fire, the establishment of a supervisory and monitoring authority, bringing together representatives of the three parties, ECOMOG, and UN Observer Mission.

Attention was given to monitoring of cease-fire violations and the process of disarmament, encampment and demobilization consistent with the terms and conditions of the ECOWAS Peace Plan and the Yamoussoukro Accords.

Humanitarian Assistance

The Parties agreed that every effort should be made to deliver humanitarian assistance to all Liberians particularly children, who are malnourished and suffering from related diseases.

Convoys of humanitarian assistance should travel to all areas of Liberia through the most direct routes.

Repatriation of Refugees

UNHCR presented to the Parties a summary of their plants for refugees repatriation and re-integration in the country.

UNHCR called specific attention to the need for security and protection of United Nations staff working in the country.

The Parties called upon the United Nations, particularly UNHCR, to carry out the necessary planning and resource mobilisation to facilitate a speedy return of refugees to Liberia.

Signed:

G. Baccus Matthews

Momolu Sirleaf

Alhaji Kromah