Final Communique of the First Meeting of the Committee of Five on Liberia, Yamoussoukro (Yamoussoukro II Accord)

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Country/entity: Liberia
Region: Africa (excl MENA)
Agreement name: Final Communique of the First Meeting of the Committee of Five on Liberia, Yamoussoukro (Yamoussoukro II Accord)
Date: 29 Jul 1991
Agreement status: Multiparty signed/agreed
Interim arrangement: Yes
Agreement/conflict level: Interstate/intrastate conflict(s)
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: Page 1, 3. At the invitation of the Committee, the Session was also attended by:
- His Excellency Dr. Amos SAWYER, President of the interim Government of Liberia.
- Mr. Charles TAYLOR Head of the National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL).
Third parties: Page 1, 2. Present at the Session in their capacity as Members of the Committee, were the following Heads of State and Government or their duly accredited representatives:
- His Excellency Félix HOUPHOUËT-BOIGNY President of the Republic of CÔTE D' VOIRE.
- His Excellency Alhaji Sir Dawda Kairaba JAWARA President of the Republic of the THE GAMBIA.
- His Excellency General Joao Bernardo VIEIRA President of the Council of State of the Republic of GUINEA-BISSAU.
- His Excellency Abdou DIOUF President of the SENEGAL.

Page 1, 3. At the invitation of the Committee, the Session was also attended by:
...- The Representative of International Negotiations Network (INN).
Description: A short agreement highlighting the need to consolidate the ceasefire in Liberia and create conditions conducive to the holding of elections.

Agreement document: LR_910729_Yamassoukro II.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF

Groups

Children/youth: No specific mention.
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: No specific mention.
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): No specific mention.
Elections: Page 1, 6: The Committee further recognized the vital importance that the necessary conditions of security on the ground be created so as to reinforce the confidence of the parties and create the necessary atmosphere conducive to the holding of free, fair and democratic elections. To this end, the committee decided to hold appropriate consultations with a view to restoring lasting peace to Liberia in justice and dignity. The Committee thanked President Carter for responding to their invitation and for making his international Negotiations Network available to assist in the organization of the electoral process in Liberia. The committee agreed to meet again in Yamoussoukro one month from now.
Electoral commission: No specific mention.
Political parties reform: No specific mention.
Civil society: No specific mention.
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: Page 1, 6: The Committee further recognized the vital importance that the necessary conditions of security on the ground be created so as to reinforce the confidence of the parties and create the necessary atmosphere conducive to the holding of free, fair and democratic elections. To this end, the committee decided to hold appropriate consultations with a view to restoring lasting peace to Liberia in justice and dignity. The Committee thanked President Carter for responding to their invitation and for making his international Negotiations Network available to assist in the organization of the electoral process in Liberia. The committee agreed to meet again in Yamoussoukro one month from now.
Detention procedures: No specific mention.
Media and communication: No specific mention.
Mobility/access: No specific mention.
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: No specific mention.
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: Page 1, 6: The Committee further recognized the vital importance that the necessary conditions of security on the ground be created so as to reinforce the confidence of the parties and create the necessary atmosphere conducive to the holding of free, fair and democratic elections. To this end, the committee decided to hold appropriate consultations with a view to restoring lasting peace to Liberia in justice and dignity. The Committee thanked President Carter for responding to their invitation and for making his international Negotiations Network available to assist in the organization of the electoral process in Liberia. The committee agreed to meet again in Yamoussoukro one month from now.
Ceasefire: Security sector→Ceasefire→Ceasefire provision
Page 1, 5: The Committee agreed on the need to reinforce and consolidate the ceasefire in Liberia and congratulated both the interim Government and the National Patriotic Front of Liberia for maintaining the ceasefire in conformity with their commitments during the last meeting in Yamoussoukro in June 1991.
Police: No specific mention.
Armed forces: No specific mention.
DDR: No specific mention.
Intelligence services: No specific mention.
Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces: Page 1, 5: The Committee agreed on the need to reinforce and consolidate the ceasefire in Liberia and congratulated both the interim Government and the National Patriotic Front of Liberia for maintaining the ceasefire in conformity with their commitments during the last meeting in Yamoussoukro in June 1991.
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: Page 1, 2. Present at the Session in their capacity as Members of the Committee, were the following Heads of State and Government or their duly accredited representatives:
- His Excellency Félix HOUPHOUËT-BOIGNY President of the Republic of CÔTE D' VOIRE.
- His Excellency Alhaji Sir Dawda Kairaba JAWARA President of the Republic of the THE GAMBIA.
- His Excellency General Joao Bernardo VIEIRA President of the Council of State of the Republic of GUINEA-BISSAU.
- His Excellency Abdou DIOUF President of the SENEGAL.
Referendum for agreement: No specific mention.
International mission/force/similar: Page 1, 6: The Committee further recognized the vital importance that the necessary conditions of security on the ground be created so as to reinforce the confidence of the parties and create the necessary atmosphere conducive to the holding of free, fair and democratic elections. To this end, the committee decided to hold appropriate consultations with a view to restoring lasting peace to Liberia in justice and dignity. The Committee thanked President Carter for responding to their invitation and for making his international Negotiations Network available to assist in the organization of the electoral process in Liberia. The committee agreed to meet again in Yamoussoukro one month from now.
Enforcement mechanism: No specific mention.
Related cases: No specific mention.
Source: UN peacemaker: http://peacemaker.un.org/

FINAL COMMUNIQUE OF THE FIRST MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE OF FIVE ON LIBERIA, YAMOUSSOUKRO, JULY 1991

The committee of five on Liberia held its First Session in Yamoussoukro, Republic of Côte d'lvoire on 29 July 1991 under the Chairman of His Excellency Félix HOUPHOUËT- BOIGNY, President of the Republic of Côte d'lvoire.

Present at the Session in their capacity as Members of the Committee, were the following Heads of State and Government or their duly accredited representatives:

- His Excellency Félix HOUPHOUËT-BOIGNY President of the Republic of CÔTE D' VOIRE.

- His Excellency Alhaji Sir Dawda Kairaba JAWARA President of the Republic of the THE GAMBIA.

- His Excellency General Joao Bernardo VIEIRA President of the Council of State of the Republic of GUINEA-BISSAU.

- His Excellency Abdou DIOUF President of the SENEGAL.

At the invitation of the Committee, the Session was also attended by:

- His Excellency Dr. Amos SAWYER, President of the interim Government of Liberia.

- Mr. Charles TAYLOR Head of the National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL).

- The Representative of International Negotiations Network (INN).

The Committee reviewed developments on the Liberian crisis since the consultative meeting of Heads of State and Government held on 29 and 30 June 1991 in Yamoussoukro.

In this regard, and more particularly on the question of peace in Liberia, the Committee welcomed the results of the deliberations on Liberia of the Fourteenth Ordinary Summit of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government held in Abuja from 4 to 6 July 1991.

The Committee agreed on the need to reinforce and consolidate the ceasefire in Liberia and congratulated both the interim Government and the National Patriotic Front of Liberia for maintaining the ceasefire in conformity with their commitments during the last meeting in Yamoussoukro in June 1991.

6. The Committee further recognized the vital importance that the necessary conditions of security on the ground be created so as to reinforce the confidence of the parties and create the necessary atmosphere conducive to the holding of free, fair and democratic elections.

To this end, the committee decided to hold appropriate consultations with a view to restoring lasting peace to Liberia in justice and dignity.

The Committee thanked President Carter for responding to their invitation and for making his international Negotiations Network available to assist in the organization of the electoral process in Liberia.

The committee agreed to meet again in Yamoussoukro one month from now.

DONE IN YAMOUSSOUKRO THIS 29TH DAY OF JULY 1991