Supplement to the Abuja Accord

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Country/entity: Liberia
Region: Africa (excl MENA)
Agreement name: Supplement to the Abuja Accord
Date: 17 Aug 1996
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: Implementation/renegotiation
Conflict nature: Government
Peace process: Liberia peace process
Parties: Charles Ghankay TAYLOR
Leader of the National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL)

Ltg. Alhaji G. V. KROMAH
National Chairman of the United Liberation Movement of Liberia for Democracy (ULIMO)

Dr. G. E. SAIGBE BOLEY Sr.
Leader of the Liberia Council (LPC)

Ltg. J. Hezekiah BOWEN
Armed Forces of Liberia

Major-General Roosevelt JOHNSON
United Liberation Movement of Liberia for Democracy (ULIMO-J)

Francois MASSAQUOI
Lofa Defence Force (LDF)

Jucontee Thomas WOEWIYU
National Patriotic Front of Liberia Central Revolutionary Council (NPFL- CRC)

Chea CHEAPOO
Liberia National Conference (LNC)
Third parties: Witnessed By:

Chief Tom Ikimi
for and on behalf of General Sani AbachaHead of State, Commander- in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces

Capt (Rtd) Kojo Tsikata
Member of the Council of State, for and on behalf of Flt-Lt Jerry John Rawlings, President of the Republic of Ghana

President Canaan Banana
OAU Eminent Person in Liberia

Anthony B Nyakyi
UN Secretary-General's Special Representative to Liberia
Description: The agreement amends Part II titled 'Political Issues', Section A, paragraph (ii) of the Abuja Agreement, agrese a revised implementation schedule, extends the life of the transitional government.

Agreement document: LR_960817_Abuja Supplement.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): Governance→Political institutions (new or reformed)→General references
Page 1, para 3: Desiring to effect a change in the leadership of the Council of State in order to enable it to perform more efficiently and creditably

Page 1, para 4: Pursuant to Section K, Article 12 and Section D, Article 16 of the Abuja Accord, the Schedule of Implementation should have been implemented within the twelve-month lifespan of the Liberia National Transitional Government, and

Page 1, 1: Part II titled 'Political Issues', Section A, paragraph (ii) is hereby amended and shall read as follows:
(ii) The Chairman of the Council shall be Mrs. Ruth Perry. All other members shall be Vice-Chairmen of equal status. In case of permanent incapacitation a new Chairman shall be appointed within the ECOWAS framework.

Page 1, 3: To extend the life of the transitional government in accordance with the revised Schedule of Implementation.
Elections: No specific mention.
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: Power sharing→Political power sharing→Executive coalition
State level
Page 1, 1: Part II titled 'Political Issues', Section A, paragraph (ii) is hereby amended and shall read as follows:
(ii) The Chairman of the Council shall be Mrs. Ruth Perry. All other members shall be Vice-Chairmen of equal status. In case of permanent incapacitation a new Chairman shall be appointed within the ECOWAS framework.
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: 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: No specific mention.
Ceasefire: No specific mention.
Police: No specific mention.
Armed forces: No specific mention.
DDR: No specific mention.
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: Witnessed By:

...Anthony B Nyakyi
UN Secretary-General's Special Representative to Liberia
Other international signatory: Witnessed By:

Chief Tom Ikimi
for and on behalf of General Sani AbachaHead of State, Commander- in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces

Capt (Rtd) Kojo Tsikata
Member of the Council of State, for and on behalf of Flt-Lt Jerry John Rawlings, President of the Republic of Ghana

President Canaan Banana
OAU Eminent Person in Liberia
Referendum for agreement: No specific mention.
International mission/force/similar: Page 1, para 2: Whereas the ECOWAS Authority has reaffirmed the Abuja Accord as the only viable means to its determination to achieve a peaceful resolution of the Liberian civil war and has reiterated its determination to fully implement the said agreement, and
Enforcement mechanism: No specific mention.
Related cases: No specific mention.
Source: UN Peacemaker: http://peacemaker.un.org/

Supplement to the Abuja Accord

Whereas the Abuja Accord has been endorsed by the OAU and the United Nations as the best framework for peace in Liberia, and

Whereas the ECOWAS Authority has reaffirmed the Abuja Accord as the only viable means to its determination to achieve a peaceful resolution of the Liberian civil war and has reiterated its determination to fully implement the said agreement, and

Desiring to effect a change in the leadership of the Council of State in order to enable it to perform more efficiently and creditably,

Pursuant to Section K, Article 12 and Section D, Article 16 of the Abuja Accord, the Schedule of Implementation should have been implemented within the twelve-month lifespan of the Liberia National Transitional Government, and

Whe reas the parties agreed to abide by the schedule of implementation attached to the Abuja Accord, with such modifications in terms of dates are required by virtue of any delay in the implementation of said agreement, and

Whereas the Abuja Accord needs to be revised in line with the issues raised above,

Now therefore the parties hereby agree:

Part II titled 'Political Issues', Section A, paragraph (ii) is hereby amended and shall read as follows:

(ii) The Chairman of the Council shall be Mrs. Ruth Perry.

All other members shall be Vice-Chairmen of equal status.

In case of permanent incapacitation a new Chairman shall be appointed within the ECOWAS framework.

To abide by the revised Schedule of Implementation attached hereto.

To extend the life of the transitional government in accordance with the revised Schedule of Implementation.

Done at Abuja, Federal Republic of Nigeria, This 17th Day of August 1996

Charles Ghankay TAYLOR

Leader of the National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL)

Ltg. Alhaji G. V. KROMAH

National Chairman of the United Liberation Movement of Liberia for Democracy (ULIMO)

Dr. G. E. SAIGBE BOLEY Sr.

Leader of the Liberia Council (LPC)

Ltg. J. Hezekiah BOWEN

Armed Forces of Liberia

Major-General Roosevelt JOHNSON

United Liberation Movement of Liberia for Democracy (ULIMO-J)

Francois MASSAQUOI

Lofa Defence Force (LDF)

Jucontee Thomas WOEWIYU

National Patriotic Front of Liberia Central Revolutionary Council (NPFL- CRC)

Chea CHEAPOO

Liberia National Conference (LNC)

Witnessed By:

Chief Tom Ikimi

for and on behalf of General Sani AbachaHead of State, Commander- in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces

Capt (Rtd) Kojo Tsikata

Member of the Council of State, for and on behalf of Flt-Lt Jerry John Rawlings, President of the Republic of Ghana

President Canaan Banana

OAU Eminent Person in Liberia

Anthony B Nyakyi

UN Secretary-General's Special Representative to Liberia