The Final Communique of the Fourth Meeting of the Committee of Five of the Economic Community of West African States of the Liberian Crisis (Yamossoukro IV Accord)

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Country/entity: Liberia
Region: Africa (excl MENA)
Agreement name: The Final Communique of the Fourth Meeting of the Committee of Five of the Economic Community of West African States of the Liberian Crisis (Yamossoukro IV Accord)
Date: 30 Oct 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: Implementation/renegotiation
Conflict nature: Government
Peace process: Liberia peace process
Parties: (Signed) His Excellency Dr. Amos C. SAWYER
President of the Interim Government of Liberia

(Signed) Mr. Charles TAYLOR
Head of the National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL)
Third parties: Done at Yamoussoukro this 30th day of October 1991.
(Signed) His Excellency Captain Blaise COMPAORE
President of Burkina Faso

(Signed) His Excellency Félix HOUPHOUET-BOIGNY
President of the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire

(Signed) His Excellency General Joao Bernardo VIEIRA
President of the Council of State of the
Republic of Guinea-Bissau

(Signed) His Excellency Lt. Col. Amadou Toumani TOURÉ
Chairman of the People's Redemption Transitional Committee,
Head of State of the Republic of Mali

(Signed) His Excellency Abdou DIOUF
President of the Republic of Senegal

(Signed) The Honourable Kokou Joseph KOFFIGOH
Prime Minister of the Togolese Republic

(Signed) The Honourable Augustus AIKHOMU
Vice-President, representing the Head of State of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria

(Signed) The Honourable J. B. DAUDA
Second Vice-President, Attorney-General and
Minister of Justice, representing the
President of the Republic of Sierra Leone

(Signed) The Honourable Alhaji Omar SEY
Minister of External Affairs, representing
the President of the Republic of the Gambia

(Signed) The Honourable Dr. Obed ASAMOAH
PNDC Secretary for Foreign Affairs, representing
the Head of State of the Republic of Ghana

(Signed) The Honourable Faciné TOURÉ
Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, representing
the Head of State of the Republic of Guinea

Page 1, 3: Also present at the invitation of the Committee were:
...- Dr. Salim Ahmed Salim, Secretary-General of the Organization of African Unity;
- Mrs. Dayle E. Spencer, representative of the International Negotiations Network (INN).
Description: This agreement provides a timetable and modalities for the implementation of the 3 previous Yamoussoukro accords. Issues covered in the agreement include DDR, ECOMOG's mandate, the holding of elections within 6 months and the establishment of an Election Commission and an ad hoc Supreme Court.

Agreement document: LR_911030_Yamoussokro IV Agreement.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: Page 2, VISITS TO GUINEA AND SIERRA LEONE, 7: The Meeting received the report of the delegation of the Foreign Ministers of Côte d'Ivoire, the Gambia, Guinea-Bissau and Nigeria, headed by Senegal, which was requested to visit Guinea and Sierra Leone after the end of the Committee's last meeting. It welcomed the participation of Guinea and Sierra Leone at the meeting and particularly noted with appreciation, the declaration of these countries to continue to cooperate with the Committee in order to achieve the successful implementation of the ECOWAS peace plan and to facilitate the restoration of normalcy in the border areas of Sierra Leone and Liberia. The Committee agreed on the necessity that all hostile foreign forces be withdrawn immediately from the territory of Sierra Leone and that a buffer zone be created with similar dispatch on the Liberian side of the border, to be monitored by ECOMOG.

Governance

Political institutions (new or reformed): No specific mention.
Elections: Page 1, OUTCOME OF DELIBERATIONS, Developments since the Committee's last meeting, 4: The Committee reviewed developments relating to the Liberian crisis since its last meeting in Yamoussoukro on 16 and 17 September 1991. The Committee noted with appreciation that since that meeting, the Republic of Senegal, in keeping with its promise to contribute troops to ECOMOG, had started deploying its troops to Liberia to join ECOMOG. It also noted with pleasure the fact that the parties, in consonance with the agreement reached in Yamoussoukro during the last meeting of the Committee of Five, had nominated a five-member Elections Commission for the organization and supervision of the elections to be held in Liberia, and a five-member ad hoc Supreme Court to adjudicate disputes that may arise from the electoral process, as provided for by the Liberian Constitution. The Committee urged the parties concerned to take all necessary action to ensure that the Interim Elections Commission begins its work without any further delay.

Page 2, OUTCOME OF DELIBERATIONS, Timetable for encampment and disarmament, 6: Recalling the earlier Yamoussoukro Accord of the parties to implement, under ECOMOG supervision, the encampment of their troops in designated locations and their disarmament, and the mandate given to ECOMOG, in liaison with the parties concerned, to work out the practical modalities for the implementation of that Accord, the Meeting considered and agreed a programme of implementation of these important elements of the cease-fire, which is annexed hereto (see enclosure below). This programme envisages the implementation within 60 days of all the modalities for the establishment of the necessary conditions of peace and security on the ground in order to reinforce the confidence of the parties as well as create a proper atmosphere conducive to the holding of free, fair and democratic elections in Liberia not later than six months from the date of this Meeting. The Committee therefore renewed its mandate to ECOMOG to ensure that the programme is smoothly and speedily implemented, in order to make it possible for democratic elections to be held in Liberia within the stipulated period. To this end, it appealed to all the parties concerned to continue to repose trust and confidence in ECOMOG and to cooperate fully with ECOMOG, the Interim Elections Commission, the INN and all other international observers who may wish to observe and monitor the electoral process.
Electoral commission: Page 1, OUTCOME OF DELIBERATIONS, Developments since the Committee's last meeting, 4: The Committee reviewed developments relating to the Liberian crisis since its last meeting in Yamoussoukro on 16 and 17 September 1991. The Committee noted with appreciation that since that meeting, the Republic of Senegal, in keeping with its promise to contribute troops to ECOMOG, had started deploying its troops to Liberia to join ECOMOG. It also noted with pleasure the fact that the parties, in consonance with the agreement reached in Yamoussoukro during the last meeting of the Committee of Five, had nominated a five-member Elections Commission for the organization and supervision of the elections to be held in Liberia, and a five-member ad hoc Supreme Court to adjudicate disputes that may arise from the electoral process, as provided for by the Liberian Constitution. The Committee urged the parties concerned to take all necessary action to ensure that the Interim Elections Commission begins its work without any further delay.
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 2, OUTCOME OF DELIBERATIONS, Timetable for encampment and disarmament, 6: Recalling the earlier Yamoussoukro Accord of the parties to implement, under ECOMOG supervision, the encampment of their troops in designated locations and their disarmament, and the mandate given to ECOMOG, in liaison with the parties concerned, to work out the practical modalities for the implementation of that Accord, the Meeting considered and agreed a programme of implementation of these important elements of the cease-fire, which is annexed hereto (see enclosure below). This programme envisages the implementation within 60 days of all the modalities for the establishment of the necessary conditions of peace and security on the ground in order to reinforce the confidence of the parties as well as create a proper atmosphere conducive to the holding of free, fair and democratic elections in Liberia not later than six months from the date of this Meeting. The Committee therefore renewed its mandate to ECOMOG to ensure that the programme is smoothly and speedily implemented, in order to make it possible for democratic elections to be held in Liberia within the stipulated period. To this end, it appealed to all the parties concerned to continue to repose trust and confidence in ECOMOG and to cooperate fully with ECOMOG, the Interim Elections Commission, the INN and all other international observers who may wish to observe and monitor the electoral process.
Detention procedures: No specific mention.
Media and communication: No specific mention.
Mobility/access: Page 4, Enclosure, Programme of implementation, Preliminary accepted conditions:
- ECOMOG shall enjoy freedom of movement throughout the territory of Liberia.
...- All entry points into Liberia will be monitored by ECOMOG troops.

Page 4, Enclosure, Programme of implementation, Tasks:
...- Security will be provided to all VIPs and where freedom of movement is established such security will not be necessary for local dignitaries.

Page 4, Enclosure, Programme of implementation: It is envisaged that the ECOMOG military programme can be completed within 60 days as follows:
...D-Day + 7
...- Robertsfield International Airport reactivated.
...- Permanent presence and supervision of all airports and seaports.
- International flights into Robertsfield commence.
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: Page 1, OUTCOME OF DELIBERATIONS, Developments since the Committee's last meeting, 4: The Committee reviewed developments relating to the Liberian crisis since its last meeting in Yamoussoukro on 16 and 17 September 1991. The Committee noted with appreciation that since that meeting, the Republic of Senegal, in keeping with its promise to contribute troops to ECOMOG, had started deploying its troops to Liberia to join ECOMOG. It also noted with pleasure the fact that the parties, in consonance with the agreement reached in Yamoussoukro during the last meeting of the Committee of Five, had nominated a five-member Elections Commission for the organization and supervision of the elections to be held in Liberia, and a five-member ad hoc Supreme Court to adjudicate disputes that may arise from the electoral process, as provided for by the Liberian Constitution. The Committee urged the parties concerned to take all necessary action to ensure that the Interim Elections Commission begins its work without any further delay.
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: Page 4, Enclosure, Programme of implementation: It is envisaged that the ECOMOG military programme can be completed within 60 days as follows:
...D-Day + 7
...- Permanent presence and supervision of all airports and seaports.

Security sector

Security Guarantees: Page 2, VISITS TO GUINEA AND SIERRA LEONE, 7: The Meeting received the report of the delegation of the Foreign Ministers of Côte d'Ivoire, the Gambia, Guinea-Bissau and Nigeria, headed by Senegal, which was requested to visit Guinea and Sierra Leone after the end of the Committee's last meeting. It welcomed the participation of Guinea and Sierra Leone at the meeting and particularly noted with appreciation, the declaration of these countries to continue to cooperate with the Committee in order to achieve the successful implementation of the ECOWAS peace plan and to facilitate the restoration of normalcy in the border areas of Sierra Leone and Liberia. The Committee agreed on the necessity that all hostile foreign forces be withdrawn immediately from the territory of Sierra Leone and that a buffer zone be created with similar dispatch on the Liberian side of the border, to be monitored by ECOMOG.

Page 4, Enclosure, Programme of implementation, Preliminary accepted conditions
...- Some weapons inadvertently lost would therefore need to be located and recovered.
- There would be some obstacles and possible minefields that would need to be neutralized.

Page 4, Enclosure, Programme of implementation, Tasks:
...- Monitoring of all possible avenues of approach into Liberia by patrols and static guards.
- Search, in conjunction with administrative authorities, to recover hidden or lost weapons.
- Strategic installations will need static guards.
- Security will be provided to all VIPs and where freedom of movement is established such security will not be necessary for local dignitaries.

Page 4, Enclosure, Programme of implementation: It is envisaged that the ECOMOG military programme can be completed within 60 days as follows:
...D-Day + 7
...- Border guards in place including buffer zones along Sierra Leone/Liberia border.
- Roadblocks and checkpoints removed in collaboration with administrative authorities.
...- Appropriate light Air Detachments deployed in Liberia (including helicopters).
Ceasefire: Security sector→Ceasefire→Ceasefire provision
Page 2, OUTCOME OF DELIBERATIONS, Timetable for encampment and disarmament, 6: Recalling the earlier Yamoussoukro Accord of the parties to implement, under ECOMOG supervision, the encampment of their troops in designated locations and their disarmament, and the mandate given to ECOMOG, in liaison with the parties concerned, to work out the practical modalities for the implementation of that Accord, the Meeting considered and agreed a programme of implementation of these important elements of the cease-fire, which is annexed hereto (see enclosure below). This programme envisages the implementation within 60 days of all the modalities for the establishment of the necessary conditions of peace and security on the ground in order to reinforce the confidence of the parties as well as create a proper atmosphere conducive to the holding of free, fair and democratic elections in Liberia not later than six months from the date of this Meeting. The Committee therefore renewed its mandate to ECOMOG to ensure that the programme is smoothly and speedily implemented, in order to make it possible for democratic elections to be held in Liberia within the stipulated period. To this end, it appealed to all the parties concerned to continue to repose trust and confidence in ECOMOG and to cooperate fully with ECOMOG, the Interim Elections Commission, the INN and all other international observers who may wish to observe and monitor the electoral process.
Police: No specific mention.
Armed forces: No specific mention.
DDR: Security sector→DDR→DDR programmes
Page 2, OUTCOME OF DELIBERATIONS, Timetable for encampment and disarmament, 6: Recalling the earlier Yamoussoukro Accord of the parties to implement, under ECOMOG supervision, the encampment of their troops in designated locations and their disarmament, and the mandate given to ECOMOG, in liaison with the parties concerned, to work out the practical modalities for the implementation of that Accord, the Meeting considered and agreed a programme of implementation of these important elements of the cease-fire, which is annexed hereto (see enclosure below). This programme envisages the implementation within 60 days of all the modalities for the establishment of the necessary conditions of peace and security on the ground in order to reinforce the confidence of the parties as well as create a proper atmosphere conducive to the holding of free, fair and democratic elections in Liberia not later than six months from the date of this Meeting. The Committee therefore renewed its mandate to ECOMOG to ensure that the programme is smoothly and speedily implemented, in order to make it possible for democratic elections to be held in Liberia within the stipulated period. To this end, it appealed to all the parties concerned to continue to repose trust and confidence in ECOMOG and to cooperate fully with ECOMOG, the Interim Elections Commission, the INN and all other international observers who may wish to observe and monitor the electoral process.

Page 4, Enclosure, Programme of implementation, ECOMOG mission:
...- Supervise the encampment and disarmament of all warring factions.

Page 4, Enclosure, Programme of implementation, Preliminary accepted conditions
...- All warring factions will willingly abandon their fighting positions and move into designated camps.
- During the period of encampment and disarmament, eminent persons of the INN will visit Liberia in order to reinforce the confidence of the parties.

Page 4, Enclosure, Programme of implementation, Tasks:
- Eliminate external threat to allow the encampment and disarmament programme to be smoothly and effectively carried out.
...- Search, in conjunction with administrative authorities, to recover hidden or lost weapons.

Page 4, Enclosure, Programme of implementation: It is envisaged that the ECOMOG military programme can be completed within 60 days as follows:
...D-Day + 7
- Confirmatory reconnaissance completed of all encampment areas and forward patrol bases.
...- Reception centres for encampment opened.
...- NPFL encampment and documentation.
- Receiving, crating and storage of weapons at designated points completed.
- Resettlement programme commences.
Intelligence services: No specific mention.
Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces: Page 4, Enclosure, Programme of implementation: It is envisaged that the ECOMOG military programme can be completed within 60 days as follows:
...D-Day + 7
...- NPFL encampment and documentation.
Withdrawal of foreign forces: Page 2, VISITS TO GUINEA AND SIERRA LEONE, 7: The Meeting received the report of the delegation of the Foreign Ministers of Côte d'Ivoire, the Gambia, Guinea-Bissau and Nigeria, headed by Senegal, which was requested to visit Guinea and Sierra Leone after the end of the Committee's last meeting. It welcomed the participation of Guinea and Sierra Leone at the meeting and particularly noted with appreciation, the declaration of these countries to continue to cooperate with the Committee in order to achieve the successful implementation of the ECOWAS peace plan and to facilitate the restoration of normalcy in the border areas of Sierra Leone and Liberia. The Committee agreed on the necessity that all hostile foreign forces be withdrawn immediately from the territory of Sierra Leone and that a buffer zone be created with similar dispatch on the Liberian side of the border, to be monitored by ECOMOG.
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: Done at Yamoussoukro this 30th day of October 1991.
(Signed) His Excellency Captain Blaise COMPAORE
President of Burkina Faso

(Signed) His Excellency Félix HOUPHOUET-BOIGNY
President of the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire

(Signed) His Excellency General Joao Bernardo VIEIRA
President of the Council of State of the
Republic of Guinea-Bissau

(Signed) His Excellency Lt. Col. Amadou Toumani TOURÉ
Chairman of the People's Redemption Transitional Committee,
Head of State of the Republic of Mali

(Signed) His Excellency Abdou DIOUF
President of the Republic of Senegal

(Signed) The Honourable Kokou Joseph KOFFIGOH
Prime Minister of the Togolese Republic

(Signed) The Honourable Augustus AIKHOMU
Vice-President, representing the Head of State of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria

(Signed) The Honourable J. B. DAUDA
Second Vice-President, Attorney-General and
Minister of Justice, representing the
President of the Republic of Sierra Leone

(Signed) The Honourable Alhaji Omar SEY
Minister of External Affairs, representing
the President of the Republic of the Gambia

(Signed) The Honourable Dr. Obed ASAMOAH
PNDC Secretary for Foreign Affairs, representing
the Head of State of the Republic of Ghana

(Signed) The Honourable Faciné TOURÉ
Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, representing
the Head of State of the Republic of Guinea
Referendum for agreement: No specific mention.
International mission/force/similar: Page 1, OUTCOME OF DELIBERATIONS, Developments since the Committee's last meeting, 4: The Committee reviewed developments relating to the Liberian crisis since its last meeting in Yamoussoukro on 16 and 17 September 1991. The Committee noted with appreciation that since that meeting, the Republic of Senegal, in keeping with its promise to contribute troops to ECOMOG, had started deploying its troops to Liberia to join ECOMOG. It also noted with pleasure the fact that the parties, in consonance with the agreement reached in Yamoussoukro during the last meeting of the Committee of Five, had nominated a five-member Elections Commission for the organization and supervision of the elections to be held in Liberia, and a five-member ad hoc Supreme Court to adjudicate disputes that may arise from the electoral process, as provided for by the Liberian Constitution. The Committee urged the parties concerned to take all necessary action to ensure that the Interim Elections Commission begins its work without any further delay.

Page 2, OUTCOME OF DELIBERATIONS, ECOMOG, 5: Recalling its earlier appeal to other ECOWAS member States to contribute contingents to ECOMOG, the Committee welcomed with appreciation the announcement by Guinea-Bissau of its readiness to contribute troops to ECOMOG in order to enhance its capacity to discharge its peace-keeping role in Liberia.

Page 2, OUTCOME OF DELIBERATIONS, Timetable for encampment and disarmament, 6: Recalling the earlier Yamoussoukro Accord of the parties to implement, under ECOMOG supervision, the encampment of their troops in designated locations and their disarmament, and the mandate given to ECOMOG, in liaison with the parties concerned, to work out the practical modalities for the implementation of that Accord, the Meeting considered and agreed a programme of implementation of these important elements of the cease-fire, which is annexed hereto (see enclosure below). This programme envisages the implementation within 60 days of all the modalities for the establishment of the necessary conditions of peace and security on the ground in order to reinforce the confidence of the parties as well as create a proper atmosphere conducive to the holding of free, fair and democratic elections in Liberia not later than six months from the date of this Meeting. The Committee therefore renewed its mandate to ECOMOG to ensure that the programme is smoothly and speedily implemented, in order to make it possible for democratic elections to be held in Liberia within the stipulated period. To this end, it appealed to all the parties concerned to continue to repose trust and confidence in ECOMOG and to cooperate fully with ECOMOG, the Interim Elections Commission, the INN and all other international observers who may wish to observe and monitor the electoral process.

Page 2, VISITS TO GUINEA AND SIERRA LEONE, 7: The Meeting received the report of the delegation of the Foreign Ministers of Côte d'Ivoire, the Gambia, Guinea-Bissau and Nigeria, headed by Senegal, which was requested to visit Guinea and Sierra Leone after the end of the Committee's last meeting. It welcomed the participation of Guinea and Sierra Leone at the meeting and particularly noted with appreciation, the declaration of these countries to continue to cooperate with the Committee in order to achieve the successful implementation of the ECOWAS peace plan and to facilitate the restoration of normalcy in the border areas of Sierra Leone and Liberia. The Committee agreed on the necessity that all hostile foreign forces be withdrawn immediately from the territory of Sierra Leone and that a buffer zone be created with similar dispatch on the Liberian side of the border, to be monitored by ECOMOG.

Page 4, Enclosure, Programme of implementation, ECOMOG mission:
- Cover the whole of Liberia.
- Supervise the encampment and disarmament of all warring factions.

Page 4, Enclosure, Programme of implementation, Preliminary accepted conditions
- ECOMOG shall enjoy freedom of movement throughout the territory of Liberia.
...- During the period of encampment and disarmament, eminent persons of the INN will visit Liberia in order to reinforce the confidence of the parties.
- All parties concerned will recognize the absolute neutrality of ECOMOG and demonstrate their trust and confidence in it.
...- All entry points into Liberia will be monitored by ECOMOG troops.

Page 4, Enclosure, Programme of implementation, Tasks: It is clear that trust and confidence from all the parties to the conflict underpin the operations of ECOMOG which, in the light of the Yamoussoukro meetings, should now take us into the next phase. It is therefore recommended that this next phase commence on 15 November 1991, which shall be known as "D" Day.

Page 4, Enclosure, Programme of implementation: It is envisaged that the ECOMOG military programme can be completed within 60 days as follows:
D-Day - Issue orders.
D-Day + 7
- Confirmatory reconnaissance completed of all encampment areas and forward patrol bases.
- Border guards in place including buffer zones along Sierra Leone/Liberia border.
- Roadblocks and checkpoints removed in collaboration with administrative authorities.
- Reception centres for encampment opened.
- ECOMOG patrols commence.
- NPFL encampment and documentation.
- Receiving, crating and storage of weapons at designated points completed.
- Resettlement programme commences.
- Robertsfield International Airport reactivated.
- Consolidation of border areas in collaboration with the administrative authorities.
- Appropriate light Air Detachments deployed in Liberia (including helicopters).
- Routine patrols continue.
- Permanent presence and supervision of all airports and seaports.
- International flights into Robertsfield commence.
- No movement of heavy weapons belonging to ECOMOG where not necessary.
D Day + 60 - Assignment completed by 14 January 1992.
The operation itself will be conducted at small unit and subunit levels but there is an overriding need to keep border security forces for as long as necessary. Command and control will be exercised at Force Headquarters.
Enforcement mechanism: No specific mention.
Related cases: No specific mention.
Source: UN Peacemaker: http://peacemaker.un.org/

Final Communique of the Fourth Meeting of the Committee of Five of the Economic Community of West African States on the Liberian crisis, held in Yamoussoukro on 29 and 30 October 1991

1. The Committee of Five of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Liberia held its fourth meeting in Yamoussoukro, Côte d'Ivoire, on 29 and 30 October 1991, under the chairmanship of H.E. Félix Houphouet-Boigny, President of the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire.

At the invitation of the Committee, apart from those who are members of the Committee of Five, the other members of the ECOWAS Standing Mediation Committee participated in its deliberations together with Guinea and Sierra Leone.

2. Present at the meeting were the following Heads of State and Government or their duly accredited representatives:

H.E. Captain Blaise Compaore, President of Burkina Faso, Head of Government of Burkina Faso;

H.E. Félix Houphouet-Boigny, President of the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire;

H.E. General Joao Bernardo Vieira, President of the Council of State of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau;

H.E. Lieutenant-Colonel Amadou Toumani Touré, Chairman of the People's Redemption Transitional Committee, Head of State of the Republic of Mali;

H.E. Abdou Diouf, President of the Republic of Senegal;

The Honourable Kokou Joseph Koffigoh, Prime Minister of the Togolese Republic;

The Honourable Augustus Aikhomu, Vice-President, representing the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria;

The Honourable J. B. Dauda, Second Vice-President, Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, representing the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone;

The Honourable Alhaji Omar Sey, Minister of External Affairs, representing the President of the Republic of the Gambia;

The Honourable Dr. Obed Asamoah, PNDC Secretary for Foreign Affairs, representing the Head of State of the Republic of Ghana;

The Honourable Faciné Touré, Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, representing the Head of State of the Republic of Guinea.

3. Also present at the invitation of the Committee were:

H.E. Dr. Amos C. Sawyer, President of the Interim Government of Liberia;

Mr. Charles Taylor, Head of the National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL);

Dr. Salim Ahmed Salim, Secretary-General of the Organization of African Unity;

Mrs. Dayle E. Spencer, representative of the International Negotiations Network (INN).

OUTCOME OF DELIBERATIONS

Developments since the Committee's last meeting

4. The Committee reviewed developments relating to the Liberian crisis since its last meeting in Yamoussoukro on 16 and 17 September 1991.

The Committee noted with appreciation that since that meeting, the Republic of Senegal, in keeping with its promise to contribute troops to ECOMOG, had started deploying its troops to Liberia to join ECOMOG.

It also noted with pleasure the fact that the parties, in consonance with the agreement reached in Yamoussoukro during the last meeting of the Committee of Five, had nominated a five-member Elections Commission for the organization and supervision of the elections to be held in Liberia, and a five-member ad hoc Supreme Court to adjudicate disputes that may arise from the electoral process, as provided for by the Liberian Constitution.

The Committee urged the parties concerned to take all necessary action to ensure that the Interim Elections Commission begins its work without any further delay.

ECOMOG

5. Recalling its earlier appeal to other ECOWAS member States to contribute contingents to ECOMOG, the Committee welcomed with appreciation the announcement by Guinea-Bissau of its readiness to contribute troops to ECOMOG in order to enhance its capacity to discharge its peace-keeping role in Liberia.

Timetable for encampment and disarmament

6. Recalling the earlier Yamoussoukro Accord of the parties to implement, under ECOMOG supervision, the encampment of their troops in designated locations and their disarmament, and the mandate given to ECOMOG, in liaison with the parties concerned, to work out the practical modalities for the implementation of that Accord, the Meeting considered and agreed a programme of implementation of these important elements of the cease-fire, which is annexed hereto (see enclosure below).

This programme envisages the implementation within 60 days of all the modalities for the establishment of the necessary conditions of peace and security on the ground in order to reinforce the confidence of the parties as well as create a proper atmosphere conducive to the holding of free, fair and democratic elections in Liberia not later than six months from the date of this Meeting.

The Committee therefore renewed its mandate to ECOMOG to ensure that the programme is smoothly and speedily implemented, in order to make it possible for democratic elections to be held in Liberia within the stipulated period.

To this end, it appealed to all the parties concerned to continue to repose trust and confidence in ECOMOG and to cooperate fully with ECOMOG, the Interim Elections Commission, the INN and all other international observers who may wish to observe and monitor the electoral process.

VISITS TO GUINEA AND SIERRA LEONE

7. The Meeting received the report of the delegation of the Foreign Ministers of Côte d'Ivoire, the Gambia, Guinea-Bissau and Nigeria, headed by Senegal, which was requested to visit Guinea and Sierra Leone after the end of the Committee's last meeting.

It welcomed the participation of Guinea and Sierra Leone at the meeting and particularly noted with appreciation, the declaration of these countries to continue to cooperate with the Committee in order to achieve the successful implementation of the ECOWAS peace plan and to facilitate the restoration of normalcy in the border areas of Sierra Leone and Liberia.

The Committee agreed on the necessity that all hostile foreign forces be withdrawn immediately from the territory of Sierra Leone and that a buffer zone be created with similar dispatch on the Liberian side of the border, to be monitored by ECOMOG.

VOTE OF THANKS

8. The Committee expressed its appreciation and gratitude to H.E. Félix Houphouet-Boigny, President of the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, and to the Government and people of Côte d'Ivoire for the warm reception and hospitality accorded to all delegations and for the excellent facilities made available to ensure the success of the Meeting.

Done at Yamoussoukro this 30th day of October 1991.

(Signed) His Excellency Captain Blaise COMPAORE

President of Burkina Faso

(Signed) His Excellency Félix HOUPHOUET-BOIGNY

President of the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire

(Signed) His Excellency General Joao Bernardo VIEIRA

President of the Council of State of the

Republic of Guinea-Bissau

(Signed) His Excellency Lt.

Col.

Amadou Toumani TOURÉ

Chairman of the People's Redemption Transitional Committee,

Head of State of the Republic of Mali

(Signed) His Excellency Abdou DIOUF

President of the Republic of Senegal

(Signed) The Honourable Kokou Joseph KOFFIGOH

Prime Minister of the Togolese Republic

(Signed) The Honourable Augustus AIKHOMU

Vice-President, representing the Head of State of the

Federal Republic of Nigeria

(Signed) The Honourable J. B. DAUDA

Second Vice-President, Attorney-General and

Minister of Justice, representing the

President of the Republic of Sierra Leone

(Signed) The Honourable Alhaji Omar SEY

Minister of External Affairs, representing

the President of the Republic of the Gambia

(Signed) The Honourable Dr. Obed ASAMOAH

PNDC Secretary for Foreign Affairs, representing

the Head of State of the Republic of Ghana

(Signed) The Honourable Faciné TOURÉ

Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, representing

the Head of State of the Republic of Guinea

(Signed) His Excellency Dr. Amos C. SAWYER

President of the Interim Government of Liberia

(Signed) Mr. Charles TAYLOR

Head of the National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL)

Enclosure

Programme of implementation

ECOMOG mission

Cover the whole of Liberia.

Supervise the encampment and disarmament of all warring factions.

Preliminary accepted conditions

ECOMOG shall enjoy freedom of movement throughout the territory of Liberia.

All warring factions will willingly abandon their fighting positions and move into designated camps.

During the period of encampment and disarmament, eminent persons of the INN will visit Liberia in order to reinforce the confidence of the parties.

All parties concerned will recognize the absolute neutrality of ECOMOG and demonstrate their trust and confidence in it.

Some weapons inadvertently lost would therefore need to be located and recovered.

There would be some obstacles and possible minefields that would need to be neutralized.

All entry points into Liberia will be monitored by ECOMOG troops.

Tasks

Eliminate external threat to allow the encampment and disarmament programme to be smoothly and effectively carried out.

Monitoring of all possible avenues of approach into Liberia by patrols and static guards.

Search, in conjunction with administrative authorities, to recover hidden or lost weapons.

Strategic installations will need static guards.

Security will be provided to all VIPs and where freedom of movement is established such security will not be necessary for local dignitaries.

It is clear that trust and confidence from all the parties to the conflict underpin the operations of ECOMOG which, in the light of the Yamoussoukro meetings, should now take us into the next phase.

It is therefore recommended that this next phase commence on 15 November 1991, which shall be known as "D" Day.

It is envisaged that the ECOMOG military programme can be completed within 60 days as follows:

D-Day - Issue orders.

D-Day + 7

Confirmatory reconnaissance completed of all encampment areas and forward patrol bases.

Border guards in place including buffer zones along Sierra Leone/Liberia border.

Roadblocks and checkpoints removed in collaboration with administrative authorities.

Reception centres for encampment opened.

ECOMOG patrols commence.

NPFL encampment and documentation.

Receiving, crating and storage of weapons at designated points completed.

Resettlement programme commences.

Robertsfield International Airport reactivated.

Consolidation of border areas in collaboration with the administrative authorities.

Appropriate light Air Detachments deployed in Liberia (including helicopters).

Routine patrols continue.

Permanent presence and supervision of all airports and seaports.

International flights into Robertsfield commence.

No movement of heavy weapons belonging to ECOMOG where not necessary.

D Day + 60 - Assignment completed by 14 January 1992.

The operation itself will be conducted at small unit and subunit levels but there is an overriding need to keep border security forces for as long as necessary.

Command and control will be exercised at Force Headquarters.