Joint Statement of the Warring Parties in Liberia (Banjul IV Agreement)

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Country/entity: Liberia
Region: Africa (excl MENA)
Agreement name: Joint Statement of the Warring Parties in Liberia (Banjul IV Agreement)
Date: 21 Dec 1990
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: Framework/substantive - partial
Conflict nature: Government
Peace process: Liberia peace process
Parties: (Signed):

Peter L Naigow
FOR INPFD

Jucontee T. Woewiyu
FOR NPFL

I Hezekiah Bowen, LTG C/S AFL
FOR AFL
Third parties: -
Description: A short agreement where the parties agree to the establishment of an interim government (through the convening of an All-Liberia Conference), the continuation of the existing ceasefire, and the de-militarisation of seaports and airports in Liberia, and request assistance with the repatriation of refugees.

Agreement document: LR_901221_Joint Statement of the Warring Parties.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: Groups→Refugees/displaced persons→Rhetorical
Page 1, 3: The warring parties agree to seek assistance from ECOWAS and other friendly governments and organisations to help repatriate and resettle Liberians prior to the All Liberia Conference.
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, 1: The warring parties in keeping with the final communiqué of the ECOWAS Authority, hereby agree to form a future Interim Government. Towards this end the warring parties agree to organise an All Liberia Conference in Liberia within the next 60 days.

Page 1, 4. Upon formation of the future Interim Government said government shall take appropriate measures, with the assistance of ECOWAS to begin disarming the warring parties.
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: Coders: Yes, but limited, 1. The warring parties in keeping with the final communique of the ECOWAS Authority, hereby agree to form a future Interim Government. Towards this end the warring parties agree to organise an All Liberia Conference in Liberia within the next 60 days.
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, 6: The warring parties agree that immediately upon signing this statement all seaports and airports will be considered military free zone. Towards this end, the warring party controlling the seaport/airport to be utilised will work out the appropriate security measures whenever use of the seaport/airport is desired. For each arrival /departure, two Inspectors of ECOMOG will work along with the warring party controlling the seaport/airport each time it is used.
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: Page 1, 3: The warring parties agree to seek assistance from ECOWAS and other friendly governments and organisations to help repatriate and resettle Liberians prior to the All Liberia Conference.
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 1, 6: The warring parties agree that immediately upon signing this statement all seaports and airports will be considered military free zone. Towards this end, the warring party controlling the seaport/airport to be utilised will work out the appropriate security measures whenever use of the seaport/airport is desired. For each arrival /departure, two Inspectors of ECOMOG will work along with the warring party controlling the seaport/airport each time it is used.

Security sector

Security Guarantees: Page 1, 2: Also, the warring parties agree to constitute a Technical Committee to work out security arrangements, under the supervision of ECOWAS, for the hosting of the All Liberia Conference.

Page 1, 6: The warring parties agree that immediately upon signing this statement all seaports and airports will be considered military free zone. Towards this end, the warring party controlling the seaport/airport to be utilised will work out the appropriate security measures whenever use of the seaport/airport is desired. For each arrival /departure, two Inspectors of ECOMOG will work along with the warring party controlling the seaport/airport each time it is used.
Ceasefire: Security sector→Ceasefire→Ceasefire provision
Ceasefire began on 28/11/1990 and is presumed to be permanent.

Page 1, 5: The warring parties agree to continue the cease-fire as is with all parties remaining where they were as of the signing of the cease-fire agreement in Bamako on 28 November 1990, and to continue discussions in Liberia on the modalities of monitoring the cease-fire under the supervision of ECOWAS. All efforts will be made to conclude the modalities for monitoring the cease-fire within 30 days.
Police: No specific mention.
Armed forces: No specific mention.
DDR: Security sector→DDR→Demilitarisation provisions
Page 1, 4: Upon formation of the future Interim Government said government shall take appropriate measures, with the assistance of ECOWAS to begin disarming the warring parties.
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, 2: Also, the warring parties agree to constitute a Technical Committee to work out security arrangements, under the supervision of ECOWAS, for the hosting of the All Liberia Conference.

Page 1, 4: Upon formation of the future Interim Government said government shall take appropriate measures, with the assistance of ECOWAS to begin disarming the warring parties.

Page 1, 5: The warring parties agree to continue the cease-fire as is with all parties remaining where they were as of the signing of the cease-fire agreement in Bamako on 28 November 1990, and to continue discussions in Liberia on the modalities of monitoring the cease-fire under the supervision of ECOWAS. All efforts will be made to conclude the modalities for monitoring the cease-fire within 30 days.

Page 1, 6: The warring parties agree that immediately upon signing this statement all seaports and airports will be considered military free zone. Towards this end, the warring party controlling the seaport/airport to be utilised will work out the appropriate security measures whenever use of the seaport/airport is desired. For each arrival /departure, two Inspectors of ECOMOG will work along with the warring party controlling the seaport/airport each time it is used.
Enforcement mechanism: No specific mention.
Related cases: No specific mention.
Source: UN Peacemaker: http://peacemaker.un.org/

Joint Statement of the Warring Parties (INPFD, NPFL, AFL) in Liberia, Banjul, Republic of Gambia, 21 December 1990

The warring parties in keeping with the final communiqué of the ECOWAS Authority, hereby agree to form a future Interim Government.

Towards this end the warring parties agree to organise an All Liberia Conference in Liberia within the next 60 days.

Also, the warring parties agree to constitute a Technical Committee to work out security arrangements, under the supervision of ECOWAS, for the hosting of the All Liberia Conference.

The warring parties agree to seek assistance from ECOWAS and other friendly governments and organisations to help repatriate and resettle Liberians prior to the All Liberia Conference.

Upon formation of the future Interim Government said government shall take appropriate measures, with the assistance of ECOWAS to begin disarming the warring parties.

The warring parties agree to continue the cease-fire as is with all parties remaining where they were as of the signing of the cease-fire agreement in Bamako on 28 November 1990, and to continue discussions in Liberia on the modalities of monitoring the cease-fire under the supervision of ECOWAS.

All efforts will be made to conclude the modalities for monitoring the cease-fire within 30 days.

The warring parties agree that immediately upon signing this statement all seaports and airports will be considered military free zone.

Towards this end, the warring party controlling the seaport/airport to be utilised will work out the appropriate security measures whenever use of the seaport/airport is desired.

For each arrival /departure, two Inspectors of ECOMOG will work along with the warring party controlling the seaport/airport each time it is used.

(Signed):

Peter L Naigow

FOR INPFD

Jucontee T. Woewiyu

FOR NPFL

I Hezekiah Bowen, LTG C/S AFL

FOR AFL