Agreement on Cessation of Hostiliities and Peaceful Settlement of Conflict in Liberia (Banjul III Agreement)

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Country/entity: Liberia
Region: Africa (excl MENA)
Agreement name: Agreement on Cessation of Hostiliities and Peaceful Settlement of Conflict in Liberia (Banjul III Agreement)
Date: 24 Oct 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: Ceasefire/related
Conflict nature: Government
Peace process: Liberia peace process
Parties: Done at Banjul, Republic of Gambia, this 24th day of October, 1990
(Signed): Lieutenant-General John Hezekiah Bowen, For and on behalf of The Armed Forces of Liberia
(Signed): For and on behalf of The National Patriotic Front of Liberia [Not signed by an NPFL representative]
(Signed): Dr. Peter Lorkula Naigow For and on behalf of The Independent National Patriotic Front of Liberia
Third parties: Witnessed by: [signature illegible]
Chairman, Ministerial Meeting of the ECOWAS Standing Mediation Committee
[presumed to be H.E Alhaji Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara, President of The Gambia]
Description: This agreement establishes the ECOWAS Standing Mediation Committee as an appropriate mechanism for conducting the Liberian Peace Negotiations on behalf of ECOWAS and provides for a ceasefire and its modalities between the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL), and the Independent National Patriotic Front of Liberia (INPFL). The agreement was also originally meant to include the National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL) but no NPFL representative attended the negotiations or signed the agreement.

Agreement document: LR_901024_Banjul Ceasefire.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, Untitled Preamble, para 2: Recognising the wanton destruction of human life and property and the displacement of persons occasioned by the said conflict;
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, Article 1 Cease-fire: 1. Each Party hereby agrees to take immediately and as a contribution to the restoration and maintenance of peace and security throughout Liberia, the following measures:
...c) refrain from any activity which might prejudice the functioning of the Interim Government or the holding of democratically conducted general and presidential elections for a new government for the governance of Liberia;
...h) respect, unless otherwise suspended to facilitate the administration of the country by the Interim Government, the Constitution of the Republic of Liberia adopted on 6 January 1986;
Elections: Page 1, Article 1 Cease-fire: 1. Each Party hereby agrees to take immediately and as a contribution to the restoration and maintenance of peace and security throughout Liberia, the following measures:
...c) refrain from any activity which might prejudice the functioning of the Interim Government or the holding of democratically conducted general and presidential elections for a new government for the governance of Liberia;
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: Governance→Constitution→Constitution affirmation/renewal
Page 2, Article 1 Cease-fire: 1. Each Party hereby agrees to take immediately and as a contribution to the restoration and maintenance of peace and security throughout Liberia, the following measures:
...h) respect, unless otherwise suspended to facilitate the administration of the country by the Interim Government, the Constitution of the Republic of Liberia adopted on 6 January 1986;

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: Page 2, Article 1 Cease-fire: 1. Each Party hereby agrees to take immediately and as a contribution to the restoration and maintenance of peace and security throughout Liberia, the following measures:
...i) fully co-operate with the ECOWAS Standing Mediation Committee, the ECOWAS Executive Secretary and the ECOWAS Cease-fire Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) for the effective maintenance of the cease-fire and for the restoration of law and order.
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, Article 1 Cease-fire: 1. Each Party hereby agrees to take immediately and as a contribution to the restoration and maintenance of peace and security throughout Liberia, the following measures:
...c) refrain from any activity which might prejudice the functioning of the Interim Government or the holding of democratically conducted general and presidential elections for a new government for the governance of Liberia;
Detention procedures: No specific mention.
Media and communication: No specific mention.
Mobility/access: Page 2, Article 1 Cease-fire: 1. Each Party hereby agrees to take immediately and as a contribution to the restoration and maintenance of peace and security throughout Liberia, the following measures:
...f) agree that ECOMOG may inspect all ships calling at any Liberian port and all vehicles and aircraft entering through the land borders, airfields and other entry points of Liberia to ensure that the provisions of this Cease-fire Agreement are being respected and observed;
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: Page 2, Article 1 Cease-fire: 1. Each Party hereby agrees to take immediately and as a contribution to the restoration and maintenance of peace and security throughout Liberia, the following measures:
...f) agree that ECOMOG may inspect all ships calling at any Liberian port and all vehicles and aircraft entering through the land borders, airfields and other entry points of Liberia to ensure that the provisions of this Cease-fire Agreement are being respected and observed;

Security sector

Security Guarantees: Page 1, Untitled Preamble, para 1: Aware of the armed conflict existing between the parties to the conflict;

Page 1, Article 1 Cease-fire: 1. Each Party hereby agrees to take immediately and as a contribution to the restoration and maintenance of peace and security throughout Liberia, the following measures:
...e) assist ECOMOG in the drawing up of a buffer zone of at least thirty (30) km wide to separate the opposing forces, and of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for check-point operations;
Ceasefire: Security sector→Ceasefire→Ceasefire provision
[Summary: The entire agreement provides for a ceasefire and its modalities. The ceasefire commences at 0600 on the seventh day from signature of the agreement (31/10/1990) it is unclear whether it is a temporary or permanent ceasefire].

Page 1, Article 1 Cease-fire: 1. Each Party hereby agrees to take immediately and as a contribution to the restoration and maintenance of peace and security throughout Liberia, the following measures:
a) cease all activities of a military and paramilitary nature, as well as all acts of violence as at 0600 hours on the seventh day from signature of this Agreement;
b) refrain from importing or acquiring or assisting or encouraging the importation and acquisition of weapons or war materials;
c) refrain from any activity which might prejudice the functioning of the Interim Government or the holding of democratically conducted general and presidential elections for a new government for the governance of Liberia;
d) confine its troops to positions to be determined by ECOMOG in consultation with the parties; ECOMOG shall disarm all troops and other armed residents, immediately all the three parties sign this Agreement;
e) assist ECOMOG in the drawing up of a buffer zone of at least thirty (30) km wide to separate the opposing forces, and of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for check-point operations;
f) agree that ECOMOG may inspect all ships calling at any Liberian port and all vehicles and aircraft entering through the land borders, airfields and other entry points of Liberia to ensure that the provisions of this Cease-fire Agreement are being respected and observed;
g) release all hostages, political prisoners and prisoners of war;
h) respect, unless otherwise suspended to facilitate the administration of the country by the Interim Government, the Constitution of the Republic of Liberia adopted on 6 January 1986;
i) fully co-operate with the ECOWAS Standing Mediation Committee, the ECOWAS Executive Secretary and the ECOWAS Cease-fire Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) for the effective maintenance of the cease-fire and for the restoration of law and order.

Page 2, Article 1 Cease-fire: 2. In order to arrive at a peaceful and lasting settlement of the dispute, the parties hereby accept the ECOWAS Cease-fire Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) established under the authority of the Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS and under the command of an ECOWAS Member State.

Page 2, Article 1 Cease-fire: 3. ECOMOG shall be as presently constituted and may include military contingents from Member States of ECOWAS able and willing to contribute.

Page 2, Article 1 Cease-fire: 4. ECOMOG shall assist the ECOWAS Standing Mediation Committee in supervising the implementation and in ensuring the strict compliance by the parties with the provisions of this Cease-fire Agreement throughout the territory of Liberia.

Page 2, Article 2 Compliance with this Agreement: The parties undertake to observe strictly the terms of this Agreement and to abstain from any action likely to impede the mediation process or the return of Liberia to peace and stability.

Page 2, Article 3 Entry Into Force: This Agreement shall enter into force upon signature by the duly mandated representatives of the
parties hereto.
Police: No specific mention.
Armed forces: Page 1, Article 1 Cease-fire: 1. Each Party hereby agrees to take immediately and as a contribution to the restoration and maintenance of peace and security throughout Liberia, the following measures:
a) cease all activities of a military and paramilitary nature, as well as all acts of violence as at 0600 hours on the seventh day from signature of this Agreement;
DDR: Security sector→DDR→Demilitarisation provisions
Page 1, Article 1 Cease-fire: 1. Each Party hereby agrees to take immediately and as a contribution to the restoration and maintenance of peace and security throughout Liberia, the following measures:
...d) confine its troops to positions to be determined by ECOMOG in consultation with the parties; ECOMOG shall disarm all troops and other armed residents, immediately all the three parties sign this Agreement;
Intelligence services: No specific mention.
Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces: Page 1, Article 1 Cease-fire: 1. Each Party hereby agrees to take immediately and as a contribution to the restoration and maintenance of peace and security throughout Liberia, the following measures:
a) cease all activities of a military and paramilitary nature, as well as all acts of violence as at 0600 hours on the seventh day from signature of this Agreement;
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: Page 2, Article 1 Cease-fire: 1. Each Party hereby agrees to take immediately and as a contribution to the restoration and maintenance of peace and security throughout Liberia, the following measures:
...g) release all hostages, political prisoners and prisoners of war;
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: Witnessed by: [signature illegible]
Chairman, Ministerial Meeting of the ECOWAS Standing Mediation Committee
[presumed to be H.E Alhaji Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara, President of The Gambia]
Referendum for agreement: No specific mention.
International mission/force/similar: Page 1, Article 1 Cease-fire: 1. Each Party hereby agrees to take immediately and as a contribution to the restoration and maintenance of peace and security throughout Liberia, the following measures:
...d) confine its troops to positions to be determined by ECOMOG in consultation with the parties; ECOMOG shall disarm all troops and other armed residents, immediately all the three parties sign this Agreement;
...e) assist ECOMOG in the drawing up of a buffer zone of at least thirty (30) km wide to separate the opposing forces, and of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for check-point operations;
...f) agree that ECOMOG may inspect all ships calling at any Liberian port and all vehicles and aircraft entering through the land borders, airfields and other entry points of Liberia to ensure that the provisions of this Cease-fire Agreement are being respected and observed;
...i) fully co-operate with the ECOWAS Standing Mediation Committee, the ECOWAS Executive Secretary and the ECOWAS Cease-fire Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) for the effective maintenance of the cease-fire and for the restoration of law and order.

Page 2, Article 1 Cease-fire: 2. In order to arrive at a peaceful and lasting settlement of the dispute, the parties hereby accept the ECOWAS Cease-fire Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) established under the authority of the Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS and under the command of an ECOWAS Member State.

Page 2, Article 1 Cease-fire: 3. ECOMOG shall be as presently constituted and may include military contingents from Member States of ECOWAS able and willing to contribute.

Page 2, Article 1 Cease-fire: 4. ECOMOG shall assist the ECOWAS Standing Mediation Committee in supervising the implementation and in ensuring the strict compliance by the parties with the provisions of this Cease-fire Agreement throughout the territory of Liberia.
Enforcement mechanism: Page 2, Article 1 Cease-fire: 4. ECOMOG shall assist the ECOWAS Standing Mediation Committee in supervising the implementation and in ensuring the strict compliance by the parties with the provisions of this Cease-fire Agreement throughout the territory of Liberia.
Related cases: No specific mention.
Source: UN Peacemaker: http://peacemaker.un.org/

Agreement on Cessation of Hostilities and Peaceful Settlement of Conflict Between The Armed Forces of Liberia Represented by Lieutenant-General John Hezekiah Bowen, Head of Delegation, of the First Part, and The National Patriotic Front of Liberia Represented by ...[Not Represented], of the Second Part, and The Independent National Patriotic Front of Liberia Represented by Dr. Peter Lorkula Naigow, Head of Delegation, of the Third Part, Banjul, Republic of Gambia, 24 October 1990

Aware of the armed conflict existing between the parties to the conflict;

Recognising the wanton destruction of human life and property and the displacement of persons occasioned by the said conflict;

Considering the damage in various forms being caused by the armed conflict to the peace and security of the entire Liberian nation;

Determined to arrive at a peaceful and lasting settlement to the dispute through negotiations and to put an end to the situation which is seriously disrupting the normal life of the peaceful people of

Liberia;

Convinced that the ECOWAS Standing Mediation Committee established by the Authority of

Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States at its

Thirteenth Session held from 28 to 30 May in Banjul provides an appropriate mechanism for conducting such peace negotiations on behalf of ECOWAS;

Hereby agrees as follows:

Article 1

Cease-fire

Each Party hereby agrees to take immediately and as a contribution to the restoration and maintenance of peace and security throughout Liberia, the following measures:

cease all activities of a military and paramilitary nature, as well as all acts of violence as at 0600 hours on the seventh day from signature of this Agreement;

refrain from importing or acquiring or assisting or encouraging the importation and acquisition of weapons or war materials;

refrain from any activity which might prejudice the functioning of the Interim Government or the holding of democratically conducted general and presidential elections for a new government for the governance of Liberia;

confine its troops to positions to be determined by ECOMOG in consultation with the parties;

ECOMOG shall disarm all troops and other armed residents, immediately all the three parties sign this Agreement;

assist ECOMOG in the drawing up of a buffer zone of at least thirty (30) km wide to separate the opposing forces, and of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for check-point operations;

agree that ECOMOG may inspect all ships calling at any Liberian port and all vehicles and aircraft entering through the land borders, airfields and other entry points of Liberia to ensure that the provisions of this Cease-fire Agreement are being respected and observed;

release all hostages, political prisoners and prisoners of war;

respect, unless otherwise suspended to facilitate the administration of the country by the Interim Government, the Constitution of the Republic of Liberia adopted on 6 January 1986;

fully co-operate with the ECOWAS Standing Mediation Committee, the ECOWAS Executive Secretary and the ECOWAS Cease-fire Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) for the effective maintenance of the cease-fire and for the restoration of law and order.

In order to arrive at a peaceful and lasting settlement of the dispute, the parties hereby accept the ECOWAS Cease-fire Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) established under the authority of the Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS and under the command of an ECOWAS Member State.

ECOMOG shall be as presently constituted and may include military contingents from Member States of ECOWAS able and willing to contribute.

ECOMOG shall assist the ECOWAS Standing Mediation Committee in supervising the implementation and in ensuring the strict compliance by the parties with the provisions of this Cease-fire Agreement throughout the territory of Liberia.

Article 2

Compliance with this Agreement

The parties undertake to observe strictly the terms of this Agreement and to abstain from any action likely to impede the mediation process or the return of Liberia to peace and stability.

Article 3

Entry Into Force

This Agreement shall enter into force upon signature by the duly mandated representatives of the

parties hereto.

Done at Banjul, Republic of Gambia, this 24th day of October, 1990

(Signed): [signatures illegible]

For and on behalf of:

The Armed Forces of Liberia

The National Patriotic Front of Liberia [Not signed by an NPFL representative]

The Independent National Patriotic Front of Liberia

Witnessed by:

[signature illegible]

Chairman, Ministerial Meeting of the ECOWAS Standing Mediation Committee