Agreement
on Ceasefire and Cessation of Hostilities Between the Government of the
Republic of Liberia and Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy
and the Movement for Democracy in Liberia
PREAMBLE
We the Parties to this Agreement;
CONSIDERING Article 52 of the UN Charter on regional
arrangements for dealing with matters relating to the maintenance of international
peace and security as are appropriate for regional action;
REAFFIRMING the provisions of Article 3 of the Constitutive
Act of the African Union which, inter alia, guarantee all Member States
the right to their sovereignty and territorial integrity;
REAFFIRMING our determination to establish sustainable
peace, stability and security in Liberia;
MINDFUL of the decisions of the Extraordinary Summit
of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government on the situation in Liberia held
in Yamoussoukro on May 17, 2002;
CONSCIOUS OF ECOWAS' strong commitment to the sovereignty,
independence, territorial integrity and unity of Liberia;
ALSO RECALLING the establishment of an International
Contact Group on Liberia (ICGL) to support the ECOWAS Peace Plan on Liberia;
GRAVELY CONCERNED that the fighting in Liberia has
led to the loss of innumerable lives and the displacement of populations,
and that the persistent instability places the lives of all those in Liberia
at risk;
FURTHER CONCERNED about current deteriorating humanitarian
situation where people are denied access to food, health care and adequate
shelter;
DESIROUS for an immediate resolution of the Liberian
crisis, which if left unchecked, will continue to be a serious threat
to sub-regional security;
DETERMINED to undertake concrete actions that would
restore normality within Liberia and ensure the safety and security of
its peoples through a peaceful settlement of the crisis;
ALSO DETERMINED to adopt confidence-building measures
so as to create a conducive environment for the negotiation of a general
framework for the resolution of the crisis in Liberia;
CONVINCED of the need for a cessation of hostilities
in Liberia which will be followed by negotiations relating to the establishment
of an appropriate political arrangement for Liberia;
HEREBY AGREE AS FOLLOWS:
To declare and observe a ceasefire beginning 0001 hours on 18th June
2003.
To refrain from committing any act that might constitute or facilitate
a violation of the ceasefire as provided for in paragraph 9 of this
agreement.
Joint Verification Team (JVT). To establish an ECOWAS-led JVT comprised
of two representatives from each of the parties plus representatives
of the UN, AU, and ICGL.
Locations. Each party shall identify the locations of its units including
combat equipment, and communicate this information to the JVT in writing
within 72 hours of the signature of this agreement. The JVT will visit
the locations to verify the information provided and plot unit locations
on a map. This document shall be signed by all the parties and will
be the reference document on the limits of their locations.
Humanitarian. The Parties shall provide security guarantees for safe
and unhindered access by humanitarian agencies to vulnerable groups,
free movement of persons and goods, as well as for the return and resettlement
of refugees and internally displaced persons.
Joint Monitoring Committee (JMC). To establish a JMC to supervise
and monitor the ceasefire. The JMC will be chaired by a representative
of ECOWAS and include equal representation from the Parties, as well
as representatives of the UN, AU and ICGL. The JMC will report daily
to ECOWAS Headquarters and will investigate reports of ceasefire violations
by the Parties.
International Stabilization Force (ISF). The Parties agree on the
need for the creation and deployment of an international stabilization
force and commit themselves to cooperation with it. They shall accord
complete freedom of movement to the ISF at all times in the execution
of their duties.
Political Reconciliation. The signing of this agreement shall be followed
immediately by the engagement of the GOL, LURD and MODEL with all other
Liberian political parties and stakeholders in dialogue, to seek, within
a period of thirty (30) days, a comprehensive peace agreement. The peace
agreement shall amongst other issues, cover the following:-
Deployment of an international stabilization force;
Commencement of a Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration
programme;
Restructuring of the security forces (Security sector reform);
Human rights issues/Reconciliation;
Humanitarian issues;
Socio-economic reforms;
Reconstruction/Rehabilitation;
Creation of a democratic space;
Formation of a transitional government, which will not
include the current President in accordance with his June 4th 2003
declaration in Accra, made at the inauguration of the "ECOWAS
Peace Talks"; and
Elections.
Ceasefire Violations. Violations of a ceasefire shall include
the following:-
All attacks by any of the parties against the locations
of the other parties, as well as acts of sabotage, laying of mines,
hostage taking and seizure of material belonging to one of the other
parties;
Harassment, attacks, hostage taking, and arrest of combatants
as well as seizure of arms and equipment belonging to another party;
Harassment, attacks, hostage taking or unlawful arrest
of civilians and personnel of humanitarian agencies as well as seizure
of properties of individuals and corporations;
Attempts to occupy new ground locations and the movement
of military forces and resources from one location to another, without
prior agreement of the JMC;
Any importation or resupply of arms, munitions and other
weapons of war by the Government of Liberia (GOL), Liberians United
for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD), and the Movement for Democracy
in Liberia (MODEL);
Obstruction of the activities of the JVT, JMC, ISF and
Humanitarian Agencies as described in paragraphs 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7
above;
All hostile propaganda amongst the Parties, including defamatory,
untruthful or derogatory statements, both within and outside the country;
Military movements within 20 kilometres of contact lines
including reconnaissance and reinforcements, except as authorised
by the JMC;
Recruitment of combatants.
Communication. Parties shall ensure that the terms of this
ceasefire agreement and written orders requiring compliance are immediately
communicated to all their forces. Terms of the agreement shall concurrently
be communicated to the civil population via print, electronic and other
media.
Amendments. The agreement may be amended by written agreement of the
parties.
Entry into Force. The agreement shall enter into force upon signature.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the duly authorized representatives of the Parties have signed the Agreement.
Done at Accra (Ghana), this 17th Day of June 2003 in nine
(9) originals in the English language.
Hon. Daniel
L. Chea Snr.
Minister of National Defence of the Republic of Liberia
For the Government of the Republic of Liberia
Mr. Kabineh Janneh
For Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy
Mr.
Tiah J.D. Slanger
For the Movement for Democracy in Liberia
As Witnesses:
General Abdulsalami
Abubakar
Former Head of State of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
The Mediator
Dr. Mohamed Ibn
Chambas
Executive Secretary of ECOWAS
Mr. Abou Moussa
Representative of the Secretary-General and
Head of the United Nations Peace-Building
Support Office in Liberia
For the United Nations
Ms. Adwoa Coleman
For the African Union
Ambassador Giancarlo
Izzo
Representative of Mr. Hans Dahlgren
The European Union Co-Chair of the International
Contact Group on Liberia
Hon. Nana Akufo
Addo
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the
Republic of Ghana and Co-Chair of the
International Contact Group of Liberia
Posted by USIP Library on:
June 19 2003
Source Name:
Permanent Representative of the Republic of Liberia to the United
Nations, New York, NY
Date faxed:
June 19 20031
