UN peace-keepers to monitor cease-fire, elections; coordinate humanitarian aid.

The Security Council on 22 September established the UN Observer Mission in Liberia (UNOMIL) to monitor the cease-fire established in July 1993, observe the elections scheduled for February/March 1994, and coordinate humanitarian aid.

The Council's action followed the signing on 25 July in Cotonou, Benin, of a peace agreement between the three parties to the Liberian conflict: the interim Government of National Unity of Liberia (IGNU), the National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL), and the United Liberation Movement of Liberia for Democracy (ULIMO).

The new UN peace-keeping operation in Africa will work in cooperation with an already existing peace-keeping mission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

ECOWAS oversaw the formulation of the 1991 Yamoussoukro IV Accord, described in the Cotonou Agreement as the "best framework for peace in Liberia".

In adopting resolution 866 (1993), the Councfl welcomed the decision to establish a transitional government in Liberia and encouraged African States to provide additional troops requested for ECOWAS' Economic Community Monitoring Group, known as ECOMOG.

It also urged the Liberian parties to commence the encampment, disarmament and demobilization process without delay, and called on them to cooperate fully in the safe delivery of humanitarian assistance.

UNOMIL will be comprised of some 300 military observers, as well as humanitarian and electoral components. Among its specific duties will be investigating reported cease-fire violations, observing the election process, helping coordinate humanitarian assistance, reporting violations of international humanitarian law, and training ECOMOG engineers in land mine clearance.

The Council approved the UNOMIL operation for a seven-month period, until April 1994. The Sectetary-General is to report to the Security Council by mid-December on progress achieved.

On 9 September, the Secretary-General reported (S/26422) that, while UNOMIL and ECOMOG; were to collaborate closely, it would not impede the UN mission from operating independently, as required. This unprecedented cooperation of the UN with a regional mission was "a special opportunity" which might set a precedent for future peace-keeping operations, he said.

Brigadier-General Ian Douglas of Canada headed a planning mission which visited Liberia from 6 to 13 August.

On 10 August, the Council, in unanimously adopting resolution 856 (1993), agreed to send an advance team of 30 military observers to monitor and investigate violations of the cease-fire in Liberia, which had taken effect on 1 August.

It also commended the Organization African Unity for Supporting the peace process, and ECOWAS for helping to restore peace and security in Liberia.

Addressing the Council on 10 August, Liberian Foreign Minister Gabriel Baccus Matthews said the Cotonou Agreement represented a "significant breakthrough in the quest for durable peace in Liberia", after the last three and a half years when "war, death and desolation were visited upon the Liberian people".

Special Representative Trevor Gordon- Somers had visited the, region to prepare the ground for talks between the three Liberian parties, Which were held in Geneva from 10 to 17 July From that emerged a framework settlement, which became the basis of the Cotonou Agreement (S/26272).

The parties agreed to establish a single transitional government - the Liberia National Transitional Government - and to hold General and presidential elections within seven months.

To enhance confidence between ECOMOG and one Liberian faction - the NPFL - it was agreed that ECOMOG would include soldiers from more nations. On 9 September, the Secretary-General said that ECOMOG planned to add another 4,000 troops from African countries not members of ECOWAS.

A special three-expert panel of inquiry, headed by Amos Wako, Attorney-General of Kenya, concluded that a June massacre of some 600 persons, mostly women and children, near Harbel, Liberia, had been planned and executed by units of the Armed Forces of Liberia, with no involvement of the NPFL or ECOMOG forces.

It was also reported that there were as many as 2 million refugees and displaced persons in Liberia and in the neighbouring States of Cote d'lvoire, Guinea and Sierra Leone.

Other problems include reintegrating demobilized soldiers into society. Special attention was needed for "child soldiers", ranging in age from 7 to 15.

A Trust Fund for the implementation of the Cotonou Agreement has been established to provide additional funds for UN activities in Liberia.