Final Communque of the All-Liberia National Conference, Virginia, Liberia
Export agreement coding (PDF)Country/entity
LiberiaRegion
Africa (excl MENA)Agreement name
Final Communque of the All-Liberia National Conference, Virginia, LiberiaDate
18 Apr 1991Agreement status
Multiparty signed/agreedInterim arrangement
YesAgreement/conflict level
Interstate/intrastate conflict(s) ( )Stage
Framework/substantive - partialConflict nature
GovernmentPeace process
Liberia peace processParties
Not signed. Agreement mentions the following parties as having produced it:
Conference Chairs:
Ambassador Herbert R.W. Brewer
Archibishop Michael Kpakala Francis
Shiekh Kafumba Konneh
Delegates
1. Political Parties :
Liberia Action Party (LAP)
Liberia People's Party (LPP)
Liberia Unification Party (LUP)
Unity Party (UP)
United People's Party (UPP)
National Democratic Party of Liberia (NC;'IL)
2. Warring Factions
National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL)
Independent National Patriotic Front of Liberia (INPFL)
3. Interest Groups
Press Union of Liberia (PUL)
National Bar Association of Liberia (NBA)
National Medical and Dental Association of Liberia (NMDAL)
National Teachers' Association of Liberia
Liberian National Students of Liberia (LINSU)
Liberian Federation of Labour Union (LFLU)
Liberian Marketing Association (LMA)
Movement for Justice in Africa (MOJA)
Federation of Liberia Youth (FLY)
Liberian Council of Churches (LCC)
Muslim Council of Liberia (MCL)
Liberian Association of Writers (LAW)
Women Development Association of Liberia (WODAL)
Rubber Planters Association of Liberia (RPAL)
4. County Representatives
While all of the twenty-six (26) county representatives were accredited, only the thirteen representatives from the Monrovia Assembly were actually in attendance at the Conference.
The ECOWAS Standing Mediation Committee was represented as follows:
Honourable Major-General (rtd) Ike Nwachukw, Minister of External Affairs, Nigeria.
Honourable Mr. Yaoui Adodo, Minister of External Affairs, Togo
Honourable Dr. Mohammed lbn Chambas, Deputy Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Ghana
Honourable Mr. O. Yaga Bagayogo, Deputizing for the Honourable Minister of External Affairs, Mali
Honourable Alhaji Abdul Karim Koroma, Minister of Foregin Affairs, Sierra LeoneThird parties
Other dignitaries present at the Conference included: The Special Representatives of the Secretary-General of the United Nations The Special Representatives of the Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Unity Members of the Diplomatic Corps residing in Monrovia. Also in attendance were a large number of Liberians, many of whom had returned from abroad, and members of the international press.Description
This agreement establishes an interim government and an interim elections commission in Liberia.
Agreement document
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 groupsGroups→Religious groups→SubstantivePage 3, The Interim Elections Commission, Composition: An Independent Interim Elections Commission was established by the Conference and composed of Representatives from the following Interest Groups:
...The Muslim Council of Liberia
The Liberia Council of Churches - 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 genderPage 1, Untitled Preamble: The All-Liberia National Conference was held in Virginia, Liberia from March 15 to April 20, 1991 under the Triumvirate Chair of Ambassador Herbert R.W. Brewer, Archbishop Michael Kpakala Francis and Shiekh Kafumba Konneh. The Conference was attended by one hundred and fifty-one (151) delegates of thirty-six (36) delegations from the following Political Parties, warring factions, interest groups and county representatives:
...3. Interest Groups:
...Women Development Association of Liberia (WODAL)
Page 3, THE INTERIM ELECTIONS COMMISSION, Composition: An Independent Interim Elections Commission was established by the Conference and composed of Representatives from the following Interest Groups:
...The Women Development Association of Liberia - Men and boys
No specific mention.
- LGBTI
No specific mention.
- Family
No specific mention.
State definition
- Nature of state (general)
No specific mention.
- State configurationPage 2, Interim Government: Negotiations: ...As the NPFL Delegation was not in attendance at the Conference immediately prior to elections, the Conference decided to revert to the republican structure of government.
- 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 institutionsPage 2, Interim Government: Negotiations: As the purpose of the Conference was to restore peace to Liberia through the formation of an interim government, acceptable to the Liberian People, with the capacity to hold free and fair elections, delegates were engaged in numerous, long, tedious, serious and delicate negotiations, the NPFL Delegation insisted on taking a week's break and walked out of the Conference shortly after presenting the NPFL Proposals on the interim government and outlining the reasons for the walk-out
The core of the NPFL Proposals are as follows:
1. A Triumvirate Council of co-equals, called the Council of National Unity, should run the Executive arm of Government; in effect, there should be three heads of state serving as co-equals;
2. The Legislature should be called the Assembly of National Unity with twenty-six (26) members, two of whom coming from each of the thirteen {13) counties,
Page 2, Interim Government: Negotiations: ...The Conference responded to the grounds for the NPFL walk-out by (a) accepting, in principle, the concept of a triumvirate ruling council while making an adjustment to have a Chairman and two Co-Chairmen for the Council of National Unity;.
Page 2, Interim Government: Negotiations: ...As the NPFL Delegation was not in attendance at the Conference immediately prior to elections, the Conference decided to revert to the republican structure of government.
Page 2, Interim Government, The Executive: The Conference formed an interim government, known as the Government of National Unity. Upon the joint nomination by the Political Parties and interest groups, Dr. Amos Claudius Sawyer was endorsed by the Conference as President of the Interim Government of National Unity, Republic of Liberia. The Independent National Patriotic front of Liberia (INPFL) nominated the Vice President of the Government, in the person of Dr. Peter Naigow, who was endorsed by the Conference.
Page 2, Interim Government, The Legislature: A unicameral Interim Legislative Assembly is the Legislature for the government. This Assembly is composed of 51 members as follows:
1. Twenty-six (26) members from the thirteen (13) counties of Liberia with thirteen (13) Representatives coming from the Assembly in Gbarnga and thirteen (13) Representatives from the Assembly in Monrovia,
2. Twelve (12) members, two of whom come from each of the six (6) existing Political Parties;
3. Six (6) members from the NPFL and five (S) members from the INPFL; and
4. Two (2) members from the Interest Groups not serving on the Interim Elections Commission.
The Speaker and the Deputy Speaker shall be elected by the Interim Legislative Assembly.
Page 3, Induction: The President-Elect, Dr. Amos Claudius Sawyer and the Vice-President-elect, Or. Peter Naigow, were inducted into their respective offices by Associate justice J. Bayogar Junius on April 20, 1991 at the Unity Conference Centre, Virginia, Liberia - ElectionsPage 2, Interim Government: Negotiations: As the purpose of the Conference was to restore peace to Liberia through the formation of an interim government, acceptable to the Liberian People, with the capacity to hold free and fair elections, delegates were engaged in numerous, long, tedious, serious and delicate negotiations, the NPFL Delegation insisted on taking a week's break and walked out of the Conference shortly after presenting the NPFL Proposals on the interim government and outlining the reasons for the walk-out.
Page 3, The Interim Elections Commission, Composition: An Independent Interim Elections Commission was established by the Conference and composed of Representatives from the following Interest Groups:
The National Bar Association of Liberia
The Press Union of Liberia
The Liberia Medical and Dental Associations
The Women Development Association of Liberia
The Muslim Council of Liberia
The Liberia Council of Churches
The Liberian Business Caucus
Page 3, The Interim Elections Commission, Eligibility of Members: Interim Elections Commission shall make the necessary preparations in formulating an Elections Programme for general and presidential elections, scheduled to be held on the date constitutionally provided for, that is the Second Tuesday in October, 1991.
Page 3, The Interim Elections Commission, Contesting in the Ensuing Elections: All employees of Government wishing to contest in the ensuing general and presidential elections, shall resign their positions prior to the commencement of the campaign period.
Page 3, The Interim Elections Commission, Monitoring of General and Presidential Elections: The activities of the Interim Elections Commission during ensuing general and presidential elections shall be monitored by international agencies such as:
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
The United Nations (UN)
The Organisation of African Unity (OAU)
The Republican Institute for International Affairs
(RIIA) of the United States of America
The National Democratic Institute (NDI) of the United States of America
And, individual as well as other organisations selected by the Interim Elections Commission. - Electoral commissionPage 3, The Interim Elections Commission, Composition: An Independent Interim Elections Commission was established by the Conference and composed of Representatives from the following Interest Groups:
The National Bar Association of Liberia
The Press Union of Liberia
The Liberia Medical and Dental Associations
The Women Development Association of Liberia
The Muslim Council of Liberia
The Liberia Council of Churches
The Liberian Business Caucus
Page 3, The Interim Elections Commission, Eligibility of Members: Interim Elections Commission shall make the necessary preparations in formulating an Elections Programme for general and presidential elections, scheduled to be held on the date constitutionally provided for, that is the Second Tuesday in October, 1991.
Page 3, The Interim Elections Commission, Contesting in the Ensuing Elections: All employees of Government wishing to contest in the ensuing general and presidential elections, shall resign their positions prior to the commencement of the campaign period.
Page 3, The Interim Elections Commission, Monitoring of General and Presidential Elections: The activities of the Interim Elections Commission during ensuing general and presidential elections shall be monitored by international agencies such as:
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
The United Nations (UN)
The Organisation of African Unity (OAU)
The Republican Institute for International Affairs
(RIIA) of the United States of America
The National Democratic Institute (NDI) of the United States of America
And, individual as well as other organisations selected by the Interim Elections Commission. - Political parties reform
No specific mention.
- Civil societyPage 1, Untitled Preamble: The All-Liberia National Conference was held in Virginia, Liberia from March 15 to April 20, 1991 under the Triumvirate Chair of Ambassador Herbert R.W. Brewer, Archbishop Michael Kpakala Francis and Shiekh Kafumba Konneh. The Conference was attended by one hundred and fifty-one (151) delegates of thirty-six (36) delegations from the following Political Parties, warring factions, interest groups and county representatives:
...3. Interest Groups:
Press Union of Liberia (PUL)
National Bar Association of Liberia (NBA)
National Medical and Dental Association of Liberia (NMDAL)
National Teachers' Association of Liberia
Liberian National Students of Liberia (LINSU)
Liberian Federation of Labour Union (LFLU)
Liberian Marketing Association (LMA)
Movement for Justice in Africa (MOJA)
Federation of Liberia Youth (FLY)
Liberian Council of Churches (LCC)
Muslim Council of Liberia (MCL)
Liberian Association of Writers (LAW)
Women Development Association of Liberia (WODAL)
Rubber Planters Association of Liberia (RPAL) - Traditional/religious leadersPage 1, Untitled Preamble: The All-Liberia National Conference was held in Virginia, Liberia from March 15 to April 20, 1991 under the Triumvirate Chair of Ambassador Herbert R.W. Brewer, Archbishop Michael Kpakala Francis and Shiekh Kafumba Konneh. The Conference was attended by one hundred and fifty-one (151) delegates of thirty-six (36) delegations from the following Political Parties, warring factions, interest groups and county representatives:
...3. Interest Groups:
...Liberian Council of Churches (LCC)
Muslim Council of Liberia (MCL) - Public administrationPage 3, The Interim Elections Commission, Contesting in the Ensuing Elections: All employees of Government wishing to contest in the ensuing general and presidential elections, shall resign their positions prior to the commencement of the campaign period.
- Constitution
No specific mention.
Power sharing
- Political power sharingPower sharing→Political power sharing→Executive coalitionState levelPage 2, Interim Government: Negotiations: As the purpose of the Conference was to restore peace to Liberia through the formation of an interim government, acceptable to the Liberian People, with the capacity to hold free and fair elections, delegates were engaged in numerous, long, tedious, serious and delicate negotiations, the NPFL Delegation insisted on taking a week's break and walked out of the Conference shortly after presenting the NPFL Proposals on the interim government and outlining the reasons for the walk-out
The core of the NPFL Proposals are as follows:
1. A Triumvirate Council of co-equals, called the Council of National Unity, should run the Executive arm of Government; in effect, there should be three heads of state serving as co-equals;
Page 2, Interim Government: Negotiations: ...The Conference responded to the grounds for the NPFL walk-out by (a) accepting, in principle, the concept of a triumvirate ruling council while making an adjustment to have a Chairman and two Co-Chairmen for the Council of National Unity;...
Page 2, Interim Government, The Executive: The Conference formed an interim government, known as the Government of National Unity. Upon the joint nomination by the Political Parties and interest groups, Dr. Amos Claudius Sawyer was endorsed by the Conference as President of the Interim Government of National Unity, Republic of Liberia. The Independent National Patriotic front of Liberia (INPFL) nominated the Vice President of the Government, in the person of Dr. Peter Naigow, who was endorsed by the Conference.Power sharing→Political power sharing→Proportionality in legislatureState levelPage 2, Interim Government: Negotiations: As the purpose of the Conference was to restore peace to Liberia through the formation of an interim government, acceptable to the Liberian People, with the capacity to hold free and fair elections, delegates were engaged in numerous, long, tedious, serious and delicate negotiations, the NPFL Delegation insisted on taking a week's break and walked out of the Conference shortly after presenting the NPFL Proposals on the interim government and outlining the reasons for the walk-out
The core of the NPFL Proposals are as follows:
...2. The Legislature should be called the Assembly of National Unity with twenty-six (26) members, two of whom coming from each of the thirteen {13) counties,
Page 2, Interim Government, The Legislature: A unicameral Interim Legislative Assembly is the Legislature for the government. This Assembly is composed of 51 members as follows:
1. Twenty-six (26) members from the thirteen (13) counties of Liberia with thirteen (13) Representatives coming from the Assembly in Gbarnga and thirteen (13) Representatives from the Assembly in Monrovia,
2. Twelve (12) members, two of whom come from each of the six (6) existing Political Parties;
3. Six (6) members from the NPFL and five (S) members from the INPFL; and
4. Two (2) members from the Interest Groups not serving on the Interim Elections Commission.
The Speaker and the Deputy Speaker shall be elected by the Interim Legislative Assembly. - 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 communicationRights related issues→Media and communication→OtherPage 1, Untitled Preamble: The All-Liberia National Conference was held in Virginia, Liberia from March 15 to April 20, 1991 under the Triumvirate Chair of Ambassador Herbert R.W. Brewer, Archbishop Michael Kpakala Francis and Shiekh Kafumba Konneh. The Conference was attended by one hundred and fifty-one (151) delegates of thirty-six (36) delegations from the following Political Parties, warring factions, interest groups and county representatives:
...3. Interest Groups:
Press Union of Liberia (PUL)
Page 3, The Interim Elections Commission, Composition: An Independent Interim Elections Commission was established by the Conference and composed of Representatives from the following Interest Groups:
...The Press Union of Liberia - Mobility/access
No specific mention.
- 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 courtsPage 2, Interim Government: Negotiations: As the purpose of the Conference was to restore peace to Liberia through the formation of an interim government, acceptable to the Liberian People, with the capacity to hold free and fair elections, delegates were engaged in numerous, long, tedious, serious and delicate negotiations, the NPFL Delegation insisted on taking a week's break and walked out of the Conference shortly after presenting the NPFL Proposals on the interim government and outlining the reasons for the walk-out
The core of the NPFL Proposals are as follows:
...3. The present structure of the Judiciary should be in force, with principal emphasis on its independent posture.
Page 2, Interim Government, The Judiciary: All Justices of the Supreme Court and Judges of the Subordinate Courts shall be appointed by the President in consultation with the National Bar Association.
Page 3, Induction: The President-Elect, Dr. Amos Claudius Sawyer and the Vice-President-elect, Or. Peter Naigow, were inducted into their respective offices by Associate justice J. Bayogar Junius on April 20, 1991 at the Unity Conference Centre, Virginia, Liberia - 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.
- BusinessPage 1, Untitled Preamble: The All-Liberia National Conference was held in Virginia, Liberia from March 15 to April 20, 1991 under the Triumvirate Chair of Ambassador Herbert R.W. Brewer, Archbishop Michael Kpakala Francis and Shiekh Kafumba Konneh. The Conference was attended by one hundred and fifty-one (151) delegates of thirty-six (36) delegations from the following Political Parties, warring factions, interest groups and county representatives:
...3. Interest Groups:
...Liberian Federation of Labour Union (LFLU)
Liberian Marketing Association (LMA)
...Rubber Planters Association of Liberia (RPAL)
Page 3, The Interim Elections Commission, Composition: An Independent Interim Elections Commission was established by the Conference and composed of Representatives from the following Interest Groups:
...The Liberian Business Caucus - 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
No specific mention.
Security sector
- Security Guarantees
No specific mention.
- Ceasefire
No specific mention.
- Police
No specific mention.
- Armed forces
No specific mention.
- DDR
No specific mention.
- Intelligence services
No specific mention.
- Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces
No specific mention.
- Withdrawal of foreign forcespage 3, Resolutions: The Conference made the following resolutions;
...(d) That the NPFL-backed military incursion into Sierra Leone be denounced and that solidarity be expressed with the government and people of Sierra Leone as they defend their territorial integrity. - 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/pardonTransitional justice→Amnesty/pardon→Amnesty/pardon properPage 3, Resolutions: The Conference made the following resolutions;
(a) That conditional amnesty be granted to all Liberians who served as combatants in the civil war in Liberia; - Courts
No specific mention.
- Mechanism
No specific mention.
- Prisoner release
No specific mention.
- Vetting
No specific mention.
- VictimsPage 3, Resolutions: The Conference made the following resolutions;
...(b) That appropriate tributes be made throughout Liberia to the memory of the people who died as a result of the civil war; - Missing persons
No specific mention.
- ReparationsTransitional justice→Reparations→Symbolic reparationsPage 3, Resolutions: The Conference made the following resolutions;
...(b) That appropriate tributes be made throughout Liberia to the memory of the people who died as a result of the civil war; - 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/similarPage 3, The Interim Elections Commission, Monitoring of General and Presidential Elections: The activities of the Interim Elections Commission during ensuing general and presidential elections shall be monitored by international agencies such as:
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
The United Nations (UN)
The Organisation of African Unity (OAU)
The Republican Institute for International Affairs
(RIIA) of the United States of America
The National Democratic Institute (NDI) of the United States of America
And, individual as well as other organisations selected by the Interim Elections Commission. - Enforcement mechanism
No specific mention.
- Related cases
No specific mention.
- SourceOfficial Journal of the ECOWAS, Vol 21, November 1991
Final Communque of the All-Liberia National Conference, Virginia, Liberia
The text of the Final Council issued at the end of the All-Liberia National Conference held at the Unity Conference Center in Virginia, Liberia from March 15 to April 18, 1991 is found below:
The All-Liberia National Conference was held in Virginia, Liberia from March 15 to April 20, 1991 under the Triumvirate Chair of Ambassador Herbert R.W. Brewer, Archibishop Michael Kpakala-Francis and Shiekh Kafumba Konneh.
The Conference was attended by one hundred and fifty-one (151) delegates of thirty-six (36) delegations from the following Political Parties, warring factions, interest groups and county representatives:
1. Political Parties:
Liberia Action Party (LAP)
Liberia People's Party (LPP)
Liberia Unification Party (LUP)
Unity Party (UP)
United People's Party (UPP)
National Democratic Party of Liberia (NCPL)
2. Warring Factions
National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL)
Independent National Patriotic Front of Liberia (INPFL)
3. lnterest Groups
Press Union of Liberia (PUL)
National Bar Association of Liberia (NBA)
National Medical and Dental Association of Liberia (NMDAL)
National Teachers' Association of Liberia
Liberian National Students of Liberia (LINSU)
Liberian Federation of Labour Union (LFLU)
Liberian Marketing Association (LMA)
Movement for Justice in Africa (MOJA)
Federation of Liberia Youth (FLY)
Liberian Council of Churches (LCC)
Muslim Council of Liberia (MCL)
Liberian Association of Writers (LAW)
Women Development Association of Liberia (WODAL)
Rubber Planters Association of Liberia (RPAL)
4. County Representatives
While all of the twenty-six (26) county representatives were accredited, only the thirteen representatives from the Monrovia Assembly were actually in attendance at the Conference.
The ECOWAS Standing Mediation Committee was represented at the Conference as follows:
Honourable Major-General (rtd) Ike Nwachukw Minister of External Affairs, Nigeria.
Honourable Mr. Yaoui Adodo Minister of External Affairs, Togo
Honourable Dr. Mohammed lbn Chambas Deputy Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Ghana
Honourable Mr. O. Yaga Bagayogo Deputizing for the Honourable Minister of External Affairs, Mali
Honourable Alhaji Abdul Karim Koroma Minister of Foregin Affairs, Sierra Leone
Other dignitaries present at the Conference included;
the Special Representatives of the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Unity, respectively, and members of the Diplomatic Corps residing in Monrovia.
Also in attendance at the Conference were a large number of Liberians, many of whom had returned from abroad, and members of the international press.
INTERIM.GOVERNMENT:
NEGOTIATIONS
As the purpose of the Conference was to restore peace to Liberia through the formatio'n of an interim government, acceptable to the Liberian People, with the capacity to hold free and fair elections, delegates were engaged in numerous, long, tedious, serious and delicate negotiations, the NPFL Delegation insisted on taking a week's break and walked out of the Conference shortly after presenting the NPFL Proposals on the interim government and outlining the reasons for the walk-out
The core of the NPFL Proposals are as follows:
1. A Triumvirate Council of co-equals, called the Council of National Unity, should run the Executive arm of Government;
in effect, there should be three heads of State serving as co-equals;
2. The Legislature should be called the Assembly of National Unity with twenty-six (26) members, two of whom coming from each of the thirteen (13) counties, and
3. The present structure of the Judiciary should be in force, with principal emphasis on its independent posture.
In terms of the walk-out, the NPFL Delegation cited as reasons, the lack of adequate consideration of the NPFL Proposals, the continuous presence of Archbishop Michael Kpakala Francis and Shiekh Kafumba Konneh as Conference Co-Chairman, whom they have accused of being
biased by tile Delegation, and the failure of the Credentials committee to respond to the application for the seating of representatives from NPFL held counties.
The Conference responded to the grounds for the NPFL walk-out by (a) accepting, in principle, the concept of a triumvirate ruling
council while making an adjustment to have a Chairman and two Co-Chairmen for the Council of National Unity;
(b) expressing an overwhelming vote of confidence in the chairing abilities of Archbishop Francis and Shiekh Konneh, and (c) accrediting the county representatives.
Continuous efforts were exerted by the Conference to encourage the NPFL Delegation to return to the Conference hall.
These efforts were unsuccessful.
As the NPFL Delegation was not in attendance at the Conference immediately prior to elections, the Conference decided to
revert to the republican structure of government.
INTERIM GOVERNMENT
The Executive
The Conference formed an interim government, known as the Government of National Unity.
Upon the joint nomination by the Political Parties and interest groups, Dr. Amos Claudius Sawyer was endorsed by the Conference as President of the Interim Government of National Unity, Republic of Liberia.
The Independent National Patriotic front of Liberia {INPFL) nominated the Vice President of the government, in the person of Dr. Peter Naigow, who was endorsed by the Conference.
The Legislature
A unicameral Interim Legislative Assembly is the Legislature for the government.
This Assembly is composed of 51 members as follows:
1. Twenty-six (26) members from the thirteen (13) counties of Liberia with thirteen (13) Representatives coming from the Assembly in Gbarnga and thirteen (13) Representatives from the Assembly in Monrovia,
2. Twelve (12) members, two of whom come from each of the six (6) existing Political Parties;
3. Six (6) members from the NPFL and five (S) members from the INPFL;
and
4. Two (2) members from the Interest Groups not serving on the Interim Elections Commission.
The Speaker and 1be Deputy Speaker shall be elected by the Interim Legislative Assembly.
The Judiciary
All Justices of the Supreme Court and Judges of the Subordinate Courts shall be appointed by the President in consultation with the National Bar Association.
THE INTERIM ELECTIONS COMMISSION
Composition
An Independent Interim Elections Commission was established by the Conference and composed of Representatives from the following Interest Groups:
The National Bar Association of Liberia
The Press Union of Liberia
The Liberia Medical and Dental Associations
The Women Development Association ot Liberia
The Muslim Council of Liberia
The Liberia Council of Churches
The Liberian Business Caucus
Eligihilitv of Members
Interim Elections Commission shall make the necessary preparations in formulating an Elections Programme for general and presidential elections, scheduled to be held on the date constitutionally provided for, that is the Second Tuesday in October, 1991.
Contesting in the Ensuing Elections
All employees of Government wishing to contest in the ensuing general and presidential elections, shall resign their positions prior to the commencement of the campaign period.
Monitoring of General and Presidential Elections
The activities of the Interim Elections Commission during ensuing general and presidential elections shall be monitored by international agencies such as:
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
The United Nations (UN)
The Organisation of African Unity (OAU)
The Republican Institute for International Affairs (RllA) of the United States of America
The National Democratic Institute (NDI) of the United States of America
And, individuals as well as other organisations selected by the Interim Elections Commission.
RESOLUTIONS
The Conference made the following resolutions;
(a) That conditional amnesty be granted to all Liberians who served as combantants in the civil war in Liberia;
(b) That appropriate tributes be made throughout Liberia to the memory of the people who died as a result of the civil war;
(c) That the Nation's gratitude goes to Bishop Ronald J. Diggs for his tenure of service as Interim Vice President of Liberia;
and
(d) That the NPFL-backed military incursion into Sierra Leone be denounced and that solidarity be expressed with the government and people of Sierra Leone as they defend their territorial integrity.
INDUCTION
The President-Elect, Dr. Amos Claudius Sawyer and the Vice-President-elect, Dr. Peter Naigow, were inducted into their respective offices by Associate Justice J. Bayogar Junius on April 20, 1991 at the Unity Conference Centre, Virginia, Liberia
SUBMITTED BY:
THE ALL-LIBERIA NATIONAL CONFERENCE