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

  • 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) )
  • 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.


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