Security Council

7077^th Meeting (AM)

Adopting Resolution 2128 (2013), Security Council Renews Arms Embargo on Liberia,

Granting 12-Month Mandate Extension to Monitoring Panel of Experts

The Security Council today renewed and adjusted the arms embargo it originally imposed on Liberia in 2003, deciding that notification for the provision of non-lethal materials and associated training was no longer required.

Unanimously adopting resolution 2128 (2013) under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, the Council decided that Liberian authorities would have primary responsibility for notifying the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1521 (2003) at least five days before the shipment of any supplies of lethal arms and related materiel, or the provision of assistance or training related to military and other security sector activities.  States delivering assistance could make that notification in consultation with the Government of Liberia.

Also by that text, the Committee would review within 90 days all individuals and entities subject to measures imposed by paragraph 1 of resolution 1532 (2004) and paragraph 4 of resolution 1521 (2003) — including former President Charles Taylor — and remove, on a case-by-case basis, those who no longer met the listing criteria.  The Council decided to review all such measures in six months, with a view to modifying or lifting all or part of the sanctions regime, depending on Liberia’s progress towards meeting the conditions for their termination.

In addition, the Council decided to extend for 12 months the mandate of the Panel of Experts charged with monitoring the implementation of measures on Liberia.  It set out the Panel’s activities for that period, including two missions to Liberia and neighbouring States to investigate any embargo violations, notably those relating to financing of the illicit arms trade.

By other terms, the Council encouraged Liberia, Sierra Leone, Côte d’Ivoire and Guinea to intensify, within the framework of the Mano River Union, coordination and exchanges of information about cross-border threats to peace and security, as well as arms trafficking.  It urged Liberia to expedite the adoption and implementation of the appropriate legislation and to work towards establishing the legal framework to combat the illicit trade.

The meeting began at 10 a.m. and ended at 10:05 a.m.

Resolution

The full text of resolution 2128 (2013) reads as follows:

“The Security Council,

“Recalling its previous resolutions and statements by its President on the situation in Liberia and West Africa,

“Welcoming the sustained progress made by the Government of Liberia since January 2006, in rebuilding Liberia for the benefit of all Liberians, with the support of the international community,

“Acknowledging the 26 September 2013 decision by the Special Court of Sierra Leone to uphold Charles Taylor’s conviction for war crimes and crimes against humanity and recognizing the United Kingdom’s willingness to house Mr. Taylor for the duration of his sentence,

“Stressing the need for continued progress on security sector reform in Liberia to ensure that Liberia’s military, police and border security forces are self-sufficient, capable, competent and adequately prepared to protect the Liberian people as the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) draws down,

“Underlining that the transparent and effective management of natural resources is critical for Liberia’s sustainable peace and security,

“Recognizing that the Government of Liberia has taken important steps towards better management and protection of Liberia’s forests and other natural resources, stressing that further steps need to be taken to protect and properly manage Liberia’s natural resources transparently, effectively and in a manner that maximizes the social and economic benefits to the community and protects the rights of the Liberian people,

“Encouraging the Government of Liberia to continue to make progress through effective implementation and enforcement of the National Forestry Reform Law and other new legislation related to revenue transparency (the Liberia Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative Act) and resolution of land and tenure rights (Community Rights Law with respect to Forest Lands and Lands Commission Act),

“Acknowledging the contributions and continued importance of the United Nations Mission in Liberia in improving security throughout Liberia and helping the Government establish its authority throughout the country, particularly in population centres, border areas and Liberia’s diamond, gold, timber and other natural resources producing regions,

“Encouraging the Government of Liberia to collaborate with UNMIL to improve the institutional capacity of the Liberia National Police and customs authorities to effectively monitor the borders and ports of entry and conduct investigations, and in this regard, stressing the importance of adopting and implementing the Police Act,

“Taking note of the report of the United Nations Panel of Experts on Liberia (S/2013/683),

“Welcoming the efforts made by the Secretariat to expand and improve the roster of experts for the Security Council Subsidiary Organs Branch, bearing in mind the guidance provided by the Note of the President (S/2006/997),

“Calling on all Liberian leaders to promote meaningful reconciliation and inclusive dialogue to consolidate peace and advance Liberia’s democratic development,

“Underlining its determination to support the Government of Liberia in its efforts to meet the conditions of resolution 1521 (2003), welcoming the engagement of the Peacebuilding Commission, and encouraging all stakeholders, including donors, to support the Government of Liberia in its efforts,

“Underlining the importance of close cooperation between the Government of Liberia and neighbouring countries with regard to effective monitoring and control of their borders,

“Determining that, despite significant progress, the situation in Liberia remains fragile and continues to constitute a threat to international peace and security in the region,

“Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations,

“1.   Reaffirms that the measures imposed by paragraph 1 of resolution 1532 (2004) remain in force;

“2.   Decides for a period of 12 months from the date of adoption of this resolution:

(a)   To renew the measures on travel imposed by paragraph 4 of resolution 1521 (2003);

(b)   To renew the measures on arms, previously imposed by paragraph 2 of resolution 1521 (2003) and modified by paragraphs 1 and 2 of resolution 1683 (2006), by paragraph 1 (b) of resolution 1731 (2006), by paragraphs 3, 4, 5 and 6 of resolution 1903 (2009), and by paragraph 3 of resolution 1961 (2010), and to modify the associated notification requirements as follows:

(i)   Notification for non-lethal materials and associated training is no longer required;

(ii)  The Liberian authorities shall have the primary responsibility to notify to the Committee at least five days in advance of the shipment of any supplies of lethal arms and related materiel, or any provision of assistance, advice or training related to military or other security sector activities for the Government of Liberia referred to in paragraph 2 (b) above;

(iii)Member States delivering assistance may, in the alternative, make this notification pursuant to paragraph 2 (b) in consultation with the Government of Liberia;

(iv)  Such notifications must contain all relevant information, including the purpose and end user, the technical specifications and quantity of the equipment to be shipped, and when applicable, the supplier, the proposed date of delivery, mode of transportation and itinerary of shipments;

“3.   Directs the Committee to review within 90 days all individuals and entities subject to the measures imposed by paragraph 1 of resolution 1532 (2004) and paragraph 4 of resolution 1521 (2003) and remove on a case-by-case basis all those that no longer meet the listing criteria outlined by those measures, with due regard for the views of the Government of Liberia;

“4.   Decides further to review six months from the adoption of this resolution all of the above measures with a view to modifying or lifting all or part of the measures of the sanctions regime dependent upon Liberia’s progress towards meeting the conditions set out in resolution 1521 (2003) for terminating those measures;

“5.   Decides to extend the mandate of the Panel of Experts appointed pursuant to paragraph 9 of resolution 1903 (2009) for a period of 12 months from the date of adoption of this resolution to undertake the following tasks in close collaboration with the Government of Liberia and the Côte d’Ivoire Group of Experts:

(a)   To conduct two follow-up assessment missions to Liberia and neighbouring States, to investigate and compile a midterm and a final report on the implementation, and any violations, of the measures on arms as amended by resolution 1903 (2009), and including the various sources of financing for the illicit trade of arms, on progress in the security and legal sectors with respect to the Government of Liberia’s ability to effectively monitor and control arms and border issues, and on the Government of Liberia’s progress on meeting notification requirements;

(b)   To provide to the Council, after discussion with the Committee, a midterm report no later than 1 June 2014 and a final report no later than 1 December 2014 on all the issues listed in this paragraph, and to provide informal updates to the Committee as appropriate before those dates;

(c)   To cooperate actively with other relevant panels of experts, in particular that on Côte d’Ivoire re-established by paragraph 13 of resolution 1980 (2011);

“6.   Requests the Secretary-General to reappoint the Panel of Experts, having due regard to the Panel’s reduced mandate, to consist of two members, and to make the necessary financial and security arrangements to support the work of the Panel;

“7.   Calls upon all States and the Government of Liberia to cooperate fully with the Panel of Experts in all aspects of its mandate;

“8.   Recalls that responsibility for controlling the circulation of small arms within the territory of Liberia and between Liberia and neighbouring States rests with the relevant governmental authorities in accordance with the Economic Community of West African States Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons of 2006;

“9.   Requests the Government of Liberia to conduct a needs-based assessment, with the assistance of UNMIL and any other relevant actors, for any future weapons purchases, and ensure that weapons purchased are strictly necessary for the security operations of government agencies;

“10.  Encourages the Governments of Liberia, Sierra Leone, Côte d’Ivoire and Guinea, within the framework of the Mano River Union, to intensify coordination and exchange of information with regard to cross-border threats to peace and security, as well as illicit arms trafficking at both the political and operational levels;

“11.  Urges the Government of Liberia to expedite the adoption and implementation of appropriate legislation and take any other steps to establish the necessary legal framework to combat the illicit trafficking of arms and ammunition;

“12.  Encourages the international community, including relevant United Nations entities, to support the Government of Liberia’s reform efforts aimed at ensuring that natural resources are contributing to peace, security and development;

“13.  Encourages the Government of Liberia to actively cooperate with the Kimberley Process, implement the minimum requirements of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme and fulfil the recommendations identified during the 2013 Kimberley Process peer review visit, and further encourages the Governments of Liberia, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea and Sierra Leone to continue working within the Kimberley Process to create a regional approach to improving the control of diamonds in the Mano River Basin;

“14.  Reaffirms the need for UNMIL and the United Nations Operations in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI) to regularly coordinate their strategies and operations in areas near the Liberian-Côte d’Ivoire border, to contribute to subregional security;

“15.  Reaffirms the need for the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and UNMIL to cooperate closely and share information with the relevant Security Council’s Sanctions Committees’ expert panels;

“16.  States the importance of UNMIL’s continuing assistance to the Government of Liberia, the Committee, and the Panel of Experts, within its capabilities and areas of deployment, and without prejudice to its mandate, continue to carry out its tasks set forth in previous resolutions, including resolution 1683 (2006);

“17.  Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.”

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For information media • not an official record