Regional Peacekeeping Force – 2003
2003
On 1 August 2003 the UN Security Council passed Resolution 1497, which authorized the deployment of a multinational force to Liberia prior to the deployment of a UN peacekeeping force. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) began to deploy a force, ECOMIL, on 4 August 2003. By early September 3,500 troops had been deployed as part of ECOMIL. The UN peacekeeping mission in neighboring Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) provided support for the initial deployment of ECOMIL. The United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) assumed peacekeeping responsibilities from ECOMIL on 1 October 2003. At this time all 3,600 ECOMIL troops in Liberia were reassigned to the UNMIL. This deployment in October 2003 completed the regional peacekeeping provision of the accord.