UN Peacekeeping Force – 2002
2002
“By its resolution 1370 (2001) of 18 September 2001, the Security Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) for a period of six months, ending on 30 March 2002” (S/2002/267, March 14, 2002, page 1). The mandate of the Mission was extended until 30 September 2002 by Security Council resolution S/RES/1400 on March 28, 2002). The peacekeeping mission’s mandate was extended through March 30, 2003 under Security Council Resolution S/RES/1436 on September 24, 2002.
According to Secretary General’s March 14, 2002 Report on UNAMSIL (S/2002/267), “[t]he Mission stepped up air and land patrols along the Sierra Leone/Liberia border in view of escalation of fighting in Liberia” (page 2). To ensure effective security for the post-conflict elections, UNAMSIL extended its deployment to an additional 39 locations. UNAMISL was committed to provide a secure environment for the elections and intended to deploy to additional areas during the polling period.1
The Mission played very important role in the elections. “UNAMSIL temporarily redeployed 11,000 troops to some 200 high-risk areas throughout the country, and assisted the Sierra Leone police in deploying 4,400 police personnel as well as mobile armed units to provide security for the elections. In addition, the Mission provided critical logistical support to the National Electoral Commission.”2 “At the end of the elections, UNAMSIL troops redeployed to their previous 39 locations and continued to mount robust patrols to deter any possible disturbances.”3 The overall security situation in the post-election period remained relatively stable.
“In its resolution 1436 (2002) of 24 September 2002, the Security Council urged the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) to complete, within eight months, the first and second phases of the Mission’s drawdown plan” (S/2002/1417, December 24, 2002, page 1). The plan included reductions in troop strength from 17,500 to 13,000 by May 31, 2003.
Phase one of the drawdown plan saw the repatriation of 600 troops from the Nigerian and Bangladeshi contingents by November 8, 2002. This brought the Mission’s troop strength down from the authorized ceiling of 17,500 to 16,900 personnel (S/2002/1417, December 24, 2002).