United Nations Security Council Resolution 1562

by the United Nations

Adopted unanimously by the Security Council at its 5037th meeting, on 17 September 2004

The Security Council,

Recalling its previous resolutions and the statements of its President concerning the situation in Sierra Leone,

Affirming the commitment of all States to respect the sovereignty, political independence and territorial integrity of Sierra Leone,

Commending the efforts of the Economic Community of West African States towards building peace in the subregion, and encouraging the Mano River Union member States to continue their dialogue aimed at building regional peace and security,

Encouraging the United Nation missions in the region to continue their efforts towards developing inter-mission cooperation, especially in the prevention of movements of arms and combatants across borders and in the implementation of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programmes,

Having considered the report of the Secretary-General of 10 September 2004 (S/2004/724),

Welcoming the further progress made towards the benchmarks for drawdown of the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL), and commending UNAMSIL for the progress made to date in the adjustments to its size, composition and deployment,

Underlining the importance of additional efforts to strengthen the capacity of the Sierra Leone Police and armed forces to maintain security and stability effectively,

Underlining the importance of increasingly close collaboration between UNAMSIL and the United Nations country team in Sierra Leone, to ensure a smooth transition after the final departure of UNAMSIL,

Expressing its appreciation for the essential work of the Special Court for Sierra Leone, noting its vital contribution to the establishment of the rule of law in Sierra Leone, and encouraging all States to cooperate fully with the Court,

Determining that the situation in Sierra Leone 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. Decides that the current mandate of UNAMSIL shall be extended until 30 June 2005;

2. Decides further that the tasks of the residual UNAMSIL presence, which shall remain in Sierra Leone for an initial period of six months from 1 January 2005, as set out in paragraph 5 of resolution 1537 (2004) of 30 March 2004, shall be the following:

• Military and civilian police tasks
  • To monitor, in conjunction with district and provincial security committees, the overall security situation, to support the Sierra Leone armed forces and police in patrolling the border and diamond-mining areas, including through joint planning and joint operations where appropriate, and to monitor the growing capacity of the Sierra Leone security sector;
  • To support the Sierra Leone Police in maintaining internal security, including security for the Special Court for Sierra Leone while UNAMSIL remains deployed in Sierra Leone;
  • To assist the Sierra Leone Police with its programme of recruitment, training and mentoring designed to strengthen further the capacity and resources of the Police;
  • To protect United Nations personnel, installations and equipment and ensure the security and freedom of movement of United Nations personnel, within its capabilities and its areas of deployment;
• Civilian tasks
  • To monitor the repatriation, reception, resettlement and reintegration of Sierra Leonean ex-combatants from abroad;
  • To monitor, investigate, report and promote the observance of human rights;
  • To disseminate information on the mission’s mandate and purpose and publicize the Government’s primary responsibility for national security, including through United Nations radio;
  • To monitor progress towards consolidation of State authority throughout the country;

3. Authorizes the residual UNAMSIL presence to use all necessary means to carry out its mandate, within its capabilities and its areas of deployment;

4. Expresses its intention to review regularly the residual UNAMSIL presence against the following benchmarks:

• Strengthening the capacity of the Sierra Leone armed forces and police to maintain security and stability effectively throughout the country;
• Consolidating State authority throughout the country;
• Consolidating the deployment of UNMIL throughout Liberia;

5. Welcomes the Secretary-General’s assurance, as set out in paragraph 91 of his report of 19 March 2004 (S/2004/228), that where military observers, civil affairs officers, political affairs officers, human rights officers and civilian police personnel are co-deployed, they will function as integrated units and work in close collaboration with the United Nations country team;

6. Urges the Government of Sierra Leone to intensify its efforts to develop an effective and sustainable police force, armed forces, penal system and independent judiciary, so that the Government can take over from UNAMSIL as soon as possible full responsibility for maintaining law and order throughout Sierra Leone, including in the sensitive diamond-producing areas, and encourages donors and UNAMSIL, in accordance with its mandate, to continue to assist the Government in this regard, as well as to assist the Government in restoring public services throughout the country;

7. Welcomes the Secretary-General’s intention to keep the security, political, humanitarian and human rights situation in Sierra Leone under close review and to report regularly to the Council, after due consultations with troop-contributing countries and the Government of Sierra Leone;

8. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.