Security Council resolution 1836 (2008) [on extension of the mandate of the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL)]
Symbol: S/RES/1836(2008)
Date: 2008-09-29
Status: adopted
Agenda: S/63 [89] LIBERIA SITUATION
S/63 [90] UN MISSION IN LIBERIA
Subjects: UN Mission in Liberia|UN Operation in Côte d'Ivoire|Liberia. Armed Forces|Liberian National Police|Special Court for Sierra Leone|Economic Community of West African States|African Union|Charter of the United Nations (1945). Chapter VII|PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS|INTERNAL SECURITY|LIBERIA|LIBERIA SITUATION|POST-CONFLICT RECONSTRUCTION|ARMED FORCES|POLICE|MILITARY PERSONNEL|REPORT PREPARATION
Votes in favour: 15
Votes against: 0
Abstentions: 0
Voting record:
country: BELGIUM
vote: yes
country: BURKINA FASO
vote: yes
country: CHINA
vote: yes
country: COSTA RICA
vote: yes
country: CROATIA
vote: yes
country: FRANCE
vote: yes
country: INDONESIA
vote: yes
country: ITALY
vote: yes
country: LIBYAN ARAB JAMAHIRIYA
vote: yes
country: PANAMA
vote: yes
country: RUSSIAN FEDERATION
vote: yes
country: SOUTH AFRICA
vote: yes
country: UNITED KINGDOM
vote: yes
country: UNITED STATES
vote: yes
country: VIET NAM
vote: yes

               United Nations                                                                  S/RES/1836 (2008)
               Security Council                                                Distr.: General
                                                                               29 September 2008




               Resolution 1836 (2008)
               Adopted by the Security Council at its 5985th meeting,
               on 29 September 2008

                    The Security Council,
                     Recalling its resolutions and statements by its President concerning the
               situations in Liberia and the subregion, in particular its resolutions 1777 (2007),
               1750 (2007), 1626 (2005), and 1509 (2003),
                    Welcoming the Secretary-General’s report of 15 August 2008 (S/2008/553) and
               taking note of his recommendations,
                    Further welcoming the continuing efforts of the Government of Liberia to
               improve governance and security and combat corruption, as well as the important
               measures taken by the Government to consolidate its control over Liberia’s natural
               resources and build a stronger economy,
                    Commending the Government of Liberia for the adoption of its first national
               poverty reduction strategy for 2008-2011 and calling on the international
               community to collaborate with the Government in implementation of this strategy,
                    Noting with appreciation the steps being taken to facilitate national
               reconciliation and conflict management, with the support of the Peacebuilding Fund,
                    Noting the progress made in rebuilding, equipping, and deploying the Liberian
               National Police and restructuring the Armed Forces of Liberia, and in developing a
               national security architecture, acknowledging the challenges that remain, and
               encouraging the Government of Liberia, in cooperation with the international
               community, to expedite its efforts in these fields,
                    Further noting the continuing need for support from United Nations police
               advisors to the Liberian National Police as reflected in the report of the Secretary-General,
                    Expressing its appreciation for the continuing support of the international
               community, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the
               African Union (AU),
                    Commending the work of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL),
               under the leadership of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, for its
               continuing and significant contribution to maintaining peace and stability in Liberia,


08-52589 (E)
*0852589*

S/RES/1836 (2008)


               and welcoming the close cooperation between UNMIL and the United Nations
               Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI), as well as with neighbouring Governments, in
               coordinating security activities in the border areas in the subregion,
                     Noting with appreciation the progress made to date in the reintegration of
               ex-combatants, welcoming the contribution being made by the UN Development
               Program, UNMIL, international partners and the National Commission on
               Disarmament, Demobilization, Reintegration and Rehabilitation, and recognizing
               that there continues to be a need for formal sector employment,
                    Recognizing the significant challenges that remain in the consolidation of
               Liberia’s post-conflict transition, including consolidation of State authority, massive
               development and reconstruction needs, the reform of the judiciary, extension of the
               rule of law throughout the country, and the further development of the Liberian
               security forces and security architecture, in particular the Liberian National Police,
               and noting that crimes of corruption and violence, in particular with regard to
               exploitation of Liberia’s natural resources, threaten to undermine progress towards
               those ends,
                     Welcoming the progress achieved on the broad benchmarks laid out in the
               Secretary-General’s report of 12 September 2006 and core benchmarks presented in
               the Secretary-General’s reports of 9 August 2007 and 19 March 2008, welcoming
               UNMIL’s continuing efforts to promote and protect, in cooperation with the
               Government of Liberia, the rights of civilians, in particular children and women,
               calling on Liberian authorities to continue to cooperate with the United Nations
               country team and civil society in order to achieve further progress in these areas and
               in particular to combat violence against children and women, including genderbased violence, sexual exploitation and abuse, and recalling its resolutions 1674
               (2006) and 1612 (2005), as well as resolutions 1325 (2000) and 1820 (2008) on
               women, peace and security.
                    Reiterating the continuing need for UNMIL’s support for the security of the
               Special Court for Sierra Leone,
                     Determining that the situation in Liberia 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 mandate of the United Nations Mission in Liberia
               (UNMIL) shall be extended until 30 September 2009;
                    2.    Reaffirms its intention to authorize the Secretary-General to redeploy
               troops, as may be needed, between UNMIL and UNOCI on a temporary basis in
               accordance with the provisions of resolution 1609 (2005);
                     3.   Endorses the Secretary-General’s recommendation for a reduction of an
               additional 1,460 personnel deployed as part of UNMIL’s military component and for
               the streamlining of the current four sectors into two, and authorizes the Secretary-General to implement this recommendation during the period October 2008 to
               March 2009;
                    4.   Further endorses, with immediate effect, the Secretary-General’s
               recommendation for an increase of 240 in the authorized number of personnel
               deployed as part of UNMIL’s police component in order to provide strategic advice



2                                                                                                        08-52589

                                                                                              S/RES/1836 (2008)


           and expertise in specialized fields, provide operational support to regular policing
           activities and react to urgent security incidents, as well as his plans for internal
           adjustments in the composition of the police component within the overall ceiling,
           including an increase in the number of formed police units;
                 5.    Requests the Secretary-General to continue to monitor progress on the
           core benchmarks detailed in paragraph 66 of his report of 8 August 2007
           (S/2007/479) and in his report of 19 March 2008 (S/2008/183), and any subsequent
           refinements of the benchmarks that may be recommended by the Secretary-General
           or his Special Representative, to report on that progress to the Security Council by
           15 February 2009 and, in view of the extent of that progress, to recommend to the
           Security Council no later than 15 February 2009 any further adjustments in
           UNMIL’s military and police components as appropriate, and to include in his
           report, in consultation with the Government of Liberia, long-range scenarios for a
           phased drawdown and withdrawal of UNMIL’s troop contingent, as the situation
           permits and without compromising the security of Liberia;
                 6.    Further requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with the
           Government of Liberia, to develop further detailed benchmarks to measure and track
           progress towards the achievement of security in Liberia, and in that context to
           include in his 15 February 2009 report and in subsequent reports thereafter a
           comprehensive assessment both of the progress made towards building the capacity
           of the Liberian National Police and of the contribution of UNMIL towards that goal,
           and to make recommendations on possible adjustments needed to UNMIL police
           training or concept of operations as appropriate;
               7.     Expresses its intention to review by 31 March 2009 the Secretary-General’s recommendations described in paragraph 5 above;
                 8.   Further requests the Secretary-General to provide by 15 August 2009 a
           report covering progress made on the issues addressed in paragraphs 5 and 6 during
           the period February 2009-August 2009;
                9.   Decides to remain seized of the matter.




08-52589                                                                                                     3