Decision Relating to the Conflict Involving Countries of the Mano River Basin Union

DECISION ON THE CONFLICT INVOLVING COUNTRIES
OF THE MANO RIVER BASIN UNION

Council:

1. TAKES NOTE of the Report;

2. UNDERLINES its grave concern about the continued crisis among the countries of the Mano River Union;

3. CALLS on all the parties concerned to do everything possible to ensure the restoration of durable peace as soon as possible. In that regard, Council ENCOURAGES all the Member States of the Mano River Union to pursue a policy of good neighbourliness, avoid the use of force in resolving disputes, take measures to prohibit the activities of armed rebel groups operating on their respective territories and open all their borders without delay;

4. CALLS for further efforts to be made to implement the decisions adopted by the ECOWAS Summits of Bamako and Abuja, held in December, 2000 and April, 2001, respectively, and WELCOMES the establishment by ECOWAS of a Mediation Committee composed of the Presidents of Mali, Nigeria and Togo; and EXPRESSES the support of the OAU for the on-going efforts to convene a meeting to be attended by the three Presidents of the countries of the Mano River Union;

5. In the context of the decisions taken by the ECOWAS Heads of State, REITERATES the support of the OAU for the deployment of an ECOMOG Force at the borders of the three Mano River countries. Council ENCOURAGES the Governments of Liberia and Guinea to sign the respective Status of Forces Agreements to facilitate its deployment, and APPEALS to the International Community to provide financial support to ECOWAS in its efforts to deploy and sustain the Force;

6. EXPRESSES its continued concern over the alarming humanitarian situation in the countries of the Mano River Union. While expressing its appreciation to the international community for the assistance provided so far, APPEALS to Member States and the international community at large, including the UNHCR, to provide further assistance to the victims of the crises in the sub-region, and FURTHER APPEALS for more assistance to be delivered to the Government of Guinea which has incurred the burden of caring for refugees from other countries in the Mano River Union as well as the internally displaced.