United Nations Security Council Resolution 918 – UN Assistance Mission for Rwanda

Resolution 918 (1994)

The Security Council,

Reaffirming all its previous resolutions on the situation in Rwanda, inparticular its resolution 872 (1993) of 5 October 1993 by which it establishedthe United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda (UNAMIR), its resolution909 (1994) of 5 April 1994 which extended the mandate of UNAMIR until29 July 1994, and its resolution 912 (1994) of 21 April 1994 by which itadjusted the mandate of UNAMIR,

Recalling the statements made by the President of the Council on7 April 1994 (S/PRST/1994/16) and 30 April 1994 (S/PRST/1994/21),

Having considered the report of the Secretary-General dated 13 May 1994(S/1994/565),

Reaffirming its resolution 868 (1993) of 29 September 1993 on the securityof United Nations operations,Strongly condemning the ongoing violence in Rwanda and particularlycondemning the very numerous killings of civilians which have taken place inRwanda and the impunity with which armed individuals have been able to operateand continue operating therein,

Stressing the importance of the Arusha Peace Agreement to the peacefulresolution of the conflict in Rwanda and the necessity for all parties torecommit themselves to its full implementation,

Commending the efforts of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) and itsorgans, as well as the efforts of the Tanzanian Facilitator, in providing diplomatic, political, and humanitarian support for the implementation of therelevant resolutions of the Council,

Deeply concerned that the situation in Rwanda, which has resulted in thedeath of many thousands of innocent civilians, including women and children, the internal displacement of a significant percentage of the Rwandan population, andthe massive exodus of refugees to neighbouring countries, constitutes ahumanitarian crisis of enormous proportions,

Expressing once again its alarm at continuing reports of systematic,widespread and flagrant violations of international humanitarian law in Rwanda,as well as other violations of the rights to life and property,

Recalling in this context that the killing of members of an ethnic group with the intention of destroying such a group, in whole or in part, constitutes a crime punishable under international law,

Strongly urging all parties to cease forthwith any incitement, especially through the mass media, to violence or ethnic hatred,

Recalling also its request to the Secretary-General to collect information on the responsibility for the tragic incident that resulted in the death of The Presidents of Rwanda and Burundi,

Recalling further that it had requested the Secretary-General to make proposals for the investigation of reports of serious violations of international humanitarian law during the conflict,

Underlining the urgent need for coordinated international action toalleviate the suffering of the Rwandan people and to help restore peace in Rwanda, and in this connection welcoming cooperation between the United Nationsand the OAU as well as with countries of the region, especially the facilitator of the Arusha peace process,

Desiring in this context to expand the mandate of UNAMIR for humanitarian purposes, and stressing the importance it attaches to the support andcooperation of the parties for the successful implementation of all aspects ofthat mandate,

Reaffirming its commitment to the unity and territorial integrity ofRwanda,

Recognizing that the people of Rwanda bear ultimate responsibility fornational reconciliation and reconstruction of their country,

Deeply disturbed by the magnitude of the human suffering caused by theconflict and concerned that the continuation of the situation in Rwanda constitutes a threat to peace and security in the region,

A

1. Demands that all parties to the conflict immediately ceasehostilities, agree to a cease-fire, and bring an end to the mindless violenceand carnage engulfing Rwanda;

2. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General dated 13 May 1994(S/1994/565);

3. Decides to expand UNAMIR’s mandate under resolution 912 (1994) toinclude the following additional responsibilities within the limits of theresources available to it:(a) To contribute to the security and protection of displaced persons,refugees and civilians at risk in Rwanda, including through the establishmentand maintenance, where feasible, of secure humanitarian areas;(b) To provide security and support for the distribution of reliefsupplies and humanitarian relief operations;

4. Recognizes that UNAMIR may be required to take action in self-defenceagainst persons or groups who threaten protected sites and populations, United Nations and other humanitarian personnel or the means of delivery anddistribution of humanitarian relief;

5. Authorizes in this context an expansion of the UNAMIR force level upto 5,500 troops;

6. Requests the Secretary-General, as recommended in his report, and as afirst phase, immediately to redeploy to Rwanda the UNAMIR military observerscurrently in Nairobi and to bring up to full strength the elements of themechanized infantry battalion currently in Rwanda;

7. Further requests the Secretary-General to report as soon as possibleon the next phase of UNAMIR’s deployment including, inter alia, on thecooperation of the parties, progress towards a cease-fire, availability ofresources and the proposed duration of the mandate for further review andaction, as required, by the Council;

8. Encourages the Secretary-General to accelerate his efforts, inconjunction with the Secretary-General of the OAU, to obtain from Member Statesthe necessary personnel to enable deployment of the expanded UNAMIR to proceedurgently;

9. Invites Member States to respond promptly to the Secretary-General’srequest for the resources required, including logistical support capability forrapid deployment of the UNAMIR expanded force level and its support in thefield;

10. Strongly urges all parties in Rwanda to cooperate fully with UNAMIR inthe implementation of its mandate and in particular in ensuring its freedom ofmovement and the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian assistance, and furthercalls upon them to treat Kigali airport as a neutral zone under the control ofUNAMIR;

11. Demands that all parties in Rwanda strictly respect the persons andpremises of the United Nations and other organizations serving in Rwanda, andrefrain from any acts of intimidation or violence against personnel engaged inhumanitarian and peace-keeping work;

12. Commends the efforts of States, United Nations agencies andnon-governmental organizations which have provided humanitarian and other assistance, encourages them to continue and increase such assistance, and urgesothers to provide such assistance;BDetermining that the situation in Rwanda constitutes a threat to peace andsecurity in the region,Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations,

13. Decides that all States shall prevent the sale or supply to Rwanda bytheir nationals or from their territories or using their flag vessels oraircraft of arms and related matériel of all types, including weapons andammunition, military vehicles and equipment, paramilitary police equipment andspare parts;

14. Decides also to establish, in accordance with rule 28 of theprovisional rules of procedure of the Security Council, a Committee of theSecurity Council consisting of all the members of the Council, to undertake thefollowing tasks and to report on its work to the Council with its observationsand recommendations:(a) To seek from all States information regarding the action taken by themconcerning the effective implementation of the embargo imposed by paragraph 13above;(b) To consider any information brought to its attention by Statesconcerning violations of the embargo, and in that context to makerecommendations to the Council on ways of increasing the effectiveness of theembargo;(c) To recommend appropriate measures in response to violations of theembargo imposed by paragraph 13 above and provide information on a regular basisto the Secretary-General for general distribution to Member States;

15. Calls upon all States, including States not Members of the United Nations, and international organizations to act strictly in accordance with the provisions of the present resolution, notwithstanding the existence of any rights or obligations conferred or imposed by any international agreement or anycontract entered into or any licence or permit granted prior to the date of theadoption of this resolution;

16. Decides that the provisions set forth in paragraphs 13 and 15 above do not apply to activities related to UNAMIR and UNOMUR;

17. Requests the Secretary-General to provide all necessary assistance tothe Committee and to make the necessary arrangements in the Secretariat for thispurpose;

18. Requests the Secretary-General to present a report as soon as possibleon the investigation of serious violations of international humanitarian lawcommitted in Rwanda during the conflict;

19. Invites the Secretary-General and his Special Representative, incoordination with the OAU and countries in the region, to continue their effortsto achieve a political settlement in Rwanda within the framework of the Arusha Peace Agreement;

20. Decides to keep the situation in Rwanda under constant review and requests the Secretary-General to report further, including on the humanitarian situation, within five weeks of the adoption of this resolution and again in good time before the expiration of the current mandate of UNAMIR;

21. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.

Adopted by the Security Council at its 3377th meeting,on 17 May 1994.