On 18 August 2003, in Accra (Ghana), the Government of Liberia, LURD, MODEL and political parties sign the Accra Comprehensive Peace Agreement — the final deal ending the Second Liberian Civil War.

The document provides for a two-year transitional government (NTGL), portfolio-sharing among the warring parties, parties and civil society, security reforms, a human-rights / truth commission and elections by 2005.

Talks facilitated by General Abdulsalami Abubakar and ECOWAS (President John Kufuor) followed Charles Taylor’s resignation (11 August) and the June ceasefire.

In October 2003 the Security Council authorised UNMIL; Gyude Bryant took the interim, and the 2005 elections brought Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to the presidency.

For Liberia, 18 August 2003 marks the Accra peace signature.

The text is circulated as a Security Council document and published on UN Peacemaker.

The Accra Comprehensive Peace Agreement of 18 August 2003 remains the post-Taylor Liberian transition milestone.

Image: Accra; Wikimedia Commons. Cropped to 16:9.

Source consulted: Accra Comprehensive Peace Agreement. Treaty text: UN Peacemaker — Accra Comprehensive Peace Agreement.