Deployment of UN observers authorized for South Africa.

• Position: United Nations

The Security Council on 17 August authorized Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali to deploy UN observers in South Africa to help end the spiralling cycle of violence, the continuation of which, the Council said, "would seriously jeopardize peace and security in the region".

In unanimously adopting resolution 772 (1992), the Council invited then Secretary-General to assist in strengthening the structures set up under the 14 September 1991 National Peace Accord (NPA) aimed at ending the violence and facilitating the socio-economic development and reconstruction in South Africa.

Deployment of UN, observers, the Council stated, should be implemented by the Secretary-General "in such a manner and in such numbers as he determines necessary to address effectively the areas of concern noted in his report" (S/24389).

On 9 September, the Secretary-General deeply deplored the killing of at least 28 people and the wounding of nearly 200 in Ciskei during a 7 September demonstration organized by the African National Congress (ANC).

The Special Committee against Apartheid at the same time stressed that "such senseless killing at this crucial juncture in South Africa's transition process cannot fail to undermine all progress so far made". it called on the country's authorities to assume immediate control of the Ciskei military and initiate an urgent investigation, in order to "identify and bring to justice those found responsible for this act of violence".

On 10 September, the Council emphasized the responsibility of the South African authorities for the maintenance of law and order, and called on them to "take all measures to end the violence and to protect the right of all South Africans to engage in peaceful political activity without fear of intimidation or violence".

Observers in 11 areas

On 9 September, it was announced that 50 UN observers were being sent to South Africa. An advance party of 13 observers left for South Africa on 11 September.

Observers are to be stationed in 11 areas around the country: Natal/Kwazulu, Border/Ciskei, Wits/Vaal, Western Cape, Orange Free State, Northern Cape, Far Northern Transvaal, Northern Transvaal, Eastern Transvaal, Eastern Cape and Western Transvaal.

Also in resolution 772, the South African Government, parties and organizations were called upon to extend their full cooperation to the UN observers to "enable them to carry out their tasks effectively". The Council also invited international organizations, such as the Organization of African Unity (OAU), the Commonwealth and the European Community, to consider deploying their own observers in South Africa, in coordination with the UN and the...