ONUCA was established by Security Council resolution 644 (1989) of 7 November 1989. The Group's mandate was to conduct on-site verification of compliance by the Governments of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua with their security undertakings contained in the Esquipulas II Agreement, namely (a) the cessation of aid to irregular forces and insurrectionist movements, and (b) the non-use of the territory of one State for attacks on other States. The latter undertaking was to include preventing the establishment or use of facilities for radio or television transmissions for the specific purpose of directing or assisting the military operations of irregular forces or insurrectionist movements in any of the five countries.

On 27 March 1990, the Council, by its resolution 650 (1990), authorized, on a contingency basis, an enlargement of the mandate of ONUCA and the addition of armed personnel to its strength in order to enable it to play a part in the voluntary demobilization of the Nicaraguan Resistance.

On 20 April 1990, following the signing by the Nicaraguan parties of a complex of agreements relating to the voluntary demobilization of the members of the Nicaraguan Resistance in Nicaragua, the Security Council, by its resolution 653 (1990), decided to expand ONUCA’s mandate to include additional tasks of monitoring the ceasefire and separation of forces, and the demobilization process.

After the completion of the demobilization process in June/July 1990, ONUCA continued to implement its original tasks and contribute to the peace efforts in the region. The mandate of the Mission was terminated in January 1992.

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