The Conflict in Central America has raged for many years, prompting many peace initiatives involving the United Nations. In November 1989, following a request from the five Central American Governments of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua, the Security Council established (Res. 644) the United Nations Observer Group in Central America (ONUCA) to act as a mechanism to observe and verify their commitments to each other. Established as a military observer mission, ONUCA was further expanded in March 1990 when the Security Council decided to add armed personnel in order to aid their efforts in the voluntary demobilization of the Nicaraguan resistance. The military strength of ONUCA in April was 995 and consisted of personnel from Canada, Colombia, Ecuador, Ireland, Spain and Venezuela.

General Augustin Quesada Gomez (Spain), Commander of the United Nations Observer Group in Central America (ONUCA) (wearing a blue beret), inspects a weapon surrendered by the Nicaraguan resistance forces as part of the overall peace process in Central America.