Security Council

6152^nd Meeting (PM)

Security Council authorizes six-month extension of United Nations Peacebuilding

Support Office in Guinea-Bissau, requests successor integrated operation

The Security Council today extended the mandate of the United Nations Peacebuilding Support Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNOGBIS) until 31 December and requested the Secretary-General to establish a United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNIOGBIS) to succeed it for an initial period of 12 months after that.

Unanimously adopting resolution 1876 (2009), the Council underlined the importance of establishing a fully integrated office with effective coordination of strategies and programmes between United Nations agencies, funds and programmes, between the United Nations and international donors, and between UNIOGBIS, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and other United Nations missions in the region.

The Council urged Guinea-Bissau’s political leaders to refrain from involving the military in politics, and requested them to use legal and peaceful means to solve their differences.  It called on the Government of Guinea-Bissau to conduct credible and transparent investigations into the political assassinations in March and June and to bring to justice those responsible.

On 23 June, the Council heard a briefing on the situation in Guinea-Bissau by Joseph Mutaboba, Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of UNOGBIS (see Press Release SC/9690).

The meeting began at 3:05 p.m. and ended at 3:10 p.m.

Resolution

The full text of resolution 1876 (2009) reads as follows:

“The Security Council,

“Recalling its previous resolutions and statements of its President concerning the situation in Guinea-Bissau, as well as the letter of its President of 22 December 2008 (S/2008/778) to the Secretary-General,

“Expressing its deep concern at the resurgence of political violence, in particular the political assassinations in Guinea-Bissau,

“Stressing the fact that such developments demonstrate the fragility of the political situation, and jeopardize the efforts to restore peace and stability, as well as the rule of law in Guinea-Bissau,

“Stressing the importance of the upcoming presidential election in Guinea-Bissau of 28 June 2009, and the need to have free, fair and transparent elections as a crucial and necessary step towards the full return to constitutional order, consolidation of democracy and national reconciliation,

“Underlining the need for everyone to respect the results of the election, and calling upon all stakeholders to contribute to a peaceful environment during and after the election,

“Reaffirming that the Government of Guinea-Bissau and all stakeholders must remain committed to security sector reform, the promotion of the rule of law, and the fight against impunity and illicit drug trafficking,

“Stressing the importance of security sector reform, and reiterating the continued support of the United Nations and the international community for the long-term security and development of Guinea-Bissau, particularly in the fields of security sector reform, justice, and in building the capacity of the Government to fight against illicit drug trafficking,

“Reiterating the importance of the regional and subregional cooperation in addressing the challenges faced by Guinea-Bissau,

“Recalling the adoption of the strategic Framework for Peacebuilding in Guinea-Bissau (PBC/3/GNB/3) on 1 October 2008, and encouraging the Government of Guinea-Bissau to continue its close engagement with the Peacebuilding Commission towards its accelerated implementation,

“Noting that the situation in Guinea-Bissau continues to be extremely fragile in particular as a result of increased drug trafficking and organized crime that could pose a threat to regional stability, and should also be addressed by an approach of shared responsibility,

“Stressing its concern of human trafficking, especially that of children outside the country,

“Reaffirming its full commitment to the consolidation of peace and stability in Guinea-Bissau,

“1.   Decides to extend the mandate of the United Nations Peacebuilding Support Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNOGBIS) until 31 December 2009;

“2.   Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General on Guinea-Bissau and on the activities of UNOGBIS in that country of 11 June 2009 (S/2009/302), and takes note of his recommendations contained therein;

“3.   Requests the Secretary-General to establish a United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNIOGBIS) to succeed UNOGBIS, as recommended by him in his report (S/2009/302) for an initial period of 12 months, beginning on 1 January 2010, with the following key tasks:

(a)   Assisting the Peacebuilding Commission in its work in addressing critical peacebuilding needs in Guinea-Bissau;

(b)   Strengthening the capacities of national institutions in order to maintain constitutional order, public security and the full respect for the rule of law;

(c)   Supporting national authorities to establish effective and efficient police and law enforcement and criminal justice systems;

(d)   Supporting an inclusive political dialogue and national reconciliation process;

(e)   Providing strategic and technical support and assistance to the Government of Guinea-Bissau in developing and coordinating the implementation of security sector reform;

(f)   Assisting national authorities to combat drug trafficking and organized crime, as well as human trafficking, especially child trafficking;

(g)   Supporting the national efforts to curb the proliferation of small arms and light weapons;

(h)   Undertaking human rights promotion, protection and monitoring activities and supporting the institutionalization of respect for the rule of law;

(i)   Mainstreaming a gender perspective into peacebuilding, in line with Security Council resolutions 1325 (2000) and 1820 (2008);

(j)   Enhancing cooperation with the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States, the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries, the European Union and other partners in their efforts to contribute to the stabilization of Guinea-Bissau;

(k)   Helping in the mobilization of international assistance;

“4.   Underlines the need for appropriate expertise to ensure that the UNIOGBIS effectively and efficiently implements its mandate;

“5.   Further underlines the importance of establishing a fully integrated office with effective coordination of strategies and programmes between the United Nations agencies, funds, and programmes, between the United Nations and international donors, and between the integrated office, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and other United Nations missions in the subregion, and requests the Secretary-General to take necessary measures with UNOGBIS to ensure a smooth transition between UNOGBIS and the new integrated office;

“6.   Requests the Secretary-General to develop a strategic workplan with appropriate benchmarks to measure and track progress on the implementation of the mandate described in paragraph 3 above, and report on its implementation in accordance with paragraph 14 below;

“7.   Calls on the Government and all political stakeholders of Guinea-Bissau to work together in order to set up the best conditions for national reconciliation and to consolidate peace and security throughout Guinea-Bissau;

“8.   Urges all members of the Armed Forces, including its leaders, to abide by civilian rule and to refrain from any interference in political issues, to guarantee the security of the national institutions, as well as the population in general, and calls for the full protection and respect of human rights;

“9.   Urges Guinea-Bissau’s political leaders to refrain from involving the military in politics, and requests them to use legal and peaceful means to solve their differences;

“10.  Calls on the Government of Guinea-Bissau to conduct credible and transparent investigations into the political assassinations in March and June 2009, and to bring to justice those responsible for these acts, calls also upon the international community to support those investigations;

“11.  Requests in particular the Secretary-General, in consultation with the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries (CPLP), to assist the Government of Guinea-Bissau in carrying out a credible investigation process;

“12.  Takes note of the initiatives undertaken by regional organizations for ensuring the protection of the national institutions and the authorities;

“13.  Requests the Secretary-General, through his Special Representative for Guinea-Bissau and UNIOGBIS, to assist the Government of Guinea-Bissau for an effective coordination of the support provided by the international community to security sector reform in Guinea-Bissau, taking into account the work already undertaken by the European Union and other international actors in this area;

“14.  Further requests the Secretary-General to keep the Security Council regularly informed every four months on progress with establishing the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Guinea-Bissau, with the first report due by 31 October 2009, and thereafter with the implementation of this resolution;

“15.  Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.”

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For information media • not an official record