Security Council

6428^th Meeting (AM)

Security Council Renews Mandate of United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office

in Guinea-Bissau until 31 December 2011, Concerned at Persistent Instability

Expressing its deep concern at the continuing instability in Guinea-Bissau, in particular the lack of civilian oversight and control of the armed forces and the continued detentions without due process of law that followed the events of 1 April, the Security Council today extended the mandate of the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in that country, UNIOGBIS, until 31 December 2011.

The United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Guinea-Bissau was established by Council resolution 1876 (2009) to succeed the United Nations Peacebuilding Support Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNOGBIS). (See Press Release SC/9693)  The mission was designed to be 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.

Unanimously adopting resolution 1949 (2010) today, the Council urged members of the Armed Forces in Guinea-Bissau to respect constitutional order, civilian rule and oversight, as well as the rule of law and human rights; to refrain from any interference in political issues; to guarantee the security of the national institutions, as well as the population in general; and to fully participate in the reform of the defence and security sector.

In its resolution, the Council called on the Government to conclude the investigations into the political assassinations of March and June 2009 [when, among others, the country’s President and the Chief of the Army were assassinated, as well as a former Prime Minister], and ensure that the investigations’ results and the work of the National Commission of Inquiry were credible, transparent and consistent with internationally agreed standards, and to ensure the prosecution of those responsible for criminal acts.

The Council reiterated its call upon the Government to release immediately all those detained in the events of 1 April or prosecute them with full respect for due process and to set free those under incarceration who were recently acquitted.

In a further term of the text, the Council urged the international community, including the Peacebuilding Commission and regional organizations such as the African Union, European Union, ECOWAS and the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries, as well as bilateral partners, to increase their political and financial support to the West Africa Coast Initiative to fight transnational organized crime and drug trafficking, which threaten peace and security in Guinea-Bissau and in the subregion.  It welcomed the intention of ECOWAS to immediately implement its Regional Action Plan on Drug Trafficking and Organized Crime, including options for targeted sanctions against individuals involved in those activities.

The situation in Guinea-Bissau was last discussed in the Council on 5 November. (Press Release SC/10078)

The meeting was called to order 10:05 a.m. and adjourned at 10:07 a.m.

Resolution

The full text of resolution 1949 (2010) reads as follows:

“The Security Council,

“Recalling its previous resolutions and statements of its President concerning the situation in Guinea-Bissau, in particular its resolution 1876 (2009),

“Expressing its deep concern at the continuing instability in Guinea-Bissau, in particular the lack of civilian oversight and control of the Armed Forces and the continued detentions without due process of law that followed the events of 1 April 2010,

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

“Noting with deep concern the threats to national and subregional security and stability posed by the growth in drug trafficking and organized crime in Guinea-Bissau,

“Recognizing the need to tackle the problem of drug trafficking in the countries of origin, transit and final destination through an approach of common and shared responsibility,

“Reaffirming that the Government of Guinea-Bissau and all stakeholders must remain committed to national reconciliation through genuine and inclusive political dialogue, respect for constitutional order, security sector reform, the promotion of the rule of law and human rights, 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 tackle illicit drug trafficking,

“Reiterating the importance of regional and subregional cooperation in addressing the challenges faced by Guinea-Bissau and in this regard welcoming the appointment by the Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission of a Special Representative as well as the establishment and operationalization of the AU Liaison Office in the country,

“Welcoming the efforts of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP) to support the reform of the defence and security sector in Guinea-Bissau and encouraging the international community to remain engaged in addressing key challenges in the country,

“Encouraging relevant stakeholders to remain engaged in addressing key governance and peacebuilding challenges in the country,

“Welcoming the letter from President Malam Bacai Sanha dated 20 September 2010 to ECOWAS requesting support and assistance in the implementation of security sector reform in Guinea-Bissau,

“Emphasizing that the Government of Guinea-Bissau bears the primary responsibility for security, the protection of its civilian population, peacebuilding and long-term development in the country,

“Recalling its appreciation for the work of the Peacebuilding Commission and the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNIOGBIS) in coordinating the assistance provided by the United Nations and international partners to Guinea-Bissau,

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

“1.   Decides to extend the mandate of the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Guinea-Bissau as established in paragraph 3 of resolution 1876 (2009), until 31 December 2011;

“2.   Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on Guinea-Bissau dated 25 October 2010 (S/2010/550) and of the recommendations contained therein and welcomes the activities of UNIOGBIS;

“3.   Requests the Secretary-General to develop a strategic work plan with appropriate benchmarks to measure and track progress on the implementation of the UNIOGBIS mandate;

“4.   Urges the Government and all political stakeholders in Guinea-Bissau to work together to consolidate peace and stability in the country and intensify efforts for genuine and inclusive political dialogue and national reconciliation, and requests the Secretary-General, including through his Special Representative, to support such efforts;

“5.   Urges members of the Armed Forces of Guinea-Bissau, in particular its leaders, to respect constitutional order, civilian rule and oversight, as well as the rule of law and human rights, to refrain from any interference in political issues, to guarantee the security of the national institutions, as well as the population in general, and to fully participate in the reform of the defence and security sector;

“6.   Further urges Guinea-Bissau’s political leaders to refrain from involving the military and the judiciary in politics and calls on them to use legal and peaceful means to resolve differences;

“7.   Calls on the Government of Guinea-Bissau to conclude the investigations into the political assassinations of March and June 2009 and ensure that the results of the investigations and the work of the National Commission of Inquiry are credible, transparent and consistent with internationally agreed standards and to ensure the prosecution of those responsible for criminal acts, so that they are held accountable;

“8.   Requests the Secretary-General to assist in the conclusion of these investigations and overall efforts to end impunity, and promote the rule of law and constitutional order in Guinea-Bissau;

“9.   Calls upon the Government of Guinea-Bissau to ensure the prosecution with full respect for due process of those responsible for criminal acts, such as political assassinations and drug trafficking, and calls on the AU, ECOWAS, the European Union (EU), CPLP and bilateral partners to support these efforts;

“10.  Reiterates its call upon the authorities of Guinea-Bissau to release immediately all those detained in the events of 1 April 2010 or prosecute them with full respect for due process and to set free those under incarceration who were recently acquitted;

“11.  Welcomes the ECOWAS-CPLP partnership and looks forward to the final endorsement by ECOWAS of the road map developed by the Chiefs of Defence Staff to, inter alia, provide training and protection to Guinea-Bissau State institutions within the framework of security sector reform and as part of the stabilization of the country’s political and security environment, and requests the Secretary-General, through his Special Representative, to present to it comprehensive information detailing the proposed modalities, timing and resources relating to the implementation of the ECOWAS road map;

“12.  Requests the Secretary-General to engage with ECOWAS and CPLP with a view to undertaking a joint assessment of the requirements to support the rapid implementation of the road map once endorsed by ECOWAS, including how the necessary resources can best be mobilized, in coordination with relevant partners, including the AU, EU, ECOWAS and CPLP member States;

“13.  Requests the Secretary-General, through his Special Representative, to extend political support for the implementation of the road map;

“14.  Urges the Government of Guinea-Bissau to continue to tackle corruption, including by implementing the United Nations Convention against Corruption and to create an environment conducive to the implementation of the West Africa Coast Initiative (WACI) in Guinea-Bissau, and urges relevant national entities to establish a Transnational Crime Unit in Guinea-Bissau through adequate mechanisms;

“15.  Urges the international community, including the Peacebuilding Commission and regional organizations such as the AU, EU, ECOWAS and CPLP, as well as bilateral partners as appropriate, to increase their political and financial support to WACI to fight transnational organized crime and drug trafficking which threaten peace and security in Guinea-Bissau and in the subregion; welcomes in this regard the commitment of ECOWAS with the United Nations, the EU and other partners for the immediate implementation of the ECOWAS Regional Action Plan on Drug Trafficking and Organized Crime, including options for targeted sanctions against those individuals identified as members or supporters of the drug trafficking network, and agrees to keep the situation under active review, and to consider appropriate action;

“16.  Requests the Secretary-General, through his Special Representative in Guinea-Bissau, to continue to support national efforts to effectively coordinate international assistance for credible security sector reform under the principle of full civilian control of the military and on the basis of a comprehensive threat assessment, taking into account the work already undertaken by the EU and other international actors in this area;

“17.  Requests the Peacebuilding Commission to continue to support the implementation of Guinea-Bissau’s peacebuilding priorities as well as to continue to provide advice to the Security Council on how to remove critical obstacles to peacebuilding in Guinea-Bissau, in particular security sector reform and drug trafficking, and to keep the Council updated on progress it has made in helping to address these;

“18.  Encourages the Special Representative of the Secretary-General to continue to pursue efforts to enhance integration and effectiveness of the United Nations on the ground in support of the stabilization, peace and development priorities of the Government and people of Guinea-Bissau;

“19.  Emphasizes the important role of women in prevention and resolution of conflicts and in peacebuilding, as recognized in resolutions 1325 (2000), 1820 (2008), 1888 (2009) and 1889 (2009), underlines that a gender perspective should be taken into account in implementing all aspects of the mandate of UNIOGBIS, and encourages UNIOGBIS to work with national authorities in this regard, and relevant stakeholders to improve women’s participation in peacebuilding;

“20.  Requests the Secretary-General to report on progress made in implementing this resolution and the mandate of UNIOGBIS as outlined in resolution 1876 (2009), every four months, including in his first report details of progress made in undertaking the joint assessment referred to in paragraph 12 and the implementation of the road map, once endorsed by ECOWAS;

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

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For information media • not an official record