Security Council

6364^th Meeting (AM)

Security Council Presidential Statement on Guinea-Bissau Expresses Serious Concern

as Drug Trafficking, Organized Crime Threaten National, Regional Security

 

While noting efforts by the Government of Guinea-Bissau to achieve stability, the Security Council expressed serious concern this morning about the continuing growth of drug trafficking and organized crime, which threatened peace and security in the country and the wider subregion.

In a statement read out by U. Joy Ogwu (Nigeria), President for July, the Council, while recognizing the shared responsibility of States where drugs were produced, consumed and transported, called upon the Guinea-Bissau authorities to create an environment that would ensure the effectiveness of actions to tackle drug trafficking and organized crime, including those supported by the international community.

Expressing concern about the current security situation and threats to constitutional order, the Council stressed the critical importance of the political and military leadership, as well as the people of Guinea-Bissau, meeting their responsibilities in working for national reconciliation, maintaining stability and constitutional order, fighting impunity and respecting the rule of law.

Calling for the immediate release or prosecution of all those detained in he events of 1 April 2010, the Council stressed that genuine security-sector reform required the creation of effective and accountable security forces and respect for the rule of law.  It therefore called upon the Government to create the conditions for reform, and upon the military to fulfil their commitments to abide by civilian control.  The Council called upon both the civilian authorities and the security forces to implement the current security-sector reform programmes on schedule.

In a briefing to the Council last week, Joseph Mutaboba, Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNIOGBIS), said that despite economic and other progress, the events of 1 April, in which military elements had briefly detained the Prime Minister and invaded United Nations premises, underlined the extreme fragility of the country’s peacebuilding process and its vulnerability to reversals (see Press Release SC/9982).

The meeting began at 10:20 a.m. and ended at 10:28 a.m.

Presidential Statement

The full text of Presidential Statement S/PRST/2010/15 reads as follows:

“The Security Council recalls its previous statements and resolutions on Guinea-Bissau and further recalls the events of 1 April 2010. The Council notes the efforts of the government of Guinea-Bissau towards achieving stability in the country, but expresses concern at the current security situation and threats to constitutional order. The Council stresses the critical importance of the President, government, political leaders, armed forces and people of Guinea-Bissau meeting their responsibilities to work towards national reconciliation, maintaining stability and constitutional order, fighting impunity, and respecting the rule of law.

“The Security Council calls upon the government 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.

“The Security Council stresses that genuine security sector reform requires the creation of effective professional and accountable security forces and respect for the rule of law. The Council therefore calls upon the government of Guinea-Bissau to create the conditions for reform of the security services, calls upon the security forces, in particular the military, to fulfil their commitment to abide by civilian control and calls upon both to implement current programmes for security sector reform on schedule.

“The Security Council expresses serious concern about the continued growth in drug trafficking, as well as organized crime, which threatens peace and security in Guinea-Bissau and in the sub-region. The Council calls upon the authorities of Guinea-Bissau to create the necessary environment to ensure that actions to tackle drug trafficking and organized crime, including actions supported by the international community, are effective.

“The Security Council also recognizes the shared responsibility of states where drugs are produced and consumed, as well as transit states, to take measures to hold accountable those who engage in, or otherwise facilitate, drug trafficking through Guinea-Bissau. In this regard, the Council welcomes the commitment of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) with the European Union (EU), the UN 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. The Council agrees to keep the situation under active review, and to consider appropriate action.

“The Security Council welcomes the Final Communiqué of the 38th Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS, expressing the need to promptly establish a mechanism for ensuring the safety of state civilian institutions in Guinea-Bissau. The Council invites the government of Guinea-Bissau and the international community to cooperate fully with ECOWAS to that effect.

“The Security Council welcomes the continued engagement of the Peacebuilding Commission and also calls for the swift implementation of the United Nations Framework for Peace and Development in Guinea-Bissau. The Council further welcomes the role of the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Guinea-Bissau’s efforts to coordinate actions by partners, in particular the African Union, ECOWAS, the EU and the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP), for their assistance in the area of security sector reform.

“The Security Council acknowledges the National Assembly’s plans to convene a national conference on “Conflicts in Guinea-Bissau: Causes Prevention, Resolution and Consequences,” scheduled for January 2011 and underscores the need to conduct a genuine and inclusive political dialogue aimed at ensuring effective functioning of state institutions and national reconciliation. The Council welcomes, in that regard, efforts made by regional leaders, in particular President Pedro Pires of Cape Verde, to engage in a constructive dialogue with the leadership of Guinea-Bissau.

“The Council requests the Secretary-General to brief the Security Council, as appropriate, on progress made in addressing these issues as well as what further action may be required to support their continued implementation.”

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For information media • not an official record