Security Council

6469^th Meeting (AM)

Amid Deteriorating Security Situation, Ongoing Political Impasse in Côte d’Ivoire,

 

Security Council Bolsters Peacekeeping Mission There by 2,000 Additional Troops

Expressing deep concern over the continuing violence and human rights violations in Côte d’Ivoire, including against United Nations peacekeepers and civilians, as the post-election crisis continued, the Security Council today authorized the deployment of an additional 2,000 troops for the United Nations Operation in the country, known as UNOCI, until 30 June 2011.

Unanimously adopting resolution 1967 (2011) under Chapter VII of the Charter, the Council also extended until 30 June the authorization of hundreds of military and police personnel granted last year to assist with the presidential polls, as well as extended by four additional weeks the temporary redeployment to UNOCI of three infantry companies and two military helicopters from the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL).  It also decided to authorize the temporary transfer of three armed helicopters with crews from UNMIL to UNOCI for four weeks.

Those reinforcements were recommended by the Secretary-General in a letter dated 7 January 2011 to the President of the Security Council (document S/2011/5).

Through the text, the Council also demanded that all parties abide scrupulously by their obligations to respect the safety of UNOCI and other United Nations personnel and to ensure the freedom of movement of the Operation as well as the French forces that supported it. 

It also urged the lifting of the blockade around the Golf Hotel, which is currently the headquarters of President Alassane Ouattara.  It demanded, in addition, an immediate halt to the use of media to propagate false information and to incite hatred and violence, and it reiterated its readiness to impose targeted sanctions against those who obstructed the work of UNOCI.

The meeting, which opened at 10:25 a.m., closed at 10:29 a.m.

Resolution

The full text of resolution 1967 (2011) reads as follows:

“The Security Council,

“Recalling its previous resolutions, in particular resolution 1962 (2010), 1951 (2010), 1946 (2010), 1942 (2010) and 1933 (2010) and statements of its President relating to the situation in Côte d’Ivoire and in the subregion,

“Recalling the letter of Secretary-General dated 7 January 2011 (S/2011/5) which recommended the temporary deployment of an additional 2,000 military personnel to the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI), until 30 June 2011, in addition to the temporary military and police capabilities authorized by resolution 1942 (2010),

“Recalling the inter-mission cooperation arrangements provided for in paragraphs 4 to 6 of Security Council resolution 1609 (2005) and in paragraph 6 of resolution 1938 (2010) and recalling paragraph 7 of resolution 1962 (2010) and its intention to consider authorizing the Secretary-General to redeploy further troops, as may be needed, between the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) and UNOCI on a temporary basis,

“Commending the initiatives of the Secretary-General and reaffirming its full support for his Special Representative in Côte d’Ivoire to carry out his mandate in view of resolving the situation peacefully,

“Expressing deep concern over the continued violence and human rights violations in Côte d’Ivoire, including against United Nations (UN) peacekeepers and civilians and stressing that those responsible for crimes against United Nations personnel and civilians must be held accountable,

“Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations,

“1.   Decides to authorize, as recommended by the Secretary-General in his letter dated 7 January 2011 (S/2011/5), the deployment of an additional 2,000 military personnel to UNOCI until 30 June 2011;

“2.   Decides to authorize, as recommended by the Secretary-General in his letter dated 7 January 2011 (S/2011/5), to extend up to 30 June 2011 the temporary additional military and police capabilities authorized by resolution 1942 (2010);

“3.   Decides to authorize the Secretary-General, further to resolution 1951 (2010) and paragraph 6 of resolution 1962 (2010), to extend by up to four additional weeks the temporary redeployment from UNMIL to UNOCI of three infantry companies and one aviation unit comprised of two military utility helicopters;

“4.   Decides to authorize the transfer, on a temporary basis and pursuant to paragraphs 4 and 6 of Security Council resolution 1609 (2005), of three armed helicopters with crews from UNMIL to UNOCI for a period of four weeks, as recommended by the Secretary-General in his letter dated 7 January 2011 (S/2011/5) and requests the Secretary-General to keep it informed of efforts made in this regard;

“5.   Decides to authorize the deployment of 60 formed police unit personnel to meet threats posed by unarmed crowds, as recommended by the Secretary-General in his letter dated 7 January 2011 (S/2011/5), which will replace 60 United Nations police officers;

“6.   Requests the Secretary-General to include a review of the temporary personnel deployments as set out in paragraphs 1, 2 and 5 above in his midterm review due no later than 31 March 2011;

“7.   Decides to authorize the immediate deployment of the additional capacities as set out in paragraphs 1, 4 and 5 above and requests the support of troop- and police-contributing countries in that regard;

“8.   Reiterates its authorization and its full support given to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General to use all necessary means to carry out UNOCI’s mandate, including protection of civilians and to ensure its freedom of movement, within its capabilities and its areas of deployment;

“9.   Demands that all parties abide scrupulously by their obligation to respect the safety of UNOCI and other UN personnel and ensure that the freedom of movement of UNOCI and French Forces which support it, is fully respected, with unhindered and immediate access throughout the territory of Côte d’Ivoire, including to all the administrative and State bodies, and further urges that the ongoing blockade around the Golf Hotel be lifted without delay;

“10.  Demands without prejudice to freedom of expression an immediate halt to the use of media, especially Radiodiffusion Télévision Ivoirienne (RTI), to propagate false information and to incite hatred and violence, including against the UN and particularly UNOCI;

“11.  Reiterates its readiness to impose measures, including targeted sanctions against those who obstruct the work of UNOCI, as underlined in UN Security Council resolutions 1946 (2010) and 1962 (2010);

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

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For information media • not an official record