Security Council

6525^th Meeting (AM)

Security Council Renews Côte d’Ivoire Arms Embargo, Diamond Trade Ban, Targeted

Sanctions until 30 April 2012, Unanimously Adopting Resolution 1980 (2011)

 

Says Can Be Lifted, Modified Earlier, Depending on Progress in Peace Process;

Côte d’Ivoire Says Renewal Needed So Development Not Compromised by Illicit Arms

Determining that the situation in Côte d’Ivoire continued to pose a threat to international peace and security in the region, the Security Council this morning renewed until 30 April 2012 its arms embargo and diamond trade ban on the West African nation, as well as targeted sanctions restricting the travel and finances of individuals threatening peace and national reconciliation there.

By resolution 1980 (2011), adopted unanimously under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, the Council decided to review those measures no later than 31 October 2011, with a view to possibly modifying, lifting or maintaining all or part of them amid progress in the peace process, the developments related to human rights violations and parliamentary elections, calling on Member States, especially in the subregion, to fully implement the measures.

Recalling that the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI) was mandated to collect arms and related material brought into the country in violation of those measures, the Council expressed deep concern at the presence of mercenaries in the country, notably from neighbouring countries, and called on the authorities of Côte d’Ivoire and Liberia to coordinate their action to solve that issue.  It also encouraged UNOCI and the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) to assist the Governments in monitoring their border, with particular attention to any cross-border movement of combatants or arms.

By other terms, the Council decided to extend the mandate of the Group of Experts — established pursuant to resolution 1572 (2004) to oversee sanctions measures in Côte d’Ivoire — until 30 April 2012, requesting it to submit a midterm report to the Sanctions Committee by 15 October 2011, and a final report, as well as recommendations to the Council, 15 days before the end of its mandated period, on the implementation of such measures.  All Ivorian parties and regional States were urged to ensure the Group’s safety and unhindered access, notably to persons, documents and sites, for executing its mandate.

It requested both the Secretary-General and the French Government to communicate information gathered by UNOCI and French forces, and where possible, reviewed by the Group of Experts, on the supply of arms and related material to Côte d’Ivoire.  It also requested the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme to communicate information on the production and illicit export of diamonds from the country, deciding to renew exemptions related to the securing of samples of rough diamonds for scientific research.

Speaking after the adoption, Youssoufou Bamba (Côte d’Ivoire) said the extension of the sanctions regime until 2012 was necessary to consolidate the “end of the state of belligerence” his people had suffered over the last four months.  Indeed, Ivorians wished to achieve socio-economic development in a climate of peace and security — and did not want that work to be compromised by illicit arms flows.

Two weeks after Laurent Gbagbo had left power following his 28 November 2010 presidential defeat, “life in Côte d’Ivoire is coming back to normal, gradually but surely”, he said.  President Alassane Ouattara now was dealing with urgent matters to improve daily life, including the restoration of public order and security, and especially in the economic capital of Abidjan.

Citing progress, he said the last bastions of insecurity had been stopped in Abobo and Yopougon, and the gendarmerie had resumed its work despite logistics problems.  Moreover, the humanitarian situation had improved, with free care and medicine given at hospitals and more freedom of movement for humanitarian organizations.  The Government was getting rid of corpses, cleaning the streets and helping people return home.  Water and electricity had been restored throughout the country.  Large banks had reopened, notably to pay salaries for March and April, as had schools, where teachers were “getting back down to business” after classrooms had been looted.

The most significant challenge was that of national reconciliation, he said, given the country’s “scarred social tissue” and “injured national cohesion”.  After 10 years of political crises, it was unthinkable that national reconstruction could be undertaken without ownership of such work by Ivorians.  In the coming weeks, President Ouattara would establish a truth and reconciliation commission, similar to that created in South Africa after the fall of apartheid, to bring justice to victims and their families, he said, adding that a pardon also might be appropriate to lead to that reconciliation.

“Any reconciliation is a process,” he said.  “Ours is part of the emergence of democracy.”  National reconciliation would allow for establishing the rule of law, and President Ouattara would spare no effort to achieve that objective.  He looked forward to greeting the Department of Peacekeeping Operations in Côte d’Ivoire, expressing hope that the visit would allow for taking stock of the challenges in peacebuilding, security, reconstruction and national reconciliation.

The meeting began at 11:10 a.m. and adjourned at 11:25 a.m.

Resolution

The full text of resolution 1980 (2011) reads as follows:

“The Security Council,

“Recalling its previous resolutions and the statements of its President relating to the situation in Côte d’Ivoire, in particular resolutions 1880 (2009), 1893 (2009), 1911 (2010), 1933 (2010), 1946 (2010), 1962 (2010) and 1975 (2011),

“Reaffirming its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and unity of Côte d’Ivoire, and recalling the importance of the principles of good-neighbourliness, non-interference and regional cooperation,

“Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General dated 30 March 2011 (S/2011/211), of the 2011 report (S/2011/272) and of the Final 2010 report (S/2011/271) of the United Nations Group of Experts,

“Emphasizing the continued contribution to the stability in Côte d’Ivoire of the measures imposed by resolutions 1572 (2004), 1643 (2005) and 1975 (2011) and stressing that these measures aim at supporting the peace process in Côte d’Ivoire,

“Welcoming that President Alassane Dramane Ouattara of Côte d’Ivoire is now able to assume all his responsibilities as Head of State, in accordance with the will of the Ivorian people expressed at the presidential elections of 28 November 2010 and as recognized by the international community,

“Emphasizing the imperative of sustained efforts by all the Ivorians to promote national reconciliation and consolidation of peace through dialogue and consultation and welcoming the assistance of the African Union (AU) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in this regard,

“Recalling its resolutions 1325 (2000), 1820 (2008), 1888 (2009), 1889 (2009) and 1960 (2010) on women, peace and security, its resolutions 1612 (2005) and 1882 (2009) on children and armed conflict and its resolutions 1674 (2006) and 1894 (2009) on the protection of civilians in armed conflicts,

“Reiterating its firm condemnation of all violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in Côte d’Ivoire, condemning all violence committed against civilians, including women, children, internally displaced persons and foreign nationals, and other violations and abuses of human rights, in particular enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, killing and maiming of children and rapes and other forms of sexual violence and stressing that the perpetrators must be brought to justice,

“Stressing the importance for the Group of Experts, originally established pursuant to paragraph 7 of resolution 1584 (2004), to be provided with the sufficient resources for the implementation of its mandate,

“Determining that the situation in Côte d’Ivoire continues to pose a threat to international peace and security in the region,

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

“1.   Decides to renew until 30 April 2012 the measures on arms and the financial and travel measures imposed by paragraphs 7 to 12 of resolution 1572 (2004), paragraph 5 of resolution 1946 (2010) and paragraph 12 of resolution 1975 (2011) and further decides to renew until 30 April 2012 the measures preventing the importation by any State of all rough diamonds from Côte d’Ivoire imposed by paragraph 6 of resolution 1643 (2005);

“2.   Decides to review the measures renewed in paragraph 1 above in light of the progress achieved in the stabilization throughout the country, the holding of the parliamentary elections and the implementation of the key steps of the peace process, as referred to in resolution 1933 (2010), by the end of the period mentioned in paragraph 1, and decides further to carry out a midterm review of the measures renewed in paragraph 1 above no later than 31 October 2011, with a view to possibly modifying, lifting or maintaining, ahead of 30 April 2012, all or part of the measures of the sanctions regime, in accordance with progress in the peace process, the developments related to Human rights violations and the developments related to the parliamentary elections;

“3.   Calls upon all Member States, in particular those in the subregion, to fully implement the measures renewed in paragraph 1 above, including as appropriate by enforcing the necessary rules and regulations and calls also upon the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI) to lend its full support within its capacities and mandate and further calls upon the French forces to support UNOCI in this regard, within the limits of their deployment and their capabilities;

“4.   Urges all illegal armed combatants to lay down their arms immediately, encourages UNOCI, within its mandate and limits of capabilities and areas of deployment, to continue to assist the Ivorian Government in collecting and storing those arms and further calls upon the Ivorian authorities, including the National Commission to fight against the Proliferation and Illicit Traffic of Small Arms and Light Weapons, to ensure that those arms are neutralized or not illegally disseminated, in accordance with the ECOWAS Convention on Small Arms and light Weapons, their Ammunition and other Associated Materials;

“5.   Recalls that UNOCI, within the monitoring of the arms embargo, is mandated to collect, as appropriate, arms and any related materiel brought into Côte d’Ivoire in violation of the measures imposed by paragraph 7 of resolution 1572 (2004), and to dispose of such arms and related materiel as appropriate;

“6.   Expresses its deep concern about the presence of mercenaries in Côte d’Ivoire, notably from neighbouring countries, and calls upon the authorities of Côte d’Ivoire and Liberia to coordinate their action to solve this issue and further encourages UNOCI and the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), within their respective mandates, capabilities and areas of deployment, to assist respectively the Governments of Côte d’Ivoire and Liberia in monitoring their border, with particular attention to any cross border movement of combatants or transfer of arms;

“7.   Reiterates the necessity for the Ivorian authorities to provide unhindered access to the Group of Experts, as well as UNOCI and the French Forces which support it, to equipment, sites and installations referred to in paragraph 2 (a) of resolution 1584 (2005), and to all weapons, ammunition and related materiel all armed security forces, regardless of location, including the arms issued from the collection referred to in paragraph 4 above, when appropriate without notice, as set out in its resolutions 1739 (2007), 1880 (2009), 1933 (2010) and 1962 (2010);

“8.   Decides that the supply of vehicles to the Ivorian security forces shall be subject to the measures imposed by paragraph 7 of resolution 1572 (2004);

“9.   Decides that the exemption procedure set out in paragraph 8 (e) of resolution 1572 (2004) shall apply only to arms and related materiel, vehicles, and the provision of technical training and assistance in support of the Ivorian process of security sector reform, pursuant to a formal request by the Ivorian Government and approved in advance by the Sanctions Committee;

“10.  Underlines that it is fully prepared to impose targeted measures against persons to be designated by the Committee in accordance with paragraphs 9, 11 and 14 of resolution 1572 (2004) who are determined to be, among other things:

(a)   A threat to the peace and national reconciliation process in Côte d’Ivoire, in particular by blocking the implementation of the peace process, as referred to in the Ouagadougou Political Agreement;

(b)   Attacking or obstructing the action of UNOCI, of the French forces which support it and of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Côte d’Ivoire;

(c)   Responsible for obstacles to the freedom of movement of UNOCI and of the French forces which support it;

(d)   Responsible for serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law committed in Côte d’Ivoire;

(e)   Inciting publicly hatred and violence;

(f)   Acting in violation of the measures imposed by paragraph 1 above;

“11.  Reiterates its readiness to impose sanctions against those who obstruct the electoral process, specifically the action of the Independent Electoral Commission and all other operators involved, and the proclamation and certification of the results of the Parliamentary elections;

“12.  Requests all States concerned, in particular those in the subregion, to cooperate fully with the Sanctions Committee, and authorizes the Committee to request whatever further information it may consider necessary;

“13.  Decides to extend the mandate of the Group of Experts as set out in paragraph 7 of resolution 1727 (2006) until 30 April 2012 and requests the Secretary-General to take the necessary measures to support its action;

“14.  Requests the Group of Experts to submit a midterm report to the Committee by 15 October 2011 and to submit a final report as well as recommendations to the Security Council through the Committee 15 days before the end of its mandated period, on the implementation of the measures imposed by paragraphs 7, 9 and 11 of resolution 1572 (2004), paragraph 6 of resolution 1643 (2005) and paragraph 12 of resolution 1975 (2011),

“15.  Decides that the report of the Group of Experts, as referred to in paragraph 7 (e) of resolution 1727 (2006) may include, as appropriate, any information and recommendations relevant to the Committee’s possible additional designation of the individuals and entities described in paragraphs 9 and 11 of resolution 1572 (2004) and further recalls the Informal Working Group on General Issues of Sanctions report (S/2006/997) on best practices and methods, including paragraphs 21, 22, and 23 that discuss possible steps for clarifying methodological standards for monitoring mechanisms;

“16.  Requests the Secretary-General to communicate as appropriate to the Security Council, through the Committee, information gathered by UNOCI and, where possible, reviewed by the Group of Experts, concerning the supply of arms and related materiel to Côte d’Ivoire;

“17.  Requests also the French Government to communicate as appropriate to the Security Council, through the Committee, information gathered by the French forces and, where possible, reviewed by the Group of Experts, concerning the supply of arms and related materiel to Côte d’Ivoire;

“18.  Requests also the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme to communicate as appropriate to the Security Council, through the Committee, information which, where possible, has been reviewed by the Group of Experts, concerning the production and illicit export of diamonds from Côte d’Ivoire and further decides to renew the exemptions set out by paragraph 16 and 17 of resolution 1893 (2009) with regard to the securing of samples of rough diamonds for scientific research purposes coordinated by the Kimberley Process;

“19.  Encourages the Ivorian authorities to work with the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme to conduct a review and assessment of Côte d’Ivoire’s internal controls system for trade in rough diamonds and a comprehensive geologic study of Côte d’Ivoire’s potential diamond resources and production capacity, with a view to possibly modifying or lifting, as appropriate, the measures imposed by paragraph 6 of resolution 1643 (2005);

“20.  Encourages the Ivorian authorities to deploy customs and border control officials throughout the country, particularly in the north and the west, and encourages UNOCI, within its mandate, to assist the Ivorian authorities in the re‑establishment of normal customs and border control operation;

“21.  Urges all States, relevant United Nations bodies and other organizations and interested parties, to cooperate fully with the Committee, the Group of Experts, UNOCI and the French forces, in particular by supplying any information at their disposal on possible violations of the measures imposed by paragraphs 7, 9 and 11 of resolution 1572 (2004), paragraph 6 of resolution 1643 (2005) and paragraph 12 of resolution 1975 (2011) as reiterated in paragraph 1 above; further requests the Group of Experts to coordinate its activities as appropriate with all political actors;

“22.  Recalls paragraph 7 of 1960 (2010) and paragraph 7 (b) of 1882 (2009), regarding sexual and gender-based violence and children in armed conflict, and welcomes the information-sharing between the Committee and the Special Representatives of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict and for Sexual Violence in Conflict, in accordance with their respective mandates and as appropriate;

“23.  Urges further in this context that all Ivorian parties and all States, particularly those in the region, ensure:

-the safety of the members of the Group of Experts;

-unhindered access by the Group of Experts, in particular to persons, documents and sites in order for the Group of Experts to execute its mandate;

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

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For information media • not an official record