Security Council

6535^th Meeting (AM)

Security Council Extends Mandate of United Nations Operation

 

in Côte d’Ivoire until 31 July 2011

Resolution 1981 (2011) Also Grants Longer Asset Redeployment from Liberia Mission

The Security Council today extended the mandate of the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI) until 31 July 2011, also authorizing the Secretary-General to extend until 30 June 2011 the temporary redeployment of equipment from the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) to UNOCI.

By unanimously adopting resolution 1981 (2011), the 15-member body authorized the temporary redeployment of three infantry companies, one aviation unit comprising two military utility helicopters and three armed helicopters with crews.  It asked the Secretary-General to provide an updated analysis and recommendations on inter-mission cooperation arrangements by 15 June 2011, and requested the support of troop- and police-contributing countries in that regard.

Further by the text, the Council requested the Secretary-General to submit a final report by 30 June 2011, including findings and recommendations on UNOCI’s mandate, following the assessment mission deployed to Côte d’Ivoire.

The Council also requested him to keep it informed regarding the coordination of UNOCI and UNMIL to help the Governments of Côte d’Ivoire and Liberia to monitor their border and surrounding areas, including the effect of the redeployed assets in that effort.  It encouraged the two Missions to help the two Governments jointly disarm those endangering national reconciliation and the consolidation of peace.

Prior to the Council’s adoption of the resolution, the representative of the United States stressed that the aviation assets redeployed to UNOCI must be returned to UNMIL no later than 30 June to avoid destabilizing Liberia.  The United States would not approve another extension, she said, adding that, with Côte d’Ivoire emerging from crisis, the Council must not neglect Liberia or jeopardize its fragile peace.  It must honour its commitment to ensure that UNMIL had the tools to do its job, while consolidating efforts in Côte d’Ivoire.

Council President Gérard Araud ( France), speaking in his national capacity, said the situation in Côte d’Ivoire posed the main threat to subregional stability.  While it was not the Council’s role to interfere in the deployment of peacekeeping missions, it must ensure that UNMIL had the resources it needed to carry out the democratic transition begun four years ago.  He stressed that the Council should approve the modalities of inter-mission cooperation by 15 June.

Côte d’Ivoire’s representative, speaking after the adoption, said his country was gradually emerging from crisis and the security situation, which remained volatile in western areas, should be strengthened.  “We call on the Security Council to show pragmatism and flexibility in the allocation of resources, particularly military resources,” he said.

The meeting began at 10:15 a.m. and ended at 10:20 a.m.

Resolution

The full text of resolution 1981 (2011) reads as follows:

“The Security Council,

“Recalling its previous resolutions, in particular resolution 1980 (2011), 1975 (2011), 1968 (2011), 1967 (2011), 1962 (2010), 1951 (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 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), recalling further paragraph 1 of resolution 1968 (2011), paragraphs 3 and 4 of resolution 1967 (2011) and paragraph 7 of resolution 1962 (2010),

“Recalling 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 the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI) on a temporary basis and mindful of the need to support UNMIL’s ability to carry out its mandate,

“Recalling the letter of the Secretary-General dated 11 May 2011 (S/2011/297) stressing the essential role played by the assets deployed from UNMIL to UNOCI in the current challenging circumstances in Côte d’Ivoire,

“Recalling the letter of the Secretary-General dated 9 May 2011 (S/2011/295) stressing the need to postpone the publication of his final report from 31 May to 30 June and the subsequent need for a technical rollover for the mission’s mandate to 31 July 2011, following the delay of the deployment of the assessment mission to Côte d’Ivoire,

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

“1.   Decides to extend until 31 July 2011 the mandate of UNOCI as set out in resolution 1975 (2011), 1962 (2010) and 1933 (2010);

“2.   Requests the Secretary-General to submit to it the final report referred to in paragraphs 18 and 19 of resolution 1962 (2010), including the findings and recommendations on UNOCI mandate following the assessment mission deployed to Côte d’Ivoire, no later than 30 June 2011;

“3.   Decides to authorize the Secretary-General, further to paragraph 1 of resolution 1968 (2011), paragraphs 3 and 4 of resolution 1967 (2011), paragraph 6 of resolution 1962 (2010), resolution 1951 (2010) and paragraphs 4 and 6 of resolution 1609 (2005), to extend up to 30 June 2011 the temporary redeployment from UNMIL to UNOCI of three infantry companies, one aviation unit comprised of two military utility helicopters and three armed helicopters with crews and further requests the Secretary-General to provide it with an updated analysis and recommendations on the inter-mission cooperation arrangements by 15 June 2011;

“4.   Requests the support of troop- and police-contributing countries in that regard;

“5.   Requests the Secretary-General, further to paragraph 6 of resolution 1980 (2011), to keep it informed by 30 June 2011 in the final report referred to in paragraph 2 above and further in its next relevant reports on UNOCI and UNMIL, of developments, measures taken and efforts made in the coordination of UNOCI and UNMIL to assist respectively the Governments of Côte d’Ivoire and Liberia in monitoring their border and surrounding areas, including on how the redeployed assets are assisting in this effort, with particular attention to any cross-border movement of combatants or transfer of arms, and in this regard encourages UNOCI and UNMIL, within their mandates and limits of capabilities and areas of deployment, to assist respectively the Governments of Côte d’Ivoire and of Liberia jointly in disarming those endangering national reconciliation and the consolidation of peace;

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

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For information media • not an official record