Security Council Press Statement on Guinea-Bissau

 

The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Agshin Mehdiyev (Azerbaijan):

The members of the Security Council were briefed on 7 May 2012 by Joseph Mutaboba, Special Representative of the Secretary General and Head of the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNIOGBIS), and by the President of the Peacebuilding Commission Configuration for Guinea-Bissau, Ambassador Maria Luiza Viotti, and heard statements by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Communities of Guinea-Bissau, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Angola as current Chair of the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP) and by the Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), followed by an interactive discussion with Mr. Mutaboba, the two Ministers and the ECOWAS Commissioner.

The members of the Security Council recalled their S/PRST/2012/15 of 21 April 2012, in which they strongly condemned the military coup in Guinea-Bissau and demanded the immediate restoration of the constitutional order, the reinstatement of the legitimate democratic Government of Guinea-Bissau and the resumption of the electoral process interrupted by the military coup.

The members of the Security Council welcomed the release of Interim President Raimundo Pereira and Prime Minister Carlos Gomes Júnior and demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all other detained officials.  The members of the Security Council expressed their deep concern at reports of looting, human rights violations and abuses, including arbitrary detentions, ill-treatment during detention and violent repression of peaceful demonstrations and recalled that those responsible for such violations must be held accountable.  The members of the Security Council further expressed their deep concern at a possible increase in drug trafficking as a result of current instability.

The members of the Security Council welcomed the initiatives of international partners to address the current crisis in Guinea-Bissau, especially the mediation efforts led by ECOWAS, and called on the organization, in coordination with the United Nations, African Union and Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries, to pursue its efforts to implement its “zero-tolerance” policy against the unconstitutional takeover of power in Guinea-Bissau, and enable the restoration of the constitutional order.  They further called on the Secretary-General to engage actively to that end.  The Council further called on ECOWAS to coordinate with the United Nations, African Union, Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries, European Union and other international partners to ensure that the long-term strategy of stabilization effectively addresses critical issues, including the implementation of security sector reform, the fight against impunity, combating of drug trafficking and the promotion of social-economic development.

The members of the Security Council expressed their commitment to continue to follow closely the situation in Guinea-Bissau and reiterated their readiness to consider targeted sanctions against the perpetrators and supporters of the military coup, should this situation remain unresolved.

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For information media • not an official record