Security Council

6817^th Meeting (AM)

Security Council Extends Mandate of United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire

 

until 31 July 2013, Unanimously Adopting Resolution 2062 (2012)

 

Reduces Strength of Military Contingent by Equivalent of One Battalion;

C ôte d’Ivoire Welcomes Extension, Says Government Wanted to Maintain Current Level

The Security Council today, in line with the Secretary-General’s recommendation to reduce the strength of the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI) by the equivalent of one battalion, adjusted the military component to 8,837 personnel, comprising 8,645 troops and staff officers and 192 military observers, and extended the mandate for another year, until 31 July 2013.

Unanimously adopting resolution 2062 (2012) under Chapter VII, the Council also extended until that date the French Forces that support UNOCI, while keeping the Operation’s police and customs components at their previously authorized strength of, respectively, 1,555 and eight personnel.

The Council reiterated its continuing authorization for UNOCI to use all necessary means to carry out its mandate, including with respect to its priority concern, the protection of civilians.  It also decided that UNOCI should put an added focus on supporting the Government in disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of former combatants, as well as on security sector reform.

In that, it urged the Ivorian Government to develop and swiftly implement a national disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programme with clear and strict eligibility criteria, a new secure and transparent database, and a central oversight authority, as well as to find a solution for sustained social and economic integration of former fighters.  It also urged the Government to accelerate development and implementation of a comprehensive security sector reform strategy, with a view to setting up inclusive and accountable security forces.

Further to the text, the Council called on the Government to enhance dialogue with the political opposition and on the opposition parties to contribute to reconciliation.  It also called on the Government to ensure that the upcoming local elections were open, free, fair, peaceful and transparent.

It urged the Government to ensure that all those responsible for serious human rights abuses and international humanitarian law violations were brought to justice and that all detainees received clarity about their status.  Continued cooperation with the International Criminal Court was encouraged.

Following the resolution’s adoption, Côte d’Ivoire’s Ambassador, Youssoufou Bamba, described the violent events that took place last weekend in the western part of the country and the response of the national security and police forces, as well as those of UNOCI.  He assured the Council that urgent provisions had been taken to stabilize the situation and that the authors of those crimes, which resulted in the deaths of 20 people, would be prosecuted.

He appreciated passage of the resolution and extension of UNOCI’s mandate for a further 12 months, but said he “deplored” the fact that the Council had failed to follow his Government’s wish to maintain the contingent’s initial size.  Nevertheless, he was confident that the reconfiguration would be done in a way that guarded against creation of a security vacuum.  The overall troop level envisaged was higher than during the post-electoral crisis, and he was satisfied at the Council’s decision to transfer to UNOCI three attack helicopters from its Mission in Liberia.  That measure was urgent, as it would increase the capacity for deterrence and early reaction when faced with destabilization threats. 

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

Resolution

The full text of resolution 2062 (2012) reads as follows:

“The Security Council,

“Recalling its previous resolutions, in particular resolutions 1933 (2010), 1942 (2010), 1951 (2010), 1962 (2010), 1967 (2011), 1968 (2011), 1975 (2011), 1980 (2011), 1981 (2011), 1992 (2011) and 2000 (2011) and the statements of its President relating to the situation in Côte d’Ivoire, and resolution 2008 (2011) and 2025 (2011) on the situation in Liberia,

“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,

“Welcoming the final report of the Secretary-General of 29 June 2012 (S/2012/506) and the special report of the Secretary-General of 29 March 2012 (S/2012/186), including the recommendations of the assessment mission that deployed to Côte d’Ivoire from 6 to 17 February 2012,

“Welcoming the overall progress towards restoring security, peace and stability in Côte d’Ivoire, notably in Abidjan, commending President Alassane Ouattara’s initiatives to promote stability, reconciliation and economic recovery in Côte d’Ivoire and calling upon all the national stakeholders to work together in their efforts for the stabilization and reconstruction of the country,

“Welcoming the holding of the legislative elections and the inauguration of the elected National Assembly on 25 April 2012, emphasizing that this step is important for the full restoration of constitutional order and the process of democratization of Côte d’Ivoire,

“Reiterating its concern with the unresolved key challenges of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) and security sector reform (SSR), as well as the continued circulation of weapons, which continue to be significant risks to the security of the country, particularly in western Côte d’Ivoire and taking note with interest of the establishment of the inter-ministerial working group on DDR and SSR,

“Welcoming the return of the majority of persons displaced by the post-electoral crisis to their places of origin in Côte d’Ivoire, as well as President Alassane Ouattara’s calls on refugees to return to the country,strongly condemning all intimidation, threats and attacks committed against refugees and internally displaced persons (IDP) in Côte d’Ivoire, including the 20 July 2012 attack against an IDP camp in Duekoue,

“Expressing its concern about the continued reports of human rights abuses and violations of international humanitarian law, including against women and children, including reports of increased incidents of sexual violence in particular those attributed to armed men, stressing the importanceto investigate such alleged violations and abuses committed by all parties, irrespective of their status or political affiliation, including those that occurred throughout the post-election crisis, including extrajudicial killing, maiming, arbitrary arrest and abduction of civilians, enforced disappearances, acts of revenge, sexual and gender based violence, including against children, and the alleged recruitment and use of children in the conflict throughout the country and particularly in Abidjan and western Côte d’Ivoire, reaffirming that those responsible for such violations must be held accountable and noting President Alassane Ouattara’s commitments in this regard,

“Expressing its concern about the continuing precarious security situation, particularly in western Côte d’Ivoire and along the borders, especially with Liberia, and recalling that the Ivorian Government bears primary responsibility for ensuring peace, stability and the protection of the civilian population in Côte d’Ivoire,

“Reiterating its strong condemnation of the attack by armed elements on a patrol of the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI) in the south west of Côte d’Ivoire on 8 June 2012, in which seven peacekeepers and a number of other persons were killed, stressing that intentionally directing such attacks on United Nations peacekeepers can constitute a war crime under international law and further calling on the Ivorian Government to work with all relevant parties to identify and bring the perpetrators to justice, welcoming the immediate steps taken by the Ivorian Government in coordination with the Government of Liberia to investigate those attacks,

“Commending the contribution of troop- and police-contributing countries and donors to UNOCI, underlining the importance of providing police officers qualified with appropriate specialist and linguistic skills, commending the work of UNOCI, under the leadership of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, for its continuing contribution to maintaining peace and stability in Côte d’Ivoire, and noting with satisfaction the increasing cooperation between the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) and UNOCI, as well as between the Governments of Côte d’Ivoire and Liberia and other countries in the subregion, in coordinating security activities in the border areas in the subregion,

“Commending the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for their efforts to consolidate peace and stability in Côte d’Ivoire and encouraging them to continue to support the authorities in addressing key challenges, especially the underlying causes of the conflict, security challenges in the border area, including movements of armed elements and weapons, and promoting justice and national reconciliation,

“Recalling its resolutions 1325 (2000), 1820 (2008), 1888 (2009), 1889 (2009), and 1960 (2010) on women, peace and security, its resolutions 1612 (2005), 1882 (2009), and 1998 (2011) on children and armed conflict, and its resolutions 1674 (2006) and 1894 (2009) on the protection of civilians in armed conflicts, and reiterating the vital role of women in conflict resolution and peacebuilding, the importance of their equal participation and full involvement in all efforts for the maintenance and promotion of peace and security and their key role in re-establishing the fabric of societies recovering from conflict, and further reaffirming the importance of implementing the National Action Plan on resolution 1325 (2000),

“Taking note that, on the basis of the declaration lodged by Côte d’Ivoire accepting the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court,the Pre-Trial Chamber authorized the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court to open an investigation into crimes within the Court’s jurisdiction committed in Côte d’Ivoire since 28 November 2010, including war crimes and crimes against humanity, and the Pre-Trial Chamber of the Court later decided to expand the Prosecutors’ investigation to crimes committed in Côte d’Ivoire since 19 September 2002,

“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 extend until 31 July 2013 the mandate of UNOCI as set out in resolution 2000 (2011), paragraph 7, (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), (h), (j), (k) and (m);

“2.   Decides that protection of civilians shall remain the priority for UNOCI, further decides that UNOCI shall put added focus on supporting the Government on DDR and SSR, in accordance with paragraph 7 (e) and (f) of Resolution 2000 (2011);

“3.   Endorses the Secretary-General’s recommendation for a reduction of the equivalent of one battalion as part of UNOCI’s military component, to be implemented as soon as practical, decides therefore that the authorized strength of the military component shall be adjusted to 8,837 personnel, comprising of 8,645 troops and staff officers and 192 military observers;

“4.   Decides that the authorized strength of UNOCI’s police component shall remain at 1,555 personnel, and decides further to maintain the 8 customs officers previously authorized;

“5.   Reiterates its continuing authorization to UNOCI to use all necessary means to carry out its mandate, within its capabilities and its areas of deployment, pursuant to resolutions 1933 (2010), 1962 (2010) and 2000 (2011);

“6.   Encourages UNOCI and the United Nations country team to reconfigure within their existing capacities and reinforce their field presence, in order to enhance their coordinated support to the local authorities throughout Côte d’Ivoire, in areas where civilians are at greater risk, particularly but not only in Western Côte d’Ivoire;

“7.   Urges the Ivorian Government to develop and implement expeditiously a national DDR programme, with clear and strict eligibility criteria, new secure and transparent database, the creation of a central authority to oversee all DDR aspects, and find solutions for sustained social and economic integration of former combatants, further encourages the United Nations Country Team to facilitate the planning and the implementation of programmes which support this process, in consultation with the Ivorian Government and close collaboration with all international partners;

“8.   Notes President Alassane Ouattara’s initiative to directly oversee the SSR, urges the Ivorian Government to accelerate the development and implementation of a comprehensive SSR strategy, with a view to setting up inclusive and accountable security forces, with the support of UNOCI consistent with its mandate in paragraph 7 (f) of resolution 2000 (2011), and other interested international partners, to take further steps to increase confidence within the respective security and law enforcement agencies and between them, and to restore State authority throughout the country;

“9.   Reiterates its call to the Ivorian Government and all international partners, including private companies, involved in assisting the Ivorian Government in the SSR process, to comply with the provisions of resolution 2045 (2012) and to coordinate their efforts with a view to promoting transparency and a clear division of labour amongst all international partners;

“10.  Emphasizes the urgent need for concrete measures to promote justice and reconciliation at all levels and on all sides, including through the active involvement of civil society groups, with the aim of addressing the underlying causes of the Côte d’Ivoire crises, encourages support for transitional justice mechanisms, includingthe Dialogue, Truth and Reconciliation Commission, to adopt a broad-based and comprehensive programme and to increase its activities at the local level throughout the country, further emphasizes the importance of accountability and impartial justice, including through the work of the National Commission of Inquiry, to lasting reconciliation in Côte d’Ivoire, welcomes the adoption of a national justice sector strategy by the Ivorian Government and urges the Ivorian Government to take concrete steps to prevent and respond to inter-communal violence by seeking a broad national consensus on how to address identity and land tenure issues;

“11.  Welcomes the initiative taken by the Government to enhance political dialogue with the political opposition, including extra-parliamentary political parties, calls upon the Ivorian Government to continue to step up concrete measures in this regard and ensure political space for the opposition, further calls upon all opposition parties to play a constructive role and contribute towards reconciliation and requests the Special Representative of the Secretary-General to continue to use his good offices role to facilitate dialogue between all political stakeholders;

“12.  Urges the Ivorian Government to ensure in the shortest possible timeframe that, irrespective of their status or political affiliation, all those responsible for serious abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law, notably those committed during the post-electoral crisis in Côte d’Ivoire, are brought to justice in accordance with its international obligations and that all detainees receive clarity about their status in a transparent manner, further encourages the Ivorian Government to continue its cooperation with the International Criminal Court;

“13.  Calls upon UNOCI, where consistent with its authorities and responsibilities, to continue to support national and international efforts to bring to justice perpetrators of grave abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law in Côte d’Ivoire, irrespective of their status or political affiliation;

“14.  Decides to extend until 31 July 2013 the authorization that the Security Council provided to the French Forces in order to support UNOCI, within the limits of their deployment and their capabilities;

“15.  Urges all parties to cooperate fully with the operations of UNOCI and of the French Forces, which support it, in particular by ensuring their safety, security and freedom of movement with unhindered and immediate access throughout the territory of Côte d’Ivoire to enable them to fully carry out their mandates;

“16.  Calls upon the Ivorian Government and all political stakeholders to ensure that the upcoming local elections are conducted in an open, free, fair, peaceful and transparent manner and contribute to fostering political inclusiveness and reconciliation, considering proper timing, security conditions and relevant electoral reform, stresses that the Ivorian Government bears the primary responsibility of the organization of such local elections and, in this context, notes the request addressed by the Ivorian Government to the United Nations and authorizes UNOCI to assist, as appropriate, the Ivorian Government in the holding of such elections, upon request, within its existing resources, capacities and areas of deployment and without prejudice to the core-priorities of the mandate as set out in paragraph 2 above;      

“17.  Welcomes continued cooperation between and the conduct of joint activities by UNOCI and the Forces Républicaines de Côte d’Ivoire (FRCI) and calls for strict adherence by the FRCI to international humanitarian, human rights and refugee laws; and, in this context, recalls the importance of training in Human Rights, child protection and sexual and gender-based violence to security and law enforcement agencies; 

“18.  Calls upon the Governments of Côte d’Ivoire and Liberia to continue to enhance their cooperation, particularly with respect to the border area, including through increasing monitoring, information sharing and conducting coordinated actions, and in developing and implementing a shared border strategy to inter alia support the disarmament and repatriation of foreign armed elements on both sides of the border and the repatriation of refugees;

“19. Calls upon all United Nations bodies in Côte d’Ivoire and Liberia, including all components of UNOCI and UNMIL, within their respective mandates, capabilities and areas of deployment, to enhance their support for the stabilization of the border area, including through their increased cooperation and the development of a shared, strategic vision and plan, in support of the Ivorian and Liberian authorities;

“20.  Encourages ECOWAS and the Mano River Union to continue to develop, with the support of the United Nations Office for West Africa (UNOWA), a subregional strategy to address the threat of the cross-border movements of armed groups and weapons as well as illicit trafficking, with the assistance of UNOCI and UNMIL, as appropriate, and provide regular updates on progress towards the development of such a subregional strategy in the upcoming relevant reports of the Secretary-General;

“21.  Endorses, with immediate effect, the recommendation of the Secretary-General to transfer the three armed helicopters, currently deployed in UNMIL, to UNOCI, to be used in both Côte d’Ivoire and Liberia along and across their border;

“22.  Requests the Secretary-General to undertake an assessment of the situation in Côte d’Ivoire with a view to submitting to the Security Council, no later than 31 March 2013, a special report containing: (i) benchmarks to measure and track progress towards the achievement of long-term stability in Côte d’Ivoire and to prepare the transition planning; (ii) recommendations on possible adjustments in UNOCI’s structure and strength, in particular its military and police components, based on the prevailing situation on the ground and threats to Côte d’Ivoire’s sustainable peace and stability and the capacity of Ivorian institutions to effectively meet such challenges; (iii) options to reinforce inter-mission cooperation arrangements between UNOCI and UNMIL, including for the conduct of coordinated and joint operations along and across the border, to be determined in close consultations with relevant stakeholders, including the Governments of Côte d’Ivoire and Liberia, UNMIL and troop and police contributing countries; and (iv) report on the implementation of UNOCI’s protection of civilian strategy;

“23.  Requests the Secretary-General to provide to it a midterm report no later than 31 December 2012 and a final report no later than 30 June 2013 on the situation on the ground and the implementation of this resolution;

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

* *** *

For information media • not an official record