Security Council

It was clearly a political-military coup and an act of military insubordination to the democratically elected civilian authorities, the Secretary-General’s top envoy in Guinea-Bissau said today of the 12 April events in the West African nation, which he said would be recorded in history as “one more coup that took place under the UN eye, and hence the whole international community”.

On 18 April, the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1737 (2006) decided to designate two individuals and one entity under sanctions, and will add them to its Consolidated List of Individuals and Entities subject to the travel ban and/or the assets freeze.

Expressing grave concern over the threat of terrorism and the risk of weapons of mass destruction falling into the hands and trafficking networks of non-State actors, the Security Council today reaffirmed the need for all Member States to fully comply with their commitments to arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation.

The following Security Council press statement was issued on 17 April by Council President Susan Rice (United States):

Strongly condemning the 13 April satellite launch by the Democratic People’s Republic of North Korea, the Security Council this morning demanded that the country stop all ballistic missile activity and not conduct any nuclear tests, while also tightening the sanctions regime on the country.

The Security Council today authorized an advance team to monitor the ceasefire in Syria, which it said all parties “appeared to be observing”, while calling again on the Government to begin a pull-back of military forces from population centres and cease the use of heavy weaponry in those areas.

The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Susan Rice (United States):

On 12 April 2012, the Security Council Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011) approved the addition of the entry specified below to its Al-Qaida Sanctions List of individuals and entities subject to the assets freeze, travel ban and arms embargo set out in paragraph 1 of Security Council resolution 1989 (2011) adopted under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations.

Alarmed by escalating conflict between Sudan and South Sudan — as manifested most recently by the seizure of oil fields in Sudan — the Security Council this afternoon demanded that both sides immediately end cross-border violence and support to armed proxies and redeploy their forces from forward positions.

To advance national cohesion and ensure free and fair elections in Sierra Leone, the Security Council this morning called for dialogue, compliance with previous agreements, and adherence to international law by all parties in the country, as well as the prompt appointment by the Secretary-General of a new Executive Representative.