Security Council mission heading to West Africa to examine prospects for peace

Keen to explore new opportunities for progress towards peace and stability in West Africa, the United Nations Security Council today released details of its upcoming mission to seven countries in the conflict-plagued sub-region.

A letter from the Council's President, Ambassador Munir Akram of Pakistan, issued at UN Headquarters in New York today informs Secretary-General Kofi Annan of the 15-nation body's decision to send a mission - to be led by Ambassador Jeremy Greenstock of the United Kingdom - to the area from 15 to 23 of May.

Attached to the letter are the team's terms of reference, which include overall regional as well as specific objectives for the countries to be visited. Among other things, the mission will aim to encourage more cooperation among the countries of the sub-region and to assess progress towards Council objectives on the protection of civilians and children affected by armed conflict.

The mission is slated to travel to Nigeria, Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea, Liberia, Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone, and Council members will examine country-specific issues and developments at each stop. In Liberia, for instance the mission will urge the Government and various rebel factions to engage in ceasefire negotiations.

Meanwhile, Guinea-Bissau's leadership will be urged to ensure the upcoming elections are fair and credible. The mission expects to assess the transition from peacekeeping to longer-term development in Sierra Leone, and will urge Ivoirian parties to fully implement a recently signed power-sharing peace accord.