Security Council extends mandate of UN office in Guinea-Bissau for a year
The United Nations Security Council today extended the mandate of the five-year-old UN Peacebuilding Support Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNOGBIS) for another year and expanded its work, citing the Transitional Government's need for help in structuring mechanisms for national reconciliation and reform.
The United Nations Security Council today extended the mandate of the five-year-old UN Peacebuilding Support Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNOGBIS) for another year and expanded its work, citing the Transitional Government's need for help in structuring mechanisms for national reconciliation and reform.
In a unanimously adopted resolution, the Council noted the fragility of the West African country's progress towards peace and stability, especially after the military mutiny and assassinations of 6 October.
Fulfilling a pledge in a Presidential Statement last month that it would "consider suitable ways" of improving the Office's role, the Council added several new initiatives to its technical work with a view to laying the groundwork for free and transparent presidential elections scheduled for next year.
The new mandates included supporting political dialogue, promoting national reconciliation and respect for law and human rights, helping ensure a return to constitutional normalcy and helping to mobilize financial aid.
Where UNOGBIS had previously been asked to get the Government to commit to "voluntary arms collection, disposal and destruction," the Council now said UNOGBIS must "encourage the Government to fully implement the United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects."
"Within the framework of a comprehensive peace-building strategy, [UNOGBIS should] actively support efforts of the United Nations system and Guinea-Bissau's other partners towards strengthening state institutions and structures to enable them to uphold the rule of law, the respect of human rights and the unimpeded and independent functioning of the executive, legislative and judicial branches of Government," the resolution said.
In this regard, the Council cautioned that while addressing amnesty for those involved in military interventions since 1980, the National Assembly should "take account of the principles of justice and fight against impunity."
It urged the Government to undertake security sector reform and requested the addition of an Emergency Fund to the existing but expiring Emergency Economic Management Fund (EEMF), both to be administered by the UN Development Programme (UNDP).