Security Council extends mandate of UN peacekeeping mission in Côte d’Ivoire
The Security Council today extended for three weeks the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Côte d’Ivoire and the French troops supporting it, “with a view to renewing it for seven months” and raising the possibility that it might expand the UN operation in the West African country.
The Security Council today extended for three weeks the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Côte d’Ivoire and the French troops supporting it, “with a view to renewing it for seven months” and raising the possibility that it might expand the UN operation in the West African country.
In a unanimously adopted resolution, the Council, authorized Secretary-General Kofi Annan “to begin the necessary planning and preparations, including troop and police generation, as well as required support and other arrangements, to facilitate a timely deployment in the event that the Security Council decides to increase UNOCI’s (UN Operation in Côte d’Ivoire) authorized strength of troops and police and to adjust its mandate.”
The 15-member body had extended the troops’ mandate for one month this past April and again in May. The UN peacekeeping mission and the French Licorne forces are stationed mainly along Côte d'Ivoire’s Zone of Confidence separating Government-ruled regions from rebel-controlled areas.
The resolution warned the Ivorian parties that not observing any of the commitments they made in Pretoria, South Africa, would jeopardize the peace progress and become an obstacle to implementing two previous agreements – Linas-Marcoussis (2003) and Accra III (2004).
It welcomed provisions of the Pretoria Agreement, mediated by South African President Thabo Mbeki on behalf of the African Union (AU), which sets the date for presidential elections as 30 October, with legislative elections coming immediately thereafter.
In that regard, the Council called on Mr. Annan, “as an exceptional arrangement” and after consultations with the AU and Mr. Mbeki, to appoint a High Representative for the elections in Côte d’Ivoire, who would be independent from UNOCI.
The High Representative would “assist in particular in the work of the Independent Electoral Commission and of the Constitutional Council, without prejudice to the responsibilities of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG)” and with a mandate that would end after the general elections, the Council said.
Video of Council meeting [4mins]