Annan requests redeployment of some UN peacekeepers from Liberia to Côte d’Ivoire

With the United Nations presence coming under threat in Côte d’Ivoire, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan has asked the Security Council to approve the redeployment of troops there from the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL).

In a letter to the Security Council released today, Mr. Annan asked that an infantry battalion and a formed police unit be sent from Liberia to the UN Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI) to protect UN personnel and property for an initial period of three months.

“The battalion, which would be deployed to Abidjan in phases beginning with the immediate transfer of one company, would provide extra security coverage for United Nations personnel and property and perform other tasks entrusted to UNOCI by the Council,” he said.

The relevant troop- and police-contributing countries have agreed, in principle, to the temporary redeployment and the Government of Côte d’Ivoire has been notified. “Accordingly, I am now seeking the consent of the Security Council for this proposed redeployment,” in keeping with the relevant Council resolution, Mr. Annan said.

UN offices were put under siege, looted or destroyed for four days last month in Abidjan, the commercial centre, and other towns. The Council is scheduled to meet on Côte d’Ivoire on Monday.

A report from the Council’s committee monitoring sanctions against Côte d’Ivoire, also released today, said that although the country’s defence expenditure appeared to be high, a Group of Experts had found no gross violations of the arms embargo. “At the same time, the Government of Côte d’Ivoire and other parties to the conflict seemed to have all the arms they wanted,” the Committee observed.

On the other hand, the Committee said, “the Group highlighted what it called a ‘dual-use

loophole’ and called for this to be remedied through the drafting of a tighter definition in the next Security Council resolution.”

“The Group indicated that the fruit terminal at the port of Abidjan was a strategic location for the unloading of military goods and highlighted the need for better declaration procedures and the strengthening of the monitoring capabilities of UNOCI,” the Committee added.