Concerned at violence in Côte d'Ivoire, Annan urges boosting UN force there

Reacting to ongoing threats against United Nations personnel in volatile Côte d'Ivoire, Secretary-General Kofi Annan today urged the Security Council to strengthen the UN peacekeeping operation (UNOCI) in the West African country.

A spokesman for Mr. Annan issued a statement in New York citing the threats as well as reported plans for violent demonstrations and attacks.

A reinforcement of UNOCI's military and police strength “would contribute to enhancing the mission capacity to address the security challenges in Abidjan,” spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in New York.

He recalled that the Secretary-General has asked the Security Council for a limited emergency transfer of military and police personnel from the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) to reinforce UNOCI “after careful assessment of the situation in Liberia and Côte d'Ivoire.”

On Friday, Mr. Annan wrote to the President of the Security Council requesting that an infantry battalion and a formed police unit be sent from UNMIL to UNOCI for an initial period of three months.

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, according to the letter.

UN offices were put under siege, looted or destroyed for four days last month in Abidjan, the commercial centre, and other towns.

On 24 January, faced with the imminent expiration of ONUCI's mandate, the Council extended it through mid-December and pledged to keep its troop strength under review.

But the 15-member security body stopped short of meeting Secretary-General Kofi Annan's recommendation to significantly increase in the size of the force.

In a report to the Council, Mr. Annan called for an additional 3,400 soldiers or four battalions to be added to UNOCI's troop strength, plus an additional 475 police personnel.

The recommendation preceded the attacks on the UN across the country. In remarks to journalists after violence broke out, the Secretary-General said, “events on the ground have made our case.”

The Council is scheduled to meet on Côte d'Ivoire on Monday.