New UN peacebuilding body begins work on Burundi and Sierra Leone

The recently created United Nations body meant to help countries consolidate stability and avoid relapsing back into violence started its briefings today on the situation of Burundi and Sierra Leone, the first two situations referred to it.

The countries, which were referred to the Commission at the opening of its inaugural session on 23 June have made much progress in emerging from devastating civil conflicts but continue to face great political and economic challenges.

The Peacebuilding Commission, which held its meetings behind closed doors, was first proposed in 2004 by a panel convened by Secretary-General Kofi Annan, and envisioned, in Mr. Annan’s 2005 reform report, as an intergovernmental advisory body that could coordinate the resources of the international community for reconstruction, institution-building and sustainable development in countries emerging from conflict.

The Commission elected as its Chairman Gaspar Martins, the Ambassador of Angola, a once war-ravaged country where the United Nations helped to foster stability. In May, Mr. Annan named Carolyn McAskie, who until recently was his top envoy to Burundi, as Assistant Secretary-General for Peacebuilding Support.