7471st Security Council Meeting on Situation in Côte d’Ivoire

Unanimously Adopting Resolution 2226 (2015), Security Council Extends Mandate of Côte d’Ivoire Peacekeeping Mission, French Force Supporting It

7471st Meeting (AM)

• Categories: Meetings & Events / Security Council
• Video Length: 02:03:43
• Production Date: 25 June 2015
• Asset Language: Arabic; Chinese; English; French; Russian; Spanish
• Geographic Subject: COTE D'IVOIRE
• MAMS Id: 1390890
• Parent Id: 1390460

Description

The Security Council this morning extended the mandate of the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI), along with the authorization of French Forces that support it, until 30 June 2016.

Through the unanimous adoption of resolution 2226 (2015), the Council decided that the priority of UNOCI would remain protection of civilians and it would maintain a focus on demobilization, disarmament and reintegration of ex-combatants and security-sector reform, with the objective of transitioning security responsibilities to the Government.

The Council, through the text, reaffirmed its intention to consider further downsizing UNOCI and possibly terminating its mandate after the October 2015 presidential election in Côte d’Ivoire, based on security conditions on the ground and the capacity of the Government to take over the Operation’s responsibilities.

For the present, however, the Council decided that the authorized ceiling of UNOCI’s military component would remain at 5,245 troops and 192 observers, along with 1,500 police personnel and eight customs officers.

Affirming the importance of reconfiguration of UNOCI’s military presence and resources to high-risk areas such as the west of the country, the Council requested continued transition to the mobile concept of military operations and enhancement of early-warning capabilities.

Welcoming progress in the country in security, political participation and humanitarian conditions, it called on the Government of Côte d’Ivoire to accelerate the processes of reintegration and security reform, to ensure accountability for those responsible for abuses after the recent post-electoral crisis, to mitigate intercommunal tensions and to continue to build institutions that ensured the human rights of all persons.

Following the adoption, the representative of Côte d’Ivoire, Claude Bouah-Kamon, thanked the Council for its decision to extend UNOCI and affirmed that his Government was committed to further progress in all necessary areas, including human rights. Political dialogue was continuing and every effort was being made to ensure peaceful and credible elections. Security-sector reform and reintegration of ex-combatants would also continue apace.

The upcoming elections, he said, were critical. The resolution recognized the primary responsibility of Côte d’Ivoire in holding them successfully, but, as international assistance was needed, his Government welcomed UNOCI’s mandated support. He affirmed his Government’s commitment to continue to cooperate closely with UNOCI and to help make its efforts a model for success.

He reiterated, however, his Government’s request for the lifting of the arms embargo on Côte d’Ivoire in order to allow the Government to fully carry out its responsibilities in providing security for the elections, border control and stability.

The meeting began at 10:05 a.m. and ended at 10:17 a.m.