7632nd Security Council Meeting: Situation in Guinea-Bissau

Security Council adopts resolution 2267 (2016) granting one-year mandate extension to United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Guinea-Bissau at 7632nd meeting.

• Categories: Meetings & Events / Security Council
• Video Length: 00:06:17
• Production Date: 26 February 2016
• Asset Language: Arabic; Chinese; English; French; Russian; Spanish
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS INTEGRATED PEACEBUILDING OFFICE IN GUINEA-BISSAU - UNIOGBIS
• Subject Topical: CRIMINAL JUSTICE; DRUG TRAFFICKING; HUMAN RIGHTS; LAW ENFORCEMENT; ORGANIZED CRIME; PEACEBUILDING
• Geographic Subject: GUINEA-BISSAU
• MAMS Id: 1574372
• Parent Id: 1572831

Description

The Security Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNIOGBIS) for one year today, amid a political crisis in that country and ahead of the Council’s visit to West Africa in March.

Unanimously adopting resolution 2267 (2016), the 15-member Council, expressed strong support for UNIOGBIS and for the Secretary-General’s Special Representative in the country, affirming that they would continue to lead international efforts to help the Government of Guinea-Bissau strengthen democratic institutions, promote and protect human rights and incorporate a gender perspective into peacebuilding. The United Nations would also offer strategic and technical advice on how to combat drug trafficking and transnational organized crime, and establish effective law enforcement and criminal justice systems.

The Council called upon Guinea-Bissau’s President, Prime Minister, Speaker of Parliament and leaders of political parties to abide by their commitment to restore political stability in the country, while working together, as well as with the military and civil society to address the root causes of instability. It also reiterated its demand that the security and defence services submit fully to civilian control.

Also by the text, the Council urged Bissau-Guinean national stakeholders to commit to re-establishing momentum for progress in key areas outlined in the “Terra Ranka” development programme presented to donors at a Brussel round table in March 2015, and invited partners to fulfil their pledges made there.

Speaking after the resolution’s adoption, Fodé Seck (Sénégal) said the text expressed the Council’s concern over the human rights situation in Guinea-Bissau and tensions among the President, Prime Minister, National Assembly and political leaders, which had considerably hindered reforms under way. In that regard, the Council was urging national authorities to end impunity against those violating human rights abuses, particularly those of women and children, and to respect the separation of powers and the rule of law, he said. He appealed to the Council, as well as bilateral, subregional and regional partners, to continue supporting Guinea-Bissau in an effort to break the current deadlock.

The meeting began at 10:06 a.m. and ended at 10:11 a.m.