Tag Archives: UNSC
17 February 2014
On 13 February 2014, the Security Council extended the UN peacebuilding mission in Burundi until 31 December 2014, despite the government’s request to replace it by a regular UN country team by mid-2014. The Security Council followed Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s recommendation to maintain the UN Office in Burundi (BNUB), as the country moves towards elections in a deeply polarised political climate. BNUB was set up in 2006 to replace the UN peacekeeping mission in Burundi (ONUB) and to help the country recover from decades of ethnic war. The Secretary-General in his latest report to the Security Council noted the country’s ‘substantial progress, overcoming formidable challenges since the end of the civil war,’ but warned that these gains are not irreversible and that the elections will define the long-term progress.
The government’s request to set up a UN electoral observer mission before, during, and after the 2015 elections was granted by the Security Council. It called on the Secretary-General to install this mission directly after the BNBU’s mandate is terminated. The Security Council furthermore requested that the Secretary-General prepare BNUB’s transition and transfer of responsibilities to the country team by 31 December 2014. The Security Council urged the government to encourage inclusive elections and to safeguard human rights.
Source: UN News Centre | Security Council extends UN mission in Burundi until December 2014
29 January 2014
The Security Council Resolution 2134 extended the UN Integrated Peacebuilding Office (BINUCA) mandate in the Central African Republic through 31 January 2015. Additionally, the Security Council ordered the authorisation of EU troops to use force, travel bans, and asset freezes to a currently existing arms embargo. Such decision was a result of the ‘continuing deterioration of the security situation in the CAR’ and the ‘total breakdown in law and order, the absence of the rule of law, religiously motivated targeted killings and arson.’ (more…)
Source: UN News Centre | Security Council authorizes EU force, new sanctions regime in Central African Republic
24 January 2014
Noting that ‘terrorists and other armed groups’ appear to have gained the ability to operate in northern Mali, the United Nations Security Council called in a Presidential Statement on all member states to support the full deployment of UN peacekeepers in the country. It stressed the importance of achieving without further delays the complete operational deployment of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali to stabilise key population centres and protect civilians. However, the Council also noted that the primary responsibility for securing the country rests with the government.
The Mission is to ‘continue to support the re-establishment of State authority throughout the country and the promotion of the rule of law and promotion of human rights,’ the Presidential statement added.
Source: UN News Centre | Mali: with terrorists regrouping, Security Council urges full deployment of ‘blue helmets’
6 December 2013
The UN Security Council approved the French-sponsored Resolution 2127, which authorises the increase in military action in the Central African Republic (CAR) by French and African troops. The resolution provides for the deployment of African Union forces, known as the International Support Mission in the Central African Republic (MISCA), with the authorisation to use ‘appropriate measures’ to protect civilians and restore security. Additionally, French troops are now authorised ‘to take all necessary measures’ to support MISCA. Such mandate will last for a year and MISCA is expected to increase its troops from about 2,500 to 3,500, while French troops will double from the 600 currently present in the CAR.
The Central African Republic, a predominantly Christian country, has been plagued by Muslim-Christian violence after the ousting of President Francois Bozize by Muslim rebels from Chad and Sudan. The violence in the CAR includes waves of killings, torture, and rape that are attributed to the rival armed groups – the Christian Balaka fighters and the Seleka Muslim rebel army. Despite being rich in gold, diamonds, and uranium, the CAR is a poor and unstable country which often suffers from the spillover of conflicts in neighboring countries.
Source: Al Jazeera | UN passes resolution on CAR military action
Source: United Nations Security Council | Resolution 2127 (2013) | Adopted by the Security Council at its 7072nd meeting | 5 December 2013
19 November 2013
A piece in the New York Times draws attention to the risks raised by the decision of the Security Council to authorise the United Nations Force Intervention Brigade in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to ‘neutralize armed groups’, contrary to prior passive peacekeeping forces. This brigade is comprised of 3,000 soldiers from South Africa, Tanzania, and Malawi.
It notes that the Congolese government walked out on peace talks with rebels, as a result of such one-sided support from the UN. Additionally, this authorisation could affect peacekeeping operations worldwide, as there are almost 100,000 peacekeepers stationed from the Western Sahara and Haiti, to Cyprus and Kashmir. Humanitarian aid organisations are considered such operations will put their workers at risk because armed groups will no longer distinguish soldiers and those that provide food and shelter to civilians during war. Furthermore, countries which traditionally send many troops to serve as peacekeepers, such as India and Uruguay, feel uneasy about this new direction, as prior peacekeeping posed little risk of casualties. A UN official, speaking anonymously, was concerned about the precedent which would be set by this authorisation and stated that the Security Council was ‘careful to say it was not a precedent, but every time you say that that’s exactly what you’re making.’
Source: New York Times | New U.N. Brigade’s Aggressive Stance in Africa Brings Success, and Risks