Security Council

6570^th Meeting (AM)

Security Council Resolution 1992 (2011) Extends Temporary Redeployment

 

of Military Assets from Liberia to Côte d’Ivoire

 

The Security Council today extended the temporary redeployment of infantry and aviation units from the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) to the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI).

Welcoming the joint operations and planning implemented by UNOCI and UNMIL in Côte d’Ivoire and along it’s border with Liberia, the Council unanimously adopted resolution 1992 (2011) under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, extending until 31 July the deployment of an additional 2,000 military personnel.

The Council also extended until that date the deployment of additional military and police capabilities authorized under resolution 1942 (2010), while authorizing, as well, the extended deployment, until 30 September, of three armed helicopters with crews from UNMIL to the Côte d’Ivoire Operation.

Prompting the Council’s action was the Secretary-General’s concern for the fragile security situation inside Côte d’Ivoire and along its western border with Liberia.  In a letter to the Council (document S/2011/351), he said that while the military utility helicopters were to have been returned to UNMIL before 30 June, given the extremely fragile security situation in Côte d’Ivoire, and the high risk of renewed conflict or violence that would require adequate troop transportation capacity for the rapid deployment of the UNOCI force reserve, the Secretariat was exploring various options for deploying a replacement unit to Côte d’Ivoire, at least for the duration of the country’s legislative elections.

According to the letter, the Secretary-General’s assessment was that the helicopters provided high deterrent value and response capacity both to prevent a regrouping of the many “spoilers” inside Côte d’Ivoire in strongholds to the west, and to deter cross-border movement by militias and mercenaries.  The helicopters gave UNOCI the mobility required to ensure adequate monitoring of the borders and surrounding areas, as well as a timely response to anticipated cross-border incidents and other militia and mercenary activities in western Côte d’Ivoire.  UNMIL and UNOCI agreed that the helicopters should be retained in Côte d’Ivoire for now, on the understanding that they would be active mainly in the western part of the country, particularly in border areas, conducting special reconnaissance and deterrence operations.

The meeting began at 10 a.m. and ended at 10:12 a.m.

Resolution

The full text of resolution 1992 (2011) reads as follows:

“The Security Council,

“Recalling its previous resolutions, in particular resolution 1981(2011), 1980 (2011), 1975 (2011), 1968 (2011), 1967 (2011), 1962 (2010), 1951 (2010), 1942 (2010) and 1933 (2010) and statements of its President relating to the situation in Côte d’Ivoire and in the subregion,

“Recalling the inter-mission cooperation arrangements provided for in paragraphs 4 to 6 of Security Council resolution 1609 (2005) and in paragraph 6 of resolution 1938 (2010), recalling further paragraph 1 of resolution 1968 (2011), paragraphs 3 and 4 of resolution 1967 (2011) and paragraph 7 of resolution 1962 (2010),

“Recalling the letter of the Secretary-General dated 10 June (S/2011/351) stressing the fragile security situation in Côte d’Ivoire and on the border with Liberia, the essential role played by the assets deployed from the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) to the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI) in the current challenging circumstances in Côte d’Ivoire, the need to support UNMIL’s ability to carry out its mandate in view of the elections,

“Welcoming the joint operations planning implemented by UNOCI and UNMIL around Côte d’Ivoire and Liberia border, taking note of the agreement set out between the two missions to maintain the temporary redeployment from UNMIL to UNOCI of three armed helicopters with crews, further taking note of the arrangements taken by UNOCI to task these assets mainly in western Côte d’Ivoire,

“Recalling the paragraph 1 of Resolution 1981 (2011) that extended until 31 July 2011 the mandate of UNOCI as set out in resolution 1975 (2011), 1962 (2010) and 1933 (2010);

“Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations,

“1.   Decides to authorize the Secretary-General, further to paragraph 1 of resolution 1968 (2011), paragraphs 3 and 4 of resolution 1967 (2011), paragraph 6 of resolution 1962 (2010), paragraph 1 of resolution 1951 (2010) and paragraphs 4 and 6 of resolution 1609 (2005), to extend until 30 September 2011 the redeployment from UNMIL to UNOCI of three armed helicopters with crews;

“2.   Requests the Secretary-General to provide it with an updated analysis and recommendations on the inter-mission cooperation arrangements by 15 September 2011;

“3.   Decides to extend the deployment of an additional 2,000 military personnel to UNOCI, as set out in resolution 1967 (2011) as well as the temporary additional military and police capabilities authorized by resolution 1942 (2010), until 31 July 2011;

“4.   Requests the support of troop- and police-contributing countries in that regard;

“5.   Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.”

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For information media • not an official record