Security Council Press Statement on UN Office for West Africa

The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Peter Wittig ( Germany):

The members of the Security Council take note of the report of the Secretary-General on the activities of the United Nations Office for West Africa (UNOWA) dated 24 June 2011 (document S/2011/388).

The members of the Security Council noted with satisfaction the significant progress made towards greater stability and peace in West Africa.  They welcomed the positive developments in the areas of post-conflict recovery and peacebuilding, in particular, the end of transition processes in Guinea and Niger and the end of the post-electoral crisis in Côte d’Ivoire, as well as improvements in governance and the rule of law.

The members of the Security Council welcomed the significant efforts of the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in addressing unconstitutional changes of government and consolidating democratic practices and institutions, particularly through security sector reform, the promotion of human rights and the enhancement of the contribution of women in conflict prevention and resolution, consistent with relevant Security Council resolutions and decisions.  

The members of the Security Council recognized and commended the important contributions made by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for West Africa, Said Djinnit, and UNOWA to regional and subregional conflict prevention and peacebuilding efforts.  They welcomed UNOWA’s achievements in mediation and good offices, in raising awareness about cross-border threats to security, in developing partnerships with regional and subregional organizations and in mobilizing and fostering complementarity in United Nations action to address these threats, including through the West African Coast Initiative (WACI).

The members of the Security Council expressed their concern that the progress remains fragile, in view of recurrent threats to peace and security, in the subregion, including terrorism and transnational organized crime including illicit drug trafficking, as well as election-related violence. 

The Security Council stressed the importance of strengthening trans-regional and international cooperation on the basis of a common and shared responsibility to counter the world drug problem and related criminal activities, and in support of relevant national, subregional and regional organizations and mechanisms, including with the view to strengthening the rule of law.

The members of the Security Council encouraged the continued engagement of the international community to ensure that progress made in preventing conflict and consolidating democracy in West Africa is sustained.  They encouraged UNOWA to continue to promote and strengthen a regional and integrated approach to issues in West Africa, including those which have a cross-border dimension, in particular in the areas of terrorist threats in the Sahel band, security sector reform, transnational organized crime including illicit drug trafficking, the promotion of good governance, elections and stability, human rights and implementation of Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000).  They also reaffirmed continued support to UNOWA within existing resources.  They further support closer cooperation between the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) and UNOWA and, in particular, stress the role that UNOWA can play to accompany and follow the efforts of the Peacebuilding Commission in Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

In this regard, the members of the Security Council welcomed the adoption of the Praia Declaration on Elections and Stability in West Africa, which was endorsed during the regional conference held in Praia, Cape Verde, from 18 to 20 May and encouraged all relevant actors in the subregion, in particular ECOWAS, its member States and civil society, to follow up on its recommendations.

The members of the Security Council recalled UNOWA’s role in facilitating the implementation of the International Court of Justice ruling of 10 October 2002 and the Greentree Agreement of June 2006 on the land and maritime boundary dispute between Cameroon and Nigeria, and encouraged UNOWA to pursue its efforts in that regard, including the ongoing implementation of confidence-building measures.  The members of the Council commended Cameroon and Nigeria for the significant progress made thus far and encouraged them to expedite the completion of all tasks related to implementation of the Greentree Agreement, with continuing support from the international community.

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