On 26 September 2017, the United Nations Mission in Colombia, in accordance with the Peace Agreement between the Government of Colombia and the FARC-EP, completed its Security Council mandate. The mission finalized activities related to the laying down of weapons from the FARC-EP, including the deactivation of the armament collected in the Transitional Local Zones for Normalization and Transitory Points, the ones extracted during the arms caches operations and the destruction of unstable material.
The United Nations continues to provide support to the peace process through the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia, established by Security Council resolution 2377 (2017).
On 26 September 2017, the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia started its activities, immediately upon the conclusion of the mandate of the first United Nations Mission in Colombia.
The United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia (Verification Mission) was established by the UN Security Council pursuant to resolution 2366 (2017), adopted unanimously on 10 July 2017. The resolution followed a joint request for UN support from the Government of Colombia and the then Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia–People’s Army (FARC-EP).
According to the resolution, the purpose of the Mission is to accompany the parties and verify their commitments regarding points 3.2 and 3.4 of the Final Peace Agreement on the reintegration of former FARC-EP members, and the implementation of measures of protection and security for former FARC-EP members and communities in territories most affected by the conflict. The Verification Mission has worked closely with national authorities and former combatants to promote progress in reintegration and security related issues with a constructive and proactive approach. The Mission continued to have a presence at the national, regional and local levels, with a view to ensuring close contact with former combatants and communities.
Further to a request from the Government of Colombia, on its behalf and on behalf of the former FARC-EP, the Security Council, by its resolution 2574 (2021) adopted unanimously on 11 May 2021, mandated the Verification Mission to implement an additional task, as envisioned in the Final Peace Agreement, namely the verification of compliance with and implementation of the restorative sentences of the Special Jurisdiction for Peace.
In addition, Security Council resolution 2673 (2023) of 11 January 2023 mandated the Mission to verify the implementation of section 1 and section 6.2 of the Final Peace Agreement, on comprehensive rural reform and on the ethnic chapter, further to a letter from the Government of Colombia conveyed as a shared request of the Government and the former FARC-EP.
Security Council resolution 2694 (2023) of 2 August 2023 authorized the Mission to monitor and verify the implementation of the ceasefire as outlined in the Second Cuba Agreement between the Government of Colombia and the Ejército de Liberación Nacional (ELN), further to a request from the Government of Colombia.
The first UN Mission in Colombia had been established by Security Council resolution 2261 (2016) on 25 January 2016 with a mandate to monitor and verify the laying down of arms and, as part of a tripartite mechanism, a definitive bilateral ceasefire and cessation of hostilities following the signing of a peace agreement between the Government and the FARC-EP. The Government of Colombia and the FARC-EP, after peace talks in Havana that started in 2012, had agreed on 19 January 2016 to jointly request the Security Council to establish this first special political mission. On 23 June 2016 in Havana, they concluded the agreement on the definitive bilateral cease fire and cessation of hostilities and the laying down of arms, which was later revised and signed on 24 November 2016. The first UN in Mission in Colombia completed the verification of the successful laying down of weapons by the FARC-EP and the transformation of the guerrilla group into a political party in September 2017.
On 29 September 2017, the Government of Colombia and the National Liberation Army (ELN) made a joint request to the Security Council to authorize the UN Verification Mission in Colombia to participate in the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism established to strengthen the bilateral and temporary cease-fire beginning on 1 October 2017. With the adoption of resolution 2381 (2017), the Security Council agreed on 5 October 2017 to expand the Verification Mission’s mandate on a temporary basis until 9 January 2018 to include the participation and coordination of the work of the monitoring and verification mechanism (MVM), comprised of representatives of the Government of Colombia, the ELN, the United Nations and the Catholic Church to verify compliance with the temporary, bilateral, national ceasefire at national, regional and local level. The Verification Mission completed its mandate regarding the ELN ceasefire in January 2018.
For more information go to the mission's website: https://colombia.unmissions.org/
DPA spearheaded efforts by the United Nations to establish the International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG) in response to a request for assistance from the Government of Guatemala. Acting as an independent international body, CICIG aims to investigate illegal security groups and clandestine security organizations in Guatemala – criminal groups believed to have infiltrated state institutions, fostering impunity and undermining democratic gains in Guatemala since the end of the country's armed conflict in the 1990s. It represents an innovative initiative by the United Nations, together with a Member State, to strengthen the rule of law in a post-conflict country.
The Commission's mandate permits it to carry out independent investigations, to act as a complementary prosecutor and to recommend public policies to help fight the criminal groups that are the subject of its investigations.
CICIG's Commissioner is appointed by the Secretary-General of the United Nations. The Agreement between the United Nations and the Government of Guatemala established an initial two-year mandate which was renewed in April 2009, in January 2011, in April 2015 and again in April 2016. Its current mandate runs through September 2019.
The Secretary-General appointed Iván Velásquez of Colombia as CICIG Commissioner on 31 August 2013. A distinguished former auxiliary magistrate of Colombia’s Supreme Court, Mr. Velásquez coordinated high-profile investigations into links between paramilitary groups and public officials. He also gained extensive prosecutorial and investigative experience in the Attorney General’s Office and as Regional Director of the Public Prosecutor’s office covering the Department of Antioquia. Drawing on this solid background and relevant experience, Mr. Velásquez is reinforcing the rule of law and contributing to efforts to combat criminal networks in Guatemala.
On 18 May 2018, the 56th meeting of the joint Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) chaired by the United Nations was held in Gali town with the participation of Georgian, Russian, Abkhaz and EUMM (European Union Monitoring Mission) representatives. The meeting took place in a constructive and business-like atmosphere.
The overall security situation on the ground, since the previous IPRM meeting, which took place on 25 April 2018, was assessed as calm and stable without serious incidents reported. In this context, the contribution of all participants was commended, and they were urged to continue this positive trend.
The role of hotline to maintain communication between the participants for the purpose of information exchange, and most importantly of incident prevention, was once again emphasized. Besides sharing information on planned sensitive activities at the IPRM meetings, the participants were advised to use the hotline for advance notice on unforeseen similar activities. They were informed that since the April IPRM meeting there were 31 hotline activations on 17 different issues.
At the 56th IPRM meeting, the participants followed up on several issues, which had been discussed at the previous meetings. As a new agenda point, they had an extensive exchange of opinions related to freedom of movement of local residents crossing the line of control.
It was agreed to hold the next meeting on 27 June 2018.
The United Nations has long been engaged in the search for a peaceful solution to the conflict over Western Sahara. On 6 October 2021, the Secretary-General appointed Staffan de Mistura as his Personal Envoy for Western Sahara to provide good offices on behalf of the Secretary‑General.
In October 2023, in its resolution 2703, the United Nations Security Council expressed its full support for Staffan de Mistura, the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General for Western Sahara and his efforts to advance the political process, called upon the parties to resume negotiations without preconditions and in good faith, and reaffirmed its commitment to assist the parties to achieve a just, lasting, and mutually acceptable political solution, based on compromise, which will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara in the context of arrangements consistent with the principles and purposes of the Charter of the United Nations.
The Council further called upon Morocco, the Frente POLISARIO, Algeria and Mauritania to cooperate more fully with each other, including through building additional trust, and with the United Nations.
Amid continued diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict, a UN peacekeeping mission, the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), has remained on the ground monitoring the situation and providing a stabilizing presence. MINURSO was deployed in 1991 to oversee a cease-fire and a UN settlement plan; however, disagreements between the two parties prevented the holding of the anticipated referendum on the territory’s future. For more information on MINURSO see: https://minurso.unmissions.org
The United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) is a Dakar-based special political mission managed by the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA), which engages in preventive diplomacy, good offices and political mediation and facilitation in countries in West Africa and the Sahel. The Office also assists sub-regional institutions and States in strengthening their capacities in these areas, as well as in addressing cross-border and cross-cutting threats to peace and security. It promotes good governance, respect for the rule of law, human rights and the mainstreaming of gender in conflict prevention and conflict management initiatives, as well as the women, peace and security and youth, peace and security agenda.
UNOWAS works closely with other UN entities and several regional and international partners - such as Economic Community of West African States, Mano River Union, Lake Chad Basin Commission, Gulf of Guinea Commission, Accra Initiative, and African Union - to promote an integrated approach to conflict prevention and regional issues, including terrorism and violent extremism, transnational organized crime, drug-trafficking, other illicit forms of trafficking, piracy and maritime insecurity, as well as to addressing the impact of climate change on peace and stability.
To help address insecurity and promote sustainable development in the Sahel region, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) for West Africa and the Sahel leads regional advocacy efforts for the implementation of the United Nations Integrated Strategy for the Sahel, which was endorsed by the Security Council in June 2013. The strategy includes a range of innovative actions in the areas of governance, security and resilience in support of 10 countries of the Sahel.
The SRSG also serves as Chairperson of the Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission (CNMC), which was established to facilitate the implementation of the 2002 ruling of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the Cameroon-Nigeria boundary dispute. The mandate of the Mixed Commission includes supporting the demarcation of the land boundary and delineation of the maritime boundary; facilitating the withdrawal of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the transfer of authority to the Republic of Cameroon; addressing the situation of affected populations; and making recommendations on confidence-building measures.
On 19 April 2017, during the first United Nations-African Union Annual Conference, the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General and Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission signed the Joint UN-AU Framework for Enhanced Partnership in Peace and Security. This builds on an increasingly close cooperation since the two Organizations signed the Ten-Year Capacity-Building Programme for the African Union in 2006 (A/61/630). UN support is organized around numerous thematic areas, with the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) leading the cooperation in the area of peace and security.
In January 2015, the African Union Assembly endorsed Agenda 2063 which aims at achieving an "integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena". DPPA works closely with the AU Political Affairs, Peace and Security Department to coordinate and support each other’s efforts in conflict prevention, mediation and peacebuilding in line with 2030 Agenda, Agenda 2063 and AU’s peace and security and governance architectures.
DPPA strives to align and coordinate the work of the United Nations and the African Union in the area of peace and security so that their efforts become more efficient and effective in Africa.
The strategic engagement between the two organizations is evident in the multiple consultative mechanisms on peace and security challenges in Africa, including on early warning, conflict prevention and mediation.
Some examples of current areas of support and cooperation include:
In 2010, the General Assembly established the United Nations Office to the African Union (UNOAU) to enhance the partnership between the United Nations and the African Union in the area of peace and security, provide coordinated and consistent United Nations advice to the African Union on both long-term capacity-building and short-term operational support, and streamline the United Nations presence in Addis Ababa to be more cost-effective and efficient in delivering United Nations assistance to the African Union (A/64/762). More on UNOAU here.
Madam President,
Distinguished Members of the Council,
Thank you for this opportunity to provide an oral update on the political and security situations in Guinea-Bissau and on the country’s preparation for elections.
Since the adoption of resolution 2404 on 28 February 2018, encouraging progress has been made in the efforts to break the political and institutional deadlock that had persisted in Guinea-Bissau for almost three years. As the Council is aware, during the extraordinary session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on 14 April, President José Mário Vaz of Guinea-Bissau made several key commitments, which have since been fulfilled. These include the swearing-in of Mr. Aristides Gomes as the consensual Prime Minister on 16 April; the issuance of a decree on the same day confirming 18 November 2018 as the date for legislative elections; and the convening of the plenary session of the National Assembly on 19 April, for the first time in over two years. At its meeting, the Assembly approved the appointment of the President and Executive Secretariat of the National Elections Commission and extended the term of the Legislature until November.
Since then, with the facilitation of an ECOWAS ministerial delegation, which visited Bissau on 24 April, a new inclusive government has been sworn in. The new cabinet, which will be in office until the legislative elections in November, comprises twenty-six (26) ministers, four of whom are women.
The significant breakthrough was achieved following an agreement reached between the two main political parties, the Party for the Independence of Guinea Bissau and Cabo Verde (PAIGC) and the Social Renewal Party (PRS), with the facilitation of the Catholic Bishop of Bissau. It also owes much to the consistent pressure mounted by ECOWAS on Bissau-Guinean political stakeholders, which culminated in the imposition of targeted sanctions on individuals deemed to be obstructing efforts to end the impasse, as well as the encouragement and facilitation by UNIOGBIS and the other members of the Group of five international partners in Bissau, namely ECOWAS, AU, EU and CPLP. These encouraging developments pave the way for launching the electoral process and creating openings for other peacebuilding initiatives long stalled because of the impasse.
Madam President,
Nonetheless, several key provisions of the ECOWAS-brokered Conakry Agreement of October 2016 remain to be implemented. As a crucial next step, the political stakeholders in Guinea-Bissau have initiated discussions that will culminate with the holding of a national roundtable dialogue as foreseen in the Conakry Agreement. Both the government programme and a Stability Pact, which outlines the principles for key reforms until the end of the current legislature, are expected to be endorsed by the political stakeholders following the national roundtable dialogue. The primary focus of the first meeting of the Council of Ministers, on 10 May, was on preparations for the elections. UNIOGBIS will continue efforts, including within the framework of the Guinea-Bissau Group of five international partners (G-5), to encourage the Government to move forward with the convening of the roundtable and, more broadly, with implementation of the remaining priorities outlined in the Conakry Agreement.
With respect to the legislative elections, a project document on the United Nations Development Programme electoral support to the Government, in the amount of 7.7 million USD, has been finalized. The project will support technical preparations for cartography, an update of the voter register, voter education and electoral administration. The Government of Guinea-Bissau has made an unprecedented contribution of 1.8 million USD to the Basket Fund; UNDP has also contributed 200,000 USD to the Fund which, among other priorities, will allow UNDP to procure biometric equipment for the electoral technical wing of the Ministry of Interior. The tender and procurement process for the purchase of the biometric equipment and software will be launched on 21 May, and the National Electoral Commission, which supervises the process, is expected to begin voter registration on 1 June. Additional resources are urgently needed to fill a funding gap of 5.7 million USD to cover voter registration (USD 2.8 million) and operational costs for the elections (USD 2.9 million). In order to avoid yet another delay in the elections, it will be important for the international community to provide the requisite support to bridge the funding gap.
However, we remain concerned about the situation of drug trafficking and associated forms of transnational organised crime. In the period after the adoption of resolution 2404, there have been at least five reported seizures of drugs at the international airport in Bissau, which many fear may be just the tip of the iceberg. It is our hope that the on-going efforts to enhance UNIOGBIS monitoring and reporting capabilities, in cooperation with UNODC and other partners, will, in due course, expose the true extent of the problem and contribute to fighting impunity.
Madam President,
Since the adoption of Security Council resolution 2404, steps have been taken by UNIOGBIS, with the support of the Department of Political Affairs, the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and the Department of Field Support to re-orient the resources and interventions of the Mission towards effective implementation of the new priorities articulated by the Security Council.
To that end, DPA led a Technical Assessment Mission to Bissau from 24 to 31 March composed of the relevant UN Departments and Offices. The team met with national, regional and international stakeholders, and worked closely with UNIOGBIS to help re-align the mission’s resources. Internal work on the re-orientation is well underway.
It was agreed that resources would be temporarily redeployed from the former Rule of Law and Security Institutions component to support the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in conducting good offices and providing support to the elections, as well as to the newly-established Combatting Drug Trafficking and Organized Crime (CDTOC) component; UNODC will be located within this component. In addition, future UN police deployments are expected to focus on criminal detection and investigation; and the promotion of human rights and gender equality will be mainstreamed in all mission activities. The report and recommendations of the Technical Assessment Mission to Bissau will also inform the Strategic Review Mission that will take place later this year, in late August/early September. The Strategic Review will contain the Secretary-General’s assessment of UNIOGBIS, including options for a possible reconfiguration of the United Nations presence in the country and re-prioritization of tasks, as requested by the Council in resolution 2404.
Madam President,
The latest successful efforts to assist Bissau-Guinean stakeholders to end the political and institutional impasse and launch the country on the path of sustainable peace and development gives cause for guarded optimism. The period until the legislative elections, and particularly until the next Presidential election in 2019, will be critical and fraught with uncertainties, and will require the continued attention and engagement of the international community.
Before I conclude, I would like to recognize the commendable contribution of Mr. Modibo Touré, who completed his assignment as the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on 6 May, particularly in forging close and constructive relations with ECOWAS and the region. I would also like to welcome his successor, Mr. José Viegas Filho, who will assume his responsibilities later this month and continue to build on progress made in Guinea-Bissau. I would also like to express our appreciation to our partners, ECOWAS, AU, EU and CPLP for their cooperation and efforts that have helped open the way for a better future for Guinea Bissau, an opportunity Bissau-Guinean should be encouraged, assisted and influenced to grasp.
I thank you for your attention.
The United Nations Office to the African Union (UNOAU), established by the UN General Assembly Resolution 64/288 on 1 July 2010, is mandated to enhance the partnership between the United Nations and the African Union in the area of peace and security. The Office is also tasked to provide coordinated and consistent United Nations (UN) advice to the African Union (AU) on both long-term capacity-building and short-term operational support, as well as to streamline the UN presence in Addis Ababa to make it cost-effective and efficient in delivering UN assistance to the AU in the area of peace and security (A/64/762).
The strategic cooperation between the African Union and the United Nations is manifested in the multiple consultative mechanisms on peace and security challenges in Africa, including on early warning, conflict prevention and resolution. UN, AU as well as the Regional Economic Communities and Regional Mechanisms increasingly work together at all levels, and on a wide range of issues from capacity development and policy design, cutting across the conflict cycle from prevention to crisis response operations.
For an overview on the UN-AU partnership, click here.
The Horn of Africa region has long been a focus of United Nations engagement and investment. The region faces significant challenges, including long-standing civil conflicts and unrest, deep poverty, and vulnerability to climate change. However, it also presents opportunities: rapid economic growth in several countries, a young and dynamic population, and new momentum for regional cooperation. Realizing the region’s enormous potential requires a collective approach, tackling shared challenges in a coordinated manner.
In October 2018, the Secretary-General expanded the remit of the Special Envoy for the Sudan and South Sudan to cover the Horn of Africa region, defined for this purpose to comprise the members of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD). This mandate derives from an exchange of letters between the Secretary-General and the President of the Security Council (S/2018/955 and S/2018/979). The establishment of the Office of the Special Envoy the Horn of Africa in 2018 was driven primarily by the dynamic changes in the region, triggered by the rapprochement between Ethiopia and Eritrea and the strengthening of relations between Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia, as well as the cooling off of tensions between Eritrea and Djibouti.
The Office of the Special Envoy is mandated to support the region in sustaining the gains in peace and security, including the transition process in the Sudan and the ongoing peace process in South Sudan. The Office of the Special Envoy is responsible for supporting IGAD, in line with the framework for cooperation between the United Nations and IGAD signed in Djibouti on 17 November 2015, and other relevant regional organizations in promoting peace and security across the Horn of Africa. This primarily involves enhancing sub-regional conflict prevention and mediation capacities and working with partners to address cross-cutting issues such as the Women, Peace and Security agenda, the Youth, Peace and Security agenda and Climate, Peace, and Security issues. On this basis, the Special Envoy is tasked with carrying out good offices role and special assignments on behalf of the Secretary-General as required. The mission has been tasked with enhancing linkages in the work of the United Nations and other partners in the Horn of Africa region, to promote a joined-up regional approach, including facilitating coordination and information exchange within the United Nations system.
The Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa retains responsibilities related to the maintenance of good and peaceful neighbourly relations between Sudan and South Sudan, initially established pursuant to the exchange of letters between the Secretary-General and the President of the Security Council (S/2011/474 and S/2011/475). This includes cooperation with the African Union High-Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) in efforts to implement Security Council resolution 2046 (2012), which called upon the Sudan and South Sudan to reach an agreement on critical issues, including (a) the full and urgent advancement of all outstanding issues from the Comprehensive Peace Agreement; and (b) to ease the tensions and facilitate the resumption of negotiations on post-secession relations and the normalization of their relations.
The Office of the Special Envoy coordinates and helps to enhance the coherence of the collective work of the United Nations in the region and focuses on the prevention of crises affecting human security in support of Member States’ national strategies and regional strategies in pursuance of lasting peace and sustainable development.
In July 2019, the Office launched the first internal five-year United Nations Comprehensive Regional Prevention Strategy for the Horn of Africa. Before the conclusion of the fifth year, the Office was tasked to revise the strategy in light of current developments in the region. In December 2023, the New United Nations Regional Prevention and Integration Strategy for the Horn of Africa was endorsed by the UN Executive Committee and officially launched in January 2024. The Strategy is the United Nations support framework for the Horn of Africa. It aims to operationalize the Secretary-General’s vision of prevention by rationalizing United Nations prevention-related mandates and encouraging a system-wide ownership of outcomes. The Strategy employs a regional approach – not just the sum of national approaches in the region – to prevention in the Horn of Africa and is informed by the regional strategies of IGAD and the AU. Given the fast-changing environment in the region, the Strategy is a living and flexible framework and will continue to evolve in light of emerging priorities.
The United Nations Transitional Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNTMIS) succeeded the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) as of 1 November 2024 following the conclusion of UNSOM’s operations on 31 October 2024, in accordance with UN Security Council resolution 2753.
This change reflects the progress in Somalia and aligns with the Federal Government of Somalia’s request for a two-year phased transfer of UNSOM’s functions to the United Nations Country Team by October 2026.
Following six months of armed conflict in Libya in 2011, the United Nations established a political mission to assist the country's transitional authorities in their post-conflict efforts and support the Libyan people in their aspirations for peace, stability, and democratic governance.
The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), whose mandate was most recently renewed in resolution 2702 on 30 October 2023, through 31 October 2024, is primarily tasked by the Security Council with supporting an inclusive Libyan-owned Libyan-led political process, including to facilitate the conduct of elections. The mandate also includes supporting the implementation and monitoring of the Libyan Ceasefire Agreement of 23 October 2020. In addition, UNSMIL is mandated to conduct human rights monitoring and reporting and help consolidate the governance, security, and economic arrangements, including support for economic reform in collaboration with international financial institutions.
Under the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2023-2025, UNSMIL, together with the UN Country Team in Libya, is tasked with coordinating and supporting the provision of essential services, and the coordination of international assistance.
The mission maintains a presence in Benghazi, Libya and Tunis, Tunisia.
1. On 24 April in Goma, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), in line with the decision of the Eighth high-level meeting of the Regional Oversight Mechanism (ROM) of the Peace, Security and Cooperation (PSC) Framework Agreement for the DRC and the region to “Complete the repatriation without preconditions of the FDLR disarmed combatants and their dependents located in transit camps in eastern DRC, and of the ex-M23 combatants that are in Rwanda and Uganda no later than 20...
Guinea-Bissau, one of the world’s poorest nations, has been plagued by chronic political instability since gaining independence in 1974. The international community including the United Nations is providing various forms of assistance aimed at helping the West African country build stable, democratic institutions and achieve greater economic prosperity.
The Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) provides support and strategic advice to the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office for Guinea-Bissau (UNIOGBIS), a special political mission first established in 1999 following a two-year civil war in the country. The Mission is headed by the Secretary-General’s Representative for Guinea-Bissau, Rosine Sori-Coulibaly. The Security Council has extended the presence of UNIOGBIS over the years amid continued fragility in the country, whose problems have been exacerbated in recent years by a protracted political and institutional impasse characterized by the paralysis of the National Assembly and the absence of a State budget and programme of the Government.
According to Security Council Resolution 2404 (2018), which defines the mandate of UNIOGBIS, the key political activities of the mission are to: (a) Support the full implementation of the Conakry Agreement and the ECOWAS Roadmap, and facilitate an inclusive political dialogue and national reconciliation process, the strengthening of democratic governance, particularly with regards to the implementation of necessary urgent reforms; (b) Support, through good offices the electoral process to ensure inclusive, free and credible legislative elections in 2018 within the legally mandated time frame; (c) Provide support, including by technical assistance, to national authorities in expediting and completing the review of Guinea-Bissau’s Constitution.
Operative paragraph 4 of the same resolution affirms that in addition to the abovementioned priorities, UNIOGBIS and the Special Representative will continue to assist, coordinate and lead international efforts in several areas, including in providing support to the Government of Guinea-Bissau in strengthening democratic institutions and enhancing the capacity of state organs to function effectively and constitutionally; to ensure lasting peace and stability in Guinea Bissau.
In parallel with the good offices of the SRSG in support of the implementation of the Conakry Agreement, UNIOGBIS is working with entities beyond the purview of the Government and State structures to facilitate an inclusive political dialogue and national reconciliation process. UNIOGBIS is providing technical support in the reconfiguration of the former Women’s Facilitation Group, which played an important role in resuming dialogue among political actors in the first semester of 2017.
UNIOGBIS as an integrated office works closely with the UN Resident Coordinator (Deputy SRSG) and the UNCT to strengthen UN system-wide synergies and to mobilize international financial assistance. The Office also works to enhance cooperation between the major international partners working for progress in Guinea-Bissau, especially in the format of the Guinea-Bissau P5 group namely the United Nations, the African Union (AU), the European Union (AU), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries (CPLP), among other important bilateral partners and donors.
In 2007, Guinea-Bissau was placed on the agenda of the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission (PBC), a step which has increased the international community’s attention to the country and its needs. A year later, the Peacebuilding Commission and the Government of Guinea-Bissau adopted a Strategic Framework for Peacebuilding in the country. The Secretary General declared Guinea-Bissau eligible to receive support from the UN Peacebuilding Fund in March 2008.
The Mission is currently implementing six PBF Projects funded under the IRD facility worth 7.8 mln USD in total, in the following areas: Support to political dialogue and national reconciliation in Guinea-Bissau ; Boosting the media sector for greater Peace and Stability in Guinea-Bissau; Strengthening Public Confidence in the Justice System; Supporting political and institutional stabilization of the Justice sector for peace consolidation in Guinea-Bissau ; Supporting Women's and Youth Political Participation for Peace and Development in Guinea-Bissau; and Mobilizing rural Youth and adolescents to serve as peacebuilding leaders.
The United Nations has long been engaged in efforts to bring peace and stability to Africa’s Great Lakes region, which has been plagued for decades by political instability, armed conflicts, porous borders, humanitarian crises, tensions over natural resources and other destabilizing factors.
A key step in these efforts has been the adoption, on 24 February 2013, of a United Nations-brokered accord intended to end the recurring cycles of conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the region. The Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the DRC and the region (PSC Framework) was signed by 11 countries, namely Angola, Burundi, the Central African Republic, the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. In early 2014, Kenya and Sudan became the 12th and 13th signatories of the Framework, respectively. The United Nations, the African Union, the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region, and the Southern African Development Community act as Guarantors of the Framework.
The agreement includes commitments at the national, regional and international levels, geared towards addressing the root causes of violent conflict and ending recurring cycles of violence and suffering in eastern DRC and the Great Lakes region. Its implementation is championed by the Office of the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for the Great Lakes region.
In recent years, a positive momentum has emerged, with the peaceful holding of elections in the DRC in 2018 and the commitment by President Felix Tshisekedi of the DRC to restore peace and security in eastern DRC and to promote friendly and mutually beneficial relations with neighbouring countries. Steps taken by other leaders in the region to address tensions and advance political, security, and economic cooperation have also contributed to a reinvigoration of bilateral and multilateral diplomacy and an improvement in the region’s overall security situation. These efforts are supported by the United Nations, as a whole, and by the Office of the Special Envoy, in particular.
In this context, Secretary-General António Guterres approved the United Nations Strategy for Peace Consolidation, Conflict Prevention and Conflict Resolution in the Great Lakes region on 22 October 2020. The Strategy, developed by the Office of the Special Envoy for the Great Lakes region and the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA), in consultation with a wide range of stakeholders, including representatives of the signatory countries of the PSC Framework, proposes an integrated framework to leverage the political, operational and programmatic expertise of the United Nations, both at Headquarters and in the region, to help the countries of the region achieve inclusive peace, prosperity and sustainable, people-centred development. The Strategy lays out ten priority areas of intervention, arranged into three pillars, which are to guide its implementation, in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. An action plan covering the period from 2021 through 2023 was also developed to chart the way forward. On 20 October 2021, the United Nations Security Council issued a Presidential Statement (S/PRST/2021/19) welcoming the Strategy and its Action Plan. It further encouraged ownership and political will by the PSC Framework’s signatory countries, and urged the international community and International Financial Institutions to contribute technical and financial support for the Strategy’s implementation.
The Special Envoy is supported by his office, based in Nairobi, Kenya, and by DPPA.
“Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas chose to use his speech at the opening of the Palestinian National Council to repeat some of the most contemptuous anti-Semitic slurs, including the suggestion that the social behavior of Jews was the cause for the Holocaust.
Such statements are unacceptable, deeply disturbing and do not serve the interests of the Palestinian people or peace in the Middle East.
Denying the historic and religious connection of the Jewish people...
On 25 April 2018, the 55th meeting of the joint Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) chaired by the United Nations was held in Gali town with the participation of Georgian, Russian, Abkhaz and EUMM (European Union Monitoring Mission) representatives.
The overall security situation on the ground, since the previous IPRM meeting, which took place on 21 March 2018, was assessed as calm and stable without major incidents reported. The Chair commended this achievement, attributing it to the joint efforts of all participants. In relation to this assessment, the importance and exemplary use of the hotline was emphasized. Participants were once again encouraged to continue using this effective tool for prevention of and response to incidents, for addressing humanitarian issues as well as for information-exchange purposes on other matters.
According to the agenda, participants followed up on the matters discussed at previous meetings. They also discussed in detail new agenda points, in particular several detentions for the alleged crossing at undesignated locations in the recent period. Information was shared on the investigations into two cases of previously committed serious crimes. The issue of the 6 April 2018 flight of two helicopters in close vicinity of the line of control was discussed in detail. In this context, the attention of the participants was drawn to the voluntary provision of advance notice on sensitive activities in order to avoid suspicion and misperceptions.
The 55th IPRM meeting took place in a constructive and business-like atmosphere.
It was agreed to hold the next meeting on 18 May 2018.
The United Nations Regional Office for Central Africa (UNOCA) is a Special Political Mission with a regional mandate to help prevent conflict and sustain peace in Central Africa, with due attention to the principles of the UN Charter, including human rights and gender dimensions. UNOCA provides good offices and other assistance to support preventive diplomacy and mediation in situations of tension or potential conflict, particularly in countries facing electoral or institutional crises or violent conflicts. It also works closely with UN entities on the ground, governments, civil society, regional and sub-regional organizations, notably the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), to help strengthen regional capacity,promote good governance and advocate for measures to address cross-border challenges such as arms trafficking, organized crime and maritime insecurity, as well as persistent and emerging threats to peace and security, including those related to hate speech, the impact of climate change and the continued presence of armed groups in the subregion and of terrorist groups in the Lake Chad Basin and Sahel region. These include the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
UNOCA’s mandate also includes the strengthening of the coherence and coordination in the work of the United Nations in the subregion on peace and security. In this regard, the Security Council stresses, among other things, the importance of interactions with Resident Coordinators and United Nations country teams. Improved collaboration and coordination with the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) is also highlighted. The aim is to strengthen the action carried out by United Nations entities, regional and international efforts to address cross-cutting and cross-border challenges to peace and security. In addition, UNOCA mobilizes, at the sub-regional level, support for the peace process in the Central African Republic, in close cooperation with the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic.
UNOCA was established through an exchange of letters completed in August 2010 between the United Nations Secretary-General and the Security Council, and was inaugurated in March 2011 in Libreville, Gabon. Its mandate was renewed for another three-year period (1 September 2021-31 August 2024) in August 2021. The Office is currently headed by the Secretary-General's Special Representative Abdou Abarry (Niger).
Since May 2011, the Office is also the Secretariat to the UN Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa (UNSAC), which meets twice a year at the Ministerial level to assess the state of the geopolitical and security situation in the sub-region and to report on disarmament and arms limitation programs as well as on initiatives aimed at promoting peace, including through confidence-building measures.
UNOCA is the third regional political office attached to the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA). Along with the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) and the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy in Central Asia (UNRCCA), these regional offices have demonstrated the value of preventive diplomacy and other assistance in helping regions to manage shared problems, crises and tensions peacefully.
As mandated by the Security Council, UNOCA works jointly with UNOWAS to support regional efforts aimed at addressing the crisis related to the activities of Boko Haram and ISWAP in the Lake Chad Basin region. This includes regularly monitoring, analyzing and reporting on developments on the ground to inform the Security Council of the evolution of the crisis and maintain the latter high on the agenda of the international community.
UNOCA supports the implementation of the Regional Strategy for the Stabilization, Recovery and Resilience of the Boko Haram-affected Areas of the Lake Chad Basin led by the Lake Chad Basin Commission and the African Union. The Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of UNOCA is a member of the Regional Strategy’s Steering Committee while UNOCA also co-chairs the Governance Cluster of the Regional Strategy’s Regional Task Force. Jointly with the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Central Africa supports resource mobilization efforts for the implementation of the Regional Strategy and promotes greater cooperation between the affected States through joint high-level engagement, including their joint visits to Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria.
The members of the Security Council met on 10 April 2018 to discuss the situation in the Great lakes region, five years after the signature of the Peace, Security and Cooperation (PSC) Framework for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Region. They were briefed by Mr Said Djinnit, Special envoy of the Secretary General for the Great Lakes, and Amb. Raymond Serge BALE, permanent representative of the Republic of Congo, as chair of the PSC Framework Regional Oversight...
The Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) has been supporting regional efforts to help resolve Burundi’s political crisis since civil unrest erupted in April 2015 in Bujumbura in connection with the candidacy of President Pierre Nkurunziza. The violence that followed an attempted coup d’etat in May 2015 saw hundreds killed, thousands internally displaced, and some 420,000 flee to neighboring countries. Since then, Burundi has been trying to find a peaceful solution to the political crisis through the Inter-Burundian Dialogue, which is led by the region and supported by the United Nations, while the country is also preparing for the 2020 elections.
As mandated by Security Council resolutions 2248 (2015), 2279 (2016) and 2303 (2016), the Secretary-General appointed on 5 May 2017 former President of Burkina Faso, Michel Kafando as his Special Envoy to provide assistance to the efforts of the East African Community (EAC) for political dialogue among all Burundians as well as to lead and coordinate the UN political efforts to promote peace and sustainable development in Burundi. The Special Envoy’s team in Bujumbura has been working with the EAC and the African Union as part of a Joint Technical Working Group (JTWG) to facilitate and support the process, previously under the leadership of Special Adviser to the Secretary-General, Jamal Benomar. Special Envoy Kafando completed his assignment on 30 November 2019 and the Secretary-General has yet to appoint a replacement. The Office of the Special Envoy in Bujumbura is currently under the leadership and management of DPPA-Department of Peace Operations (DPO).
As mandated in Security Council resolution 2137 (2014), the UN Electoral Observation Mission in Burundi (MENUB) deployed 72 election observers across the country to report on the 2015 elections. They concluded that while the vote was adequate in conduct, the overall environment was “not conducive” to a free and credible process. MENUB concluded its mandate on 18 November 2015.
In the decade before the 2015 elections the United Nations Office in Burundi (BNUB) supported the country in its efforts to build itself out of decades of civil war through reconciliation, equitable economic growth, and effective institutions.
In 2010 the UN provided electoral support to five elections, from the communal to the national level. One result was a record representation of women in public office -- over a third of elected officials and almost half of the government ministers.
In 2005 the UN Operations in Burundi (ONUB) organized the 2005 election in the context of the country emerging from conflict. The former Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, was a member of a strategic consultative committee which aimed to assess key aspects of international community assistance to the process. The Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) availed resources for the production of 1,000,000 identity cards. The UN Development Program (UNDP) was also a member of key electoral technical committees and supported fund mobilization. The elections came off successfully under the watchful presence of BINUB’s blue helmets.
Despite ongoing difficulties, Burundi has taken important strides forward since its civil war in the 1990s. The peace accord signed in Arusha, Tanzania in 2000, envisioned a new constitution, which was adopted on 18 March 2005 with an alternating presidency and ethnically balanced institutions designed to blunt the potential for conflict. A new constitution has been proposed by the government and will face referendum in May 2018.
Statement by United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process,Nickolay Mladenov, on the situation in GazaJerusalem, 5 April 2018
“I am following with concern the continuing preparations and rhetoric for this Friday’s ‘Great Return March’ in Gaza.
Israeli forces should exercise maximum restraint and Palestinians should avoid friction at the Gaza fence.
Demonstrations and protests must be allowed...
