Côte d’Ivoire
Expected Council Action
In September the Council is likely to consider the Secretary-General’s recommendations regarding cooperation arrangements between the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) and the UN Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI). The Council may renew the redeployment of helicopters and crews from UNMIL to UNOCI authorised in resolution 1992, scheduled to expire on 30 September.
The mandate of UNOCI expires on 31 July 2012.
Key Recent Developments
On 26 July, the Secretary-General indicated his intention to appoint Albert Gerard Koenders (Netherlands), as his special representative for Côte d’Ivoire, and head of UNOCI as Choi Young-Jin is stepping down on 31 August.
On 18 August, former President Laurent Gbagbo and his wife were charged with “economic crimes” by state prosecutors. The limited nature of the charges reflects the government’s hope that Gbagbo will face charges from the International Criminal Court (ICC) relating to human rights abuses.
On 10 August, 12 allies of Gbagbo were charged by the Office of the Prosecutor in Abidjan with crimes related to the violence following the disputed presidential election. None of President Alassane Ouattara’s supporters have been arrested or charged. On 3 August, Ouattara promoted two military commanders accused by Human Rights Watch, and others, of serious human rights abuses.
An electoral-needs assessment mission, led by the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, visited Côte d’Ivoire in late June. The mission concluded that legislative elections could be held by year’s end so long as the security situation improved and the international community stepped in to support the process.
Human Rights-Related Developments |
Key Issues
The role the UN can play in helping Côte d’Ivoire to achieve reconciliation, including by allowing political opposition to organise before the 2011 parliamentary elections, is the key issue for the Council.
Another issue is the role played by the aviation assets from UNMIL, whether or not they should continue to patrol the volatile border region with Liberia, ready to assist UNMIL as needed. (In their current deployment the helicopters serve both missions even if they remain with UNOCI.)
Underlying Problems
The fact that none of President Ouattara’s supporters have been charged for crimes committed during the post-election violence suggests that the opposition may require some reassurance that elections can and will proceed fairly and that the reconciliation process will be credible.
- adopting a technical resolution that would keep the helicopters with UNOCI for three further months to assist during the period leading up to the parliamentary elections;
- renewing the redeployment until the expiry of UNOCI’s current mandate in July 2012; or
- not renewing the redeployment, allowing the helicopters to return to UNMIL.
Council Dynamics
At press time, many Council members had not finalised their positions on the cooperation arrangements set to expire in September. Nonetheless, there appeared to be consensus that any changes should be based on the Secretary-General’s recommendations, due by 15 September, and any changes to the situation in Liberia consequent to the 23 August constitutional referendum.
Security Council Resolutions |
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Secretary-General’s Report |
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Letters |
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Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of Mission |
Albert Gerard Koenders (Netherlands) |
UNOCI Force Commander |
Maj. Gen. Gnakoudè Béréna (Togo) |
UNOCI Police Commander |
Maj. Gen. Jean Marie Bourry (France) |
Chair of the Sanctions Committee |
Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti (Brazil) |
UNOCI: Size, Composition, Cost and Duration |
Authorised Strength: 11,142 total uniformed personnel, including 9,600 troops, 192 military observers, 1,350 police Strength (as of 31 July 2011): 8,974 troops, 193 military observers, 1,276 police personnel Main troop contributors: Bangladesh, Pakistan, Jordan, Morocco and Malawi Annual Budget: $486.7 million Duration: 4 April 2004 to present; mandate expires 31 July 2012 |