Security Council: Côted’Ivoire multinational force

Security Council renews authorization of multinational force for Côte d’Ivoire

The United Nations Security Council today renewed for six months authorization given to States participating in the West African and French forces policing a peace agreement in Côte d’Ivoire.

Today’s move came in a unanimously adopted resolution that follows the Council’s decision in February to authorize Member States participating in Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) forces – together with the French troops supporting them – to guarantee security and freedom of movement of personnel and to ensure protection of civilians immediately threatened with physical violence. The authorization came under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, which permits the use of force.

Reaffirming its full support for the national reconciliation process in Côte d’Ivoire, the Council also asked ECOWAS force commanders, along with France, to report periodically through Secretary-General Kofi Annan on all aspects of the implementation of their respective mandates.

The Council also welcomed implementation of the UN Mission in Côte d’Ivoire (MINUCI), created in May to help guide efforts to implement the Linas-Marcoussis Agreement, a French-brokered peace accord reached in January that calls on the government, rebels and political opposition to share power in a transitional government until elections in 2005.

© Scoop Media