United Nations Security Council Resolution 1216
Encyclopedia
United Nations
Security Council Resolution
1216 was adopted unanimously on December 21, 1998. After expressing concern at the crisis and humanitarian situation in Guinea-Bissau
, the Council called for the immediate establishment of a government of national unity in the National People's Assembly
and the holding of elections
by the end of March 1999.
against the government of President
João Bernardo Vieira
led by Brigadier-General
Ansumane Mané
in June 1998. Clashes between government forces, backed by neighbouring states, and the rebels eventually resulted in a peace agreement in November 1998, which provided for a national unity government and new elections in the next year. A subsequent, brief outbreak of fighting in May 1999 ended in Vieira's ouster.
. It called on both to implement the agreements fully, including provisions relating to the maintenance of a ceasefire
, the urgent establishment of a government of national unity, the holding of elections by the end of March 1999, the opening of the airport and seaport in the capital Bissau
, the removal of foreign troops and the deployment of the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group
(ECOMOG) from the Economic Community of West African States
(ECOWAS). The Council praised the role of ECOMOG, ECOWAS and the Community of Portuguese Language Countries for their efforts in Guinea-Bissau, including the implementation of the Abuja Agreement concerning the security of the Guinea-Bissau/Senegal
border and guaranteeing humanitarian aid
for the affected civilian population.
Both parties were then called upon to respect human rights
, international
and humanitarian law
and guarantee access for humanitarian organisations. The resolution affirmed that ECOMOG may be required to take action to ensure the safety and freedom of movement
of its personnel and requested it to provide monthly reports. The Secretary-General Kofi Annan
was asked to make recommendations on a possible role for the United Nations during the peace process and to establish a trust fund for voluntary contributions to ECOMOG.
Resolution 1216 concluded with the Security Council announcing its intention to review the situation, based on a report of the Secretary-General and the implementation of the current resolution, by the end of March 1999.
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Security Council Resolution
United Nations Security Council Resolution
A United Nations Security Council resolution is a UN resolution adopted by the fifteen members of the Security Council; the UN body charged with "primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security"....
1216 was adopted unanimously on December 21, 1998. After expressing concern at the crisis and humanitarian situation in Guinea-Bissau
Guinea-Bissau
The Republic of Guinea-Bissau is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Senegal to the north, and Guinea to the south and east, with the Atlantic Ocean to its west....
, the Council called for the immediate establishment of a government of national unity in the National People's Assembly
National People's Assembly of Guinea-Bissau
The unicameral National People's Assembly of Guinea-Bissau is the country's legislative body.The current National People's Assembly, formed following elections held on 28 March 2004, has a total of 102 seats. 100 members are elected through a system of party-list proportional representation...
and the holding of elections
Elections in Guinea-Bissau
Elections in Guinea-Bissau gives information on election and election results in Guinea-Bissau.Guinea-Bissau elects on national level a head of state and a legislature. The president is elected for a five year term by the people...
by the end of March 1999.
Background
The civil war was triggered by an attempted coup d'étatCoup d'état
A coup d'état state, literally: strike/blow of state)—also known as a coup, putsch, and overthrow—is the sudden, extrajudicial deposition of a government, usually by a small group of the existing state establishment—typically the military—to replace the deposed government with another body; either...
against the government of President
Heads of state of Guinea-Bissau
-Presidents of Guinea-Bissau :-Affiliations:-Latest election:-See also:*Guinea-Bissau**List of heads of government of Guinea-Bissau...
João Bernardo Vieira
João Bernardo Vieira
João Bernardo "Nino" Vieira was the President of Guinea-Bissau from 1980 to 1999 and again from 2005 to 2009. After seizing power in 1980, Vieira ruled for 19 years, and he won a multiparty presidential election in 1994. He was ousted at the end of the 1998–1999 civil war and went into exile...
led by Brigadier-General
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
Ansumane Mané
Ansumane Mané
Ansumane Mané was a Guinea-Bissau soldier who led a 1998 uprising against the government of President João Bernardo Vieira, which caused a brief, but bloody Civil War....
in June 1998. Clashes between government forces, backed by neighbouring states, and the rebels eventually resulted in a peace agreement in November 1998, which provided for a national unity government and new elections in the next year. A subsequent, brief outbreak of fighting in May 1999 ended in Vieira's ouster.
Resolution
The Security Council welcomed agreements signed between the Government of Guinea-Bissau and the self-proclaimed military juntaMilitary junta
A junta or military junta is a government led by a committee of military leaders. The term derives from the Spanish language junta meaning committee, specifically a board of directors...
. It called on both to implement the agreements fully, including provisions relating to the maintenance of a ceasefire
Ceasefire
A ceasefire is a temporary stoppage of a war in which each side agrees with the other to suspend aggressive actions. Ceasefires may be declared as part of a formal treaty, but they have also been called as part of an informal understanding between opposing forces...
, the urgent establishment of a government of national unity, the holding of elections by the end of March 1999, the opening of the airport and seaport in the capital Bissau
Bissau
Bissau is the capital city of Guinea-Bissau. The city's borders are conterminous with the Bissau Autonomous Sector. In 2007, the city had an estimated population of 407,424 according to the Instituto Nacional de Estatística e Censos...
, the removal of foreign troops and the deployment of the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group
Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group
The Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group, or ECOMOG, was a West African multilateral armed force established by the Economic Community of West African States . ECOMOG was a formal arrangement for separate armies to work together...
(ECOMOG) from the Economic Community of West African States
Economic Community of West African States
The Economic Community of West African States is a regional group of fifteen West African countries. Founded on 28 May 1975, with the signing of the Treaty of Lagos, its mission is to promote economic integration across the region....
(ECOWAS). The Council praised the role of ECOMOG, ECOWAS and the Community of Portuguese Language Countries for their efforts in Guinea-Bissau, including the implementation of the Abuja Agreement concerning the security of the Guinea-Bissau/Senegal
Senegal
Senegal , officially the Republic of Senegal , is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north...
border and guaranteeing humanitarian aid
Humanitarian aid
Humanitarian aid is material or logistical assistance provided for humanitarian purposes, typically in response to humanitarian crises including natural disaster and man-made disaster. The primary objective of humanitarian aid is to save lives, alleviate suffering, and maintain human dignity...
for the affected civilian population.
Both parties were then called upon to respect human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
, international
International law
Public international law concerns the structure and conduct of sovereign states; analogous entities, such as the Holy See; and intergovernmental organizations. To a lesser degree, international law also may affect multinational corporations and individuals, an impact increasingly evolving beyond...
and humanitarian law
International humanitarian law
International humanitarian law , often referred to as the laws of war, the laws and customs of war or the law of armed conflict, is the legal corpus that comprises "the Geneva Conventions and the Hague Conventions, as well as subsequent treaties, case law, and customary international law." It...
and guarantee access for humanitarian organisations. The resolution affirmed that ECOMOG may be required to take action to ensure the safety and freedom of movement
Freedom of movement
Freedom of movement, mobility rights or the right to travel is a human right concept that the constitutions of numerous states respect...
of its personnel and requested it to provide monthly reports. The Secretary-General Kofi Annan
Kofi Annan
Kofi Atta Annan is a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the UN from 1 January 1997 to 31 December 2006...
was asked to make recommendations on a possible role for the United Nations during the peace process and to establish a trust fund for voluntary contributions to ECOMOG.
Resolution 1216 concluded with the Security Council announcing its intention to review the situation, based on a report of the Secretary-General and the implementation of the current resolution, by the end of March 1999.
See also
- History of Guinea-BissauHistory of Guinea-BissauThe history of Guinea-Bissau was dominated by Portugal from the 1450s to the 1970s; since independence, the country has been primarily controlled by a single-party system.-Portuguese rule:...
- List of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1201 to 1300 (1998 – 2000)
- United Nations Peacebuilding Support Office in Guinea-BissauUnited Nations Peacebuilding Support Office in Guinea-BissauThe United Nations Peacebuilding Support Office in Guinea-Bissau was established by the United Nations Security Council in its Resolution 1233 in April 1999 to facilitate the general election and implementation of the Abuja Accord....
External links
- Text of Resolution at UNdemocracy.com