United Nations Security Council Resolution 1233
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United Nations
Security Council Resolution
1233, adopted unanimously on April 6, 1999, after reaffirming Resolution 1216
(1998) on the situation in Guinea-Bissau
, the Council established the United Nations Peacebuilding Support Office in Guinea-Bissau
(UNOGBIS) to facilitate the implementation of the Abuja Accord.
In the preamble of the Resolution 1223, the Security Council continued to express concern over the humanitarian situation in Guinea-Bissau. It noted declarations by the President of Guinea-Bissau João Bernardo Vieira
and the leader of the self-proclaimed military junta
of never again resorting to the use of weapon
s and welcomed the swearing-in of a new Government of National Unity. The Council noted that there serious obstacles remaining, partly due to the failure of civil servants and other officials to return to Guinea-Bissau from other countries. It welcomed the deployment of troops from the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group
(ECOMOG) and reiterated the need to conduct general and presidential elections as soon as possible in accordance with the Abuja Agreement.
The parties were commended for the steps they had taken so far in the peace process and were asked to take measures for a smooth functioning of the government and the return of refugee
s. They were called upon to promptly agree on the date for the holding of free, fair and inclusive elections
.
Supporting a decision of the Secretary-General Kofi Annan
, the Council authorised the establishment of UNOGBIS to co-ordinate United Nations activities in Guinea-Bissau during the transitional period leading up to general and presidential elections in addition to the implementation of the Abuja Accord, in co-operation with the ECOMOG, the Economic Community of West African States
(ECOWAS) and international organisations.
The resolution reiterated the requirement for the disarmament
and encampment of ex-belligerent troops and welcomed the progress made by ECOMOG in this regard; the demining
of areas to facilitate the return of refugees was also a necessity. The Council urged all parties to respect international law
, particularly with regards to operations by United Nations and humanitarian personnel. It welcomed a United Nations Development Programme
-sponsored conference that was to be held in Geneva
on May 4-5, 1999 to mobilise assistance for Guinea-Bissau.
Finally, the Secretary-General was required to submit a report to the Council by June 30, 1999 and every 90 days thereafter on developments relating to Guinea-Bissau, the Abuja Accord, UNOGBIS and ECOMOG.
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"....
1233, adopted unanimously on April 6, 1999, after reaffirming Resolution 1216
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1216
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...
(1998) on the 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 established the United Nations Peacebuilding Support Office in Guinea-Bissau
United Nations Peacebuilding Support Office in Guinea-Bissau
The 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....
(UNOGBIS) to facilitate the implementation of the Abuja Accord.
In the preamble of the Resolution 1223, the Security Council continued to express concern over the humanitarian situation in Guinea-Bissau. It noted declarations by the President 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...
and the leader of the self-proclaimed military junta
Military 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...
of never again resorting to the use of weapon
Weapon
A weapon, arm, or armament is a tool or instrument used with the aim of causing damage or harm to living beings or artificial structures or systems...
s and welcomed the swearing-in of a new Government of National Unity. The Council noted that there serious obstacles remaining, partly due to the failure of civil servants and other officials to return to Guinea-Bissau from other countries. It welcomed the deployment of troops from 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) and reiterated the need to conduct general and presidential elections as soon as possible in accordance with the Abuja Agreement.
The parties were commended for the steps they had taken so far in the peace process and were asked to take measures for a smooth functioning of the government and the return of refugee
Refugee
A refugee is a person who outside her country of origin or habitual residence because she has suffered persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or because she is a member of a persecuted 'social group'. Such a person may be referred to as an 'asylum seeker' until...
s. They were called upon to promptly agree on the date for the holding of free, fair and inclusive 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...
.
Supporting a decision of 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...
, the Council authorised the establishment of UNOGBIS to co-ordinate United Nations activities in Guinea-Bissau during the transitional period leading up to general and presidential elections in addition to the implementation of the Abuja Accord, in co-operation with the ECOMOG, 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) and international organisations.
The resolution reiterated the requirement for the disarmament
Disarmament
Disarmament is the act of reducing, limiting, or abolishing weapons. Disarmament generally refers to a country's military or specific type of weaponry. Disarmament is often taken to mean total elimination of weapons of mass destruction, such as nuclear arms...
and encampment of ex-belligerent troops and welcomed the progress made by ECOMOG in this regard; the demining
Demining
Demining or mine clearance is the process of removing either land mines, or naval mines, from an area, while minesweeping describes the act of detecting of mines. There are two distinct types of mine detection and removal: military and humanitarian.Minesweepers use many tools in order to accomplish...
of areas to facilitate the return of refugees was also a necessity. The Council urged all parties to respect international law
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...
, particularly with regards to operations by United Nations and humanitarian personnel. It welcomed a United Nations Development Programme
United Nations Development Programme
The United Nations Development Programme is the United Nations' global development network. It advocates for change and connects countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. UNDP operates in 177 countries, working with nations on their own solutions to...
-sponsored conference that was to be held in Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
on May 4-5, 1999 to mobilise assistance for Guinea-Bissau.
Finally, the Secretary-General was required to submit a report to the Council by June 30, 1999 and every 90 days thereafter on developments relating to Guinea-Bissau, the Abuja Accord, UNOGBIS and ECOMOG.
See also
- Guinea-Bissau Civil WarGuinea-Bissau Civil WarThe Guinea-Bissau Civil War was triggered by an attempted coup d'état against the government of President João Bernardo Vieira led by Brigadier-General Ansumane Mané in June 1998...
- 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)