YouSaid · the spoken record

Pobee

lines on the record: 258
first: 2017-05-15
most recent: 2023-11-16
sittings or episodes: 24
sources: un-security-council

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“It is also important that the situation in the Sudan does not fall off the international radar, but rather that the international community renews its commitment to revitalize collective and coordinated peace efforts under the leadership of the region. The United Nations stands ready work with partners and play an effective and supporting role in ending the conflict and restoring a fully civilian transition. The continued cooperation and unity of the Council on the Sudan will be critical in that regard.”
2023-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9480 (2023) · source
“We encourage Council members to engage with him to share their views on the future of the Mission. Mr. Martin will hold extensive consultations with key stakeholders, including Sudanese authorities, civil society, regional and subregional organizations, Member States and relevant entities within the United Nations system. While the review team will work expeditiously, we would ask Council Members for sufficient time to ensure that the process is as thorough as possible and reflects the views of a wide range of actors. It is high time that the warring sides recognize the futility of continued fighting and prioritize dialogue and de-escalation.”
2023-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9480 (2023) · source
“Diplomatic efforts should also include regional States that can exercise tangible leverage on the warring parties to end the war. To that end, we are encouraged by the prospects for renewed regional efforts to advance peace and dialogue. Given the dramatically changed circumstances on the ground since the outbreak of the conflict, the Secretary-General has initiated a strategic review of the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in the Sudan to provide the Council with options on how to adapt the Mission’s mandate to better fit the current context. That will help ensure that the Mission’s objectives and priorities adequately reflect the needs of the Sudanese people and support the Sudan on its path towards peace and stability. The Secretary-General has appointed Mr. Ian Martin to lead the strategic review.”
2023-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9480 (2023) · source
“The meeting, along with other initiatives convened by civilian stakeholders put forward principles of what a future, inclusive democratic Sudan could look like. We also welcome the consultative meeting of signatories to the Juba Peace Agreement, convened in Juba on 24 and 25 October, and commend the Government of South Sudan for hosting the meeting. While Sudanese women continue their activism against the war and in favour of an inclusive transition, we are seeing a diminishment of women’s political participation. No political process will succeed if women are not adequately present at the table and their concerns are not addressed. A joined-up mediation approach will be essential to not only increase pressure on the parties but ensure that ceasefire and civilian political tracks are harmonized and integrated.”
2023-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9480 (2023) · source
“We welcome the launch of the Sudan Humanitarian Forum on 13 November and are hopeful that it will facilitate the implementation of the humanitarian commitments made in Jeddah. Regrettably, the parties did not reach an agreement on a ceasefire in this round of Jeddah talks. Instead, they have intensified the fighting. While a ceasefire must be put in place by the warring parties, no durable solution can emerge without engaging civilians as the paramount stakeholders in a political process. In that context, we welcome the initiatives by civilian actors to coalesce around a common peace platform. A meeting of civilian stakeholders held in Addis Ababa in October was an important development towards that end.”
2023-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9480 (2023) · source
“Allegations of rape and sexual harassment implicating the Sudanese Armed Forces have also been reported, primarily in Omdurman and Bahri. I welcome the resumption of talks in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on 29 October, co-facilitated by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States, with the positive inclusion of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development also representing the African Union. Coordinated regional and international leverage and reinforced linkages to ongoing civilian initiatives will be essential to strengthen the talks and the likelihood of further progress. The statement of commitments, adopted by the parties in Jeddah on 7 November, is an important first step towards addressing the needs of the Sudanese people.”
2023-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9480 (2023) · source
“Overall, 4.1 million people have received life-saving assistance since mid-April, but this is only 22 per cent of the people that humanitarian organizations seek to assist in 2023. Civilians continue to face serious violations of human rights, including sexual and gender-based violence. The warring parties have reportedly carried out indiscriminate attacks, while also conducting targeted attacks against civilians, in apparent violation of international humanitarian law. Restrictions on civic space and livelihood activities continue unabated. The plight of women and girls across the Sudan continues to significantly deteriorate. Testimonies of victims of sexual violence collected by the Mission predominantly point to armed men in RSF uniforms or RSF personnel as the alleged perpetrators.”
2023-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9480 (2023) · source
“Hostilities have spilled over to new areas, such as Gezira, White Nile and West Kordofan states, placing even more civilians at risk as well as humanitarian operations. The Sudan is facing a convergence of a worsening humanitarian calamity and a catastrophic human rights crisis. More than 6,000 civilians, including women and children, have been killed since April. The Sudan is now the world’s largest displacement crisis, with 7.1 million people displaced. The health situation also remains extremely worrisome. Despite numerous access constraints, attacks on aid workers and bureaucratic impediments, the United Nations and humanitarian partners continue to deliver life-saving assistance.”
2023-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9480 (2023) · source
“Credible reports indicate that Arab militias affiliated with the RSF committed serious human rights abuses between 4 and 6 November, particularly in the Ardamata neighbourhood of El Geneina. The United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in the Sudan (UNITAMS) is working to verify these reports, as well as reports that a Masalit militia undertook targeted violence against members of the Arab community in El Geneina, risking cyclical bouts of violence. Outside of Darfur, deadly clashes have continued in Khartoum, Omdurman and Bahri, with the main battles taking place around Sudanese Armed Forces strongholds. Tensions between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement- North Al-Hilu faction also persist in South Kordofan, while the situation remains tense around El Obeid in North Kordofan.”
2023-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9480 (2023) · source
“An RSF attack on El Fasher or its surrounding areas could result in high numbers of civilian casualties, owing to the large number of internally displaced persons located there. Juba Peace Agreement armed movement signatories based in the area have deployed forces to defend the city. While they had been officially maintaining neutrality in the conflict, earlier today, some of them announced their decision to end their neutrality in the conflict and align with the Sudanese Armed Forces. Their statement refers to alleged human rights abuses committed by the Rapid Support Forces and the increasing risk of the Sudan fragmenting as the reasons for their departure from neutrality. At the same time, people fleeing to Chad from West Darfur have reported a new surge in ethnically-driven violence directed towards members of the Masalit community.”
2023-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9480 (2023) · source
“Ms. Pobee: The conflict in the Sudan has been raging for more than seven months with no sign of de-escalation. On the contrary, hostilities have intensified in recent weeks. While both warring parties have declared a readiness to negotiate a ceasefire, their actions on the ground suggest otherwise. In Darfur, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have made significant military gains in recent weeks, gaining control of the Sudanese Armed Forces bases in Nyala, Zalingei and El Geneina between 26 October and 4 November. At present, the RSF seems poised to advance on El Fasher in North Darfur, expanding its territorial control over all strategic locations in the Darfur region.”
2023-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9480 (2023) · source
“Now is the time to end this senseless war and return to negotiations. UNITAMS, along with its partners, will continue to engage with both sides towards that goal, and we count on the united support of the Security Council.”
2023-08-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9394 (2023) · source
“Let me also highlight the important role Sudanese women are playing by leading several anti-war initiatives that call for the immediate cessation of violence; accountability for human rights violations, including sexual violence; and for women’s participation in ceasefire negotiations and any future political process. Their voices must be heard. Let me close by reiterating that there needs to be a negotiated solution to end the war as soon as possible. There is no other alternative. Calls by some to continue the war in order to achieve a military victory will contribute only to destroying the country. The longer the war continues, the greater the risk of fragmentation and foreign interference, the erosion of sovereignty and the loss of the Sudan’s future, particularly its youth.”
2023-08-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9394 (2023) · source
“Such pressure will lead only to a civil war with ethnic and regional repercussions for decades to come. In fact, UNITAMS is supporting efforts by local leaders to prevent or de-escalate conflicts, particularly in Darfur. UNITAMS also welcomes the ongoing efforts by civilian leaders to consolidate various civilian initiatives under one umbrella to unify anti-war forces in one broad front and prepare for an inclusive political process. It is important to include civil society, women’s rights groups, youth, trade professions and resistance committees whose voices and engagement are particularly significant in any effort to end the conflict in the Sudan. UNITAMS continues its outreach with those initiatives and encourages broad- based inclusivity.”
2023-08-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9394 (2023) · source
“Coordination between the existing regional and international mechanisms and forums remains essential to maximize the collective leverage of regional and international actors and enhance the effectiveness of mediation efforts. The United Nations is supporting a joined-up approach towards facilitating a comprehensive solution and will continue to work closely with our partners particularly the African Union and IGAD in that regard, in coordination with others. We must also highlight that a broad range of civilians remains committed to ending the war and a resumption of a transition leading to a democratic State. Civilians, tribal leaders and others are coming under increasing pressure to take sides in the war, and we continue to urge against that.”
2023-08-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9394 (2023) · source
“We welcome the ongoing efforts by the African Union (AU) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) to end the conflict in the Sudan. UNITAMS remains committed to supporting those efforts, including through the AU-led expanded mechanism and its core group, which the United Nations is a part of. We also welcome the continued efforts of the United States and Saudi Arabia to facilitate negotiations between the conflicting parties in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, as well as the initiative of the Sudan’s neighbouring countries to help resolve the conflict. The common thread among those initiatives is the call for a permanent cessation of hostilities, the facilitation of humanitarian access and engagement with civilian stakeholders in an inclusive political process.”
2023-08-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9394 (2023) · source
“The systematic abductions and killings of human rights defenders in Darfur and Khartoum are on the rise. The parties to the conflict must take concrete actions to end and investigate those violations and support must be provided to strengthen human rights defenders’ networks and better protect human rights defenders. The United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in the Sudan (UNITAMS) and the wider United Nations has on several occasions denounced specific egregious violations, such as ethnically motivated attacks in West Darfur, systematic looting and rape and aerial bombardments, and has named those responsible. Hostilities in the country must come to an end and perpetrators should be held accountable for crimes committed, including sexual violence.”
2023-08-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9394 (2023) · source
“The conflict in the Sudan continues to have immense repercussions on the country and its people who continue to face unimaginable suffering. The humanitarian and protection needs are rising by the day with no signs of a reprieve. My humanitarian colleague, Ms. Edem Wosornu, will brief the Council in detail on the mounting humanitarian needs and response efforts. The indiscriminate and sometimes targeted attacks on civilians and civilian objects and infrastructure continue, particularly in Khartoum, Darfur and North Kordofan, as the parties continue to disregard calls to protect civilians and uphold their international human rights and humanitarian law obligations. Sexual violence continues to be perpetrated on a large scale, while children continue to be killed or victimized or at risk of being recruited to fight.”
2023-08-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9394 (2023) · source
“Since June, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) Al-Hilu faction has continued to make military advancements in the Sudanese Armed Forces-controlled areas in South Kordofan and Blue Nile states, which SPLM-N claims is an attempt to take back territory previously taken from it. While the east is relatively calm, there are indications of active mobilization efforts in support of the Sudanese Armed Forces, with the emergence of mobilization committees and the establishment of military training camps. The mobilization is particularly worrisome and risks plunging the east into conflict along ethnic lines, further highlighting the fragility of the region. The northern part of the country remains under the control of the Sudanese Armed Forces.”
2023-08-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9394 (2023) · source
“The initiative that Chad has taken to convene a grouping of Darfurian stakeholders to address the situation in the region is therefore welcome and should be built on, while ensuring the participation of a broad range of stakeholders, including armed groups, tribal leaders and members of civil society and women’s groups. The situation in the states of South and North Kordofan and the Blue Nile state of the Sudan continues to be fragile, with persistent military actions and frequent road closures. In North Kordofan, the Sudanese Armed Forces control El Obeid city, while the Rapid Support Forces control areas around the city.”
2023-08-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9394 (2023) · source
“This week, the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces both ordered residents to leave their homes in a section of Omdurman, declaring it an area of operations. The parties have inflicted tremendous suffering on the people of the Darfur region, as the fighting there has continued to reopen old wounds of ethnic tensions created by the past conflicts in the region. The brutal violence experienced in El Geneina and Sirba is a particularly bad aspect of the situation, which is deeply worrying and could quickly engulf the country in a prolonged ethnic conflict with regional spillover.”
2023-08-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9394 (2023) · source
“Ms. Pobee: I thank you, Madam President, for this opportunity to brief the Security Council on the situation in the Sudan. More than 100 days have passed since fighting erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces. Clashes between the parties have continued in various parts of the country, particularly Khartoum, Bahri, Omdurman and Darfur, with neither side achieving victory or making any significant gains. Khartoum state remains an epicentre of the conflict, with major combat concentrated around key Sudanese Armed Forces installations, including the Sudanese Armed Forces General Command Headquarters. Fighting has continued in various neighbourhoods.”
2023-08-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9394 (2023) · source
“(spoke in French) In conclusion, I would like to reiterate my thanks to all the troop- and police-contributing countries and their personnel and to the Mission’s national and international civilian personnel. I salute their ongoing efforts to support the national and provincial authorities and the defence and security forces in implementing our mandate.”
2023-06-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9358 (2023) · source
“This is a geographical approach designed to align the transition as closely as possible with the realities of each area. I would like to stress, however, that the primary responsibility for ensuring protection, development and social cohesion remains with the Congolese authorities. Major Government projects are under way, such as the military programming law and the development programme for the 145 territories . Those projects must quickly produce results that live up to expectations. The gradual and geographical withdrawal of MONUSCO must continue, in close collaboration with the Congolese authorities, so as never to create a security vacuum, including by investing in police capacity through a successful reform of the security sector.”
2023-06-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9358 (2023) · source
“An orderly and responsible transition depends on the ability of the national security forces to deploy and intervene effectively wherever the security situation requires. As MONUSCO transitions, we are also drawing lessons from the Mission’s withdrawal from the Kasais and Tanganyika with regard to support for the deployment of Congolese authorities and resource mobilization. The United Nations country team and the Mission are currently working to mobilize the necessary funding to implement the transition plan for Tanganyika, which amounts to $26 million over a two- year period, and I appeal to the donor community for their support. The Mission has also initiated the formulation of transition plans for North and South Kivu and Ituri.”
2023-06-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9358 (2023) · source
“The quadripartite summit, which will take place tomorrow in Luanda, Angola, under the facilitation of the African Union and with the participation of Heads of State and representatives of SADC, the East African Community, the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region and the Economic Community of Central African States, would provide an opportunity, among other things, to define practical modalities of such coordination. MONUSCO stands ready to continue working in concert with relevant stakeholders in support of those regional initiatives, within the limits of its mandate. Our commitment to preparing for the transition is also visible in our efforts to support disarmament, demobilization and reintegration and security sector reform.”
2023-06-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9358 (2023) · source
“We salute the commitment of the leaders and facilitators of the processes through their good offices, the regular holding of high-level summits and the decision of Angola to deploy troops to secure M-23 cantonment sites and protect members of the ad hoc verification mechanism. The decision of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to deploy troops also signals the increasing commitment of regional actors to respond to the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s need for peace. In that context, we reiterate the need to ensure that all these regional initiatives are mutually reinforcing and coordinated with MONUSCO.”
2023-06-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9358 (2023) · source
“The Mission cannot responsibly depart from areas where MONUSCO is the only protection presence. I recall that the transition of MONUSCO is, in simple terms, the continuation of the Mission’s mandated tasks by Congolese authorities. It is up to the Congolese Government to create the conditions for that continuation to be viable for the long term. The Mission, jointly with the United Nations country team, is, for its part, fully committed to assisting the Congolese authorities in this endeavour. In that regard, MONUSCO and the United Nations country team have engaged proactively with the Government to jointly re-evaluate the joint transition plan, as mandated by the Council. That commitment is apparent through our unwavering support for the regional peace processes.”
2023-06-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9358 (2023) · source
“Jean- Pierre Lacroix, to the Democratic Republic of the Congo in early June, came at an opportune time to support the consultations. We noted the will of the Congolese authorities to accelerate the transition, and we encouraged the finalization of the revised transition plan, now structured around four priority benchmarks. The visit also provided an opportunity to highlight the key role of MONUSCO in the protection of civilians and to recall our guiding principles for the transition. In a rapidly evolving national and regional environment, we must stay on course for an orderly, gradual and responsible transition. The departure of MONUSCO is planned, and initial steps are being taken in several areas. However, MONUSCO’s withdrawal should not jeopardize the protection of civilians. We must avoid creating security vacuums.”
2023-06-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9358 (2023) · source
“Efforts to prevent electoral violence must also be reinforced, and the support of the Peacebuilding Fund is important in that regard. Those efforts can bear fruit only if all stakeholders are genuinely committed to the electoral process. In that regard, the independent audit of the electoral register was an opportunity to strengthen the transparency and credibility of the electoral process. The quality of the electoral process depends on the trust of the stakeholders, and this must be cultivated through greater transparency and inclusive consultation. A successful electoral process that renews the legitimacy of the country’s institutions is also critical, ultimately, to improving the security situation. With regard to the transition, the visit of the Under- Secretary-General for Peace Operations, Mr.”
2023-06-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9358 (2023) · source
“In that regard, I welcome the measures announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission to reopen voter registration in Kwamouth. I hope that appropriate measures will also be taken to ensure registration for all Congolese in the eastern provinces. In accordance with its mandate, MONUSCO has been providing logistical support to the Electoral Commission and training for police officers who will be responsible for security during the elections. The United Nations more broadly is also providing technical assistance for the electoral process through the United Nations Development Programme election-support programme. We encourage Member States to support this programme, which is still largely underfunded at the moment.”
2023-06-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9358 (2023) · source
“This violence has resulted in the death of at least 67 people in the last three months. Tensions and violence have also been reported in Kindu, Tshopo and Katanga. We urge the authorities to hold the perpetrators of violence to account and take measures to strengthen social cohesion to preserve the gains made towards stability in these areas. The human rights situation also remains worrisome. We are particularly alarmed at the restriction of civic space and the increase in hate speech. We are also concerned by reports of a rise in violence against women political leaders and activists. I urge the authorities, civil society and political actors to work to promote a peaceful, tolerant and inclusive civic space, particularly in the run-up to the December 2023 elections.”
2023-06-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9358 (2023) · source
“We applaud the activation of a system-wide scale-up of the response in eastern part of the Democratic Republic for an initial period of three months. We encourage the Congolese State, which has the prime responsibility and duty to protect its citizens, to facilitate and support this enhanced response. We appeal once again to the donor community to contribute to the 2023 humanitarian response plan, which as of 18 June was funded at 28 per cent. In addition to the security and humanitarian challenges in eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, pockets of instability have resurfaced in the western and southern parts of the country. Violence has persisted in the provinces of Mai-Ndombe, Kwilu and Kwango, and it has spread to Maluku in the Kinshasa province.”
2023-06-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9358 (2023) · source
“These violations are linked to the proliferation of armed groups in areas where displaced people are hosted and to frequent breaches of the civilian and humanitarian character of these displacement sites. Furthermore, the surge in sexual violence against children has also increased and is particularly horrifying. A significant scale-up of services to prevent and respond to sexual violence in and around displacement sites, as well as to ensure better access to food, water and safe sanitation facilities, is urgently required. We therefore call on the Congolese authorities to take stronger action, including the provision of additional sites, to assist and protect displaced people, and for better security in the sites and in the fight against impunity. The humanitarian response falls far short of the unprecedented level of needs.”
2023-06-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9358 (2023) · source
“Currently, 28 per cent of the population in North Kivu and 39 per cent in Ituri are displaced. That situation has been further aggravated by inflation, epidemics and natural disasters, including the floods experienced last month in Kahele territory of South Kivu, which killed over 470 people, with thousands missing and thousands more otherwise affected. At the same time, almost 26 million people, more than a quarter of the population, are facing food insecurity in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We are particularly concerned about the growing number of women and girls who have been subjected to gender-based violence and sexual exploitation. Gender- based violence has increased by 23 per cent nationwide, and by 73 per cent in North Kivu province alone, compared to the same period last year.”
2023-06-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9358 (2023) · source
“The joint operations between the FARDC and MONUSCO’s Force Intervention Brigade have also actively contributed to the fight against the ADF. These joint operations have concretely resulted in the protection of a hospital in Oicha and the dismantling of several ADF training camps. Beyond the protection of civilian efforts, humanitarian interventions are still highly needed. Insecurity in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic has continued to fuel a long-standing humanitarian crisis that is often overlooked by the international community. Approximately 6.3 million people have been displaced in the country, and, since March 2022, more than 2.8 million people have newly fled their homes in Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu provinces, due to insecurity.”
2023-06-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9358 (2023) · source
“The consequences of that absence are deeply worrisome. In response to the persistent insecurity in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, MONUSCO continues to do its utmost to deliver on its mandate to protect civilians. In Beni, Bunia, Bukavu and Goma, workshops supported by the Mission have served to ease tensions and build local capacities to better respond to security challenges, including disinformation. In parallel, the Mission has provided direct physical protection to the civilian population, notably through protection by projection. To date, between 50,000 and 70,000 displaced people are under the direct physical protection of MONUSCO in Roe site, located in Djugu territory in the province of Ituri. The Mission has repelled CODECO attacks against civilians on numerous occasions.”
2023-06-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9358 (2023) · source
“Despite the joint operations of the FARDC and the Uganda People’s Defence Forces, the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) has extended its area of influence to an unprecedented level and remains a serious threat to the security and stability of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. At the same time, the persistent activities of armed groups in South Kivu for the control of mining sites, in particular Mayi-Mayi militias, reminds us that it is imperative to resolve the root causes of the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo for peace to be restored. We urge all armed groups to cease hostilities and call for a redeployment of national security forces, particularly in Ituri, to restore State authority in that area. The population, especially the most vulnerable, cannot remain without the protection of the Congolese State.”
2023-06-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9358 (2023) · source
“That province has suffered from the security vacuum created by the redeployment of the FARDC to North Kivu. More than 600 people were killed by armed groups during the reporting period. The Coopérative pour le développement du Congo (CODECO), the Zaire militia and the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) are the main perpetrators of those atrocities. A particularly heinous example was the CODECO militia attack on the Lala internally displaced persons site on the night of 11 to 12 May. More than 40 displaced people were killed and 800 shelters were burned. I reiterate our condemnation of that atrocious attack on civilians who had already endured significant hardship.”
2023-06-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9358 (2023) · source
“We reiterate the readiness of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) to assist the Congolese authorities with the pre-cantonment and disarmament of the M-23. To that end, I am pleased to note that, last week, MONUSCO and Congolese authorities undertook a reconnaissance mission at the Rumangabo base to assess the conditions for the pre-cantonment of the M-23. For those efforts to bear fruit, it is urgent that the M-23 withdraw completely from the occupied territories, lay down their arms unconditionally and join the Demobilization, Disarmament, Community Recovery and Stabilization Programme. The relative security gains in North Kivu are unfortunately fragile and overshadowed by the deteriorating situation in Ituri.”
2023-06-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9358 (2023) · source
“The relative calm in Rutshuru territory, for example, has enabled more than 45,000 people from the Bishusha group to return to their homes. However, the withdrawal of the M-23 from the occupied areas has been piecemeal, tactical and political. The M-23 still controls a large part of the Masisi and Rutshuru territories, as well as the movement of people and goods in those areas. Moreover, its offensive repositioning in recent weeks has raised fears that hostilities could flare up again at any moment. The M-23 continues to create insecurity, reportedly killing at least 47 civilians in North Kivu over the recent period. In that context, we welcome the continued efforts of regional leaders to prevail on the concerned parties to implement the decisions of the Luanda road map and the Nairobi process.”
2023-06-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9358 (2023) · source
“Allow me to begin by thanking the members of the Security Council for the opportunity to present the report of the Secretary- General on the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. I also welcome the Permanent Representative of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Permanent Representative of Rwanda. (spoke in English) Over the past three months, the security situation in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo has continued to deteriorate in Ituri and North Kivu, despite a lull in armed clashes between the Mouvement du 23 mars (M- 23) and the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC). Thus far, the ceasefire between the M-23 and the FARDC has relatively held and contributed to some security gains.”
2023-06-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9358 (2023) · source
“In that regard, once the review process has been launched it will be important for it to include a focus on prevention. In connection with that, it will first be necessary to consider ways of enhancing more participatory, community-based engagements in the Architecture, and secondly of generating sex- disaggregated data on the impact of maritime crime on women, girls, men and boys in order to better inform policy options and actions. Thirdly, it cannot be emphasized enough that enhanced coordination between the signatory parties, the Interregional Coordination Centre, the Gulf of Guinea Commission, ECOWAS and ECCAS remains vital. We look to their joint leadership in defining a strategic outlook and road map for the next decade to complete the operationalization of the Yaoundé Architecture.”
2023-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9355 (2023) · source
“It is therefore vital that all signatory parties continue their efforts to update their legal frameworks, in line with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and any other complementary international and regional legal frameworks. Secondly, there is the importance of addressing the root causes of piracy, as outlined in the Secretary- General’s report of November 2022 (S/2022/818). To effectively eliminate the threat posed by piracy and armed robbery at sea, national stakeholders, regional and subregional organizations and international partners should also actively seek to address the underlying social, economic and environmental challenges that underpin the recruitment of individuals into maritime criminal networks. Without traction on that front, the overall progress in curbing that menace will be limited.”
2023-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9355 (2023) · source
“UNOCA, UNOWAS and UNODC continue to engage and coordinate their efforts with the Group of Seven Plus Plus Group of Friends of the Gulf of Guinea, as well as with ECOWAS, ECCAS and the Gulf of Guinea Commission, and are committed to further supporting regional initiatives to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the Yaoundé Code of Conduct. In conclusion, I wish to note that any reflection on, and review of, the Yaoundé Code of Conduct must include a focus on three key issues. The first is the legal framework. The criminalization of acts of piracy and the establishment of universal jurisdiction over such acts under national law, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 1982, remains necessary to address the threat posed by piracy.”
2023-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9355 (2023) · source
“Technical and logistic support is provided for the conduct of joint patrols in ECOWAS zones E, F and G, in an effort to address challenges associated with the lack of adequate material and other logistical difficulties, which is currently hindering the establishment of the envisioned naval task groups and the conduct of joint patrols. In line with their respective mandates to enhance regional and subregional partnerships to address cross-border and cross-cutting threats to peace and security, UNOWAS and the United Nations Regional Office for Central Africa (UNOCA) , at the request of the Interregional Coordination Centre, have also developed an interregional project aimed at supporting the Centre to conduct the review of the Yaoundé Code of Conduct to assess the status of the operationalization of the Yaoundé Architecture.”
2023-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9355 (2023) · source
“In that regard, we take note that the upcoming fourth annual meeting of senior officials of the Interregional Coordination Centre, to be held in Abuja, with the participation of the Gulf of Guinea Commission, ECOWAS and ECCAS, will include a discussion on the tenth anniversary of the Yaoundé process and the way forward. The United Nations system is committed to providing the necessary political and technical assistance to the Gulf of Guinea States in their efforts to fully operationalize the Yaoundé maritime security architecture. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) continues to assist in the implementation of the provisions of the Yaoundé Code of Conduct, including through the harmonization of coordination and response mechanisms to maritime insecurity.”
2023-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9355 (2023) · source
“Rapidly addressing the challenges that hamper the full operationalization of the Yaoundé Architecture is critical to maintaining current gains, as piracy incidents continue to threaten the safety of maritime traffic in the region. Recent figures already suggest that incidents are steadily shifting from the waters of ECOWAS towards the ECCAS maritime domain. In the light of those developments and in keeping with resolution 2634 (2022), I encourage ECCAS, ECOWAS, the Gulf of Guinea Commission and the Interregional Coordination Centre, in their central role as custodians of the Yaoundé Code of Conduct, to bolster efforts towards the review of the status of its operationalization. The review will be essential for galvanizing the further support and inputs needed to accelerate the process.”
2023-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9355 (2023) · source
“In addition, it has facilitated the efficient use of limited naval assets through the formation of joint naval task groups. That effective pooling of the resources of Gulf of Guinea States has enabled the bridging of national and regional capacity gaps, while ensuring the interoperability of maritime assets. As we reflect on the laudable achievements and progress made over the past 10 years, we urge increased support to address the several challenges and gaps holding back the full operationalization of the Yaoundé Architecture. They include insufficient staffing across various layers of the interregional maritime security architecture, including at the Interregional Coordination Centre, as well as a lack of appropriate equipment and logistical support across the structures and a lack of predictable and sustainable financing.”
2023-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9355 (2023) · source
“They comprise all three planned Multinational Maritime Coordination Centres in the ECOWAS maritime space, covering zones E, F and G, and one out of the two projected Multinational Maritime Coordination Centres, in zone D, of the ECCAS maritime space. The operationalization of the Yaoundé Architecture, although not fully completed, has also significantly increased maritime security cooperation in the Gulf of Guinea. More specifically, it has resulted in enhanced information-sharing among all the parties concerned, as well as a simplified process for disseminating actionable maritime security-related information with relevant stakeholders, including with the naval assets of international partners deployed to the region.”
2023-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9355 (2023) · source