YouSaid · the spoken record

Sori-Coulibaly

lines on the record: 32
first: 2020-02-14
most recent: 2020-08-10
sittings or episodes: 2
sources: un-security-council

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“The people of Guinea-Bissau deserve a country with stable, transparent and independent State institutions that adhere to the principles of separation of power, accountability and the rule of law.”
2020-08-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8754 (2020) · source
“The recent political crisis linked to the electoral dispute is self-explanatory of the structural weaknesses of the country. The country and its people need the Council’s support to uphold stability, sustain peace and advance socioeconomic development. UNOWAS will be required to play a greater good-offices role. More importantly, the Council’s support for ECOWAS, in its role as lead mediator and in putting in place an effective monitoring mechanism for its decisions, will remain imperative. In conclusion, I would like to express my deep gratitude to the Security Council for its continued support for Guinea-Bissau in the face of the recurrent political crises.”
2020-08-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8754 (2020) · source
“Allow me therefore to encourage Council members and international partners to extend additional financial contributions to the Peacebuilding Fund, in support of its catalytic role and the United Nations transition in Guinea-Bissau, to help shape the United Nations country team’s footprint and enable it to continue supporting national efforts in implementing the Conakry Agreement. As UNIOGBIS advances towards its closure in less than five months, I would like to stress that the support provided by the international community to the 2019 electoral process was necessary but not sufficient to address the long-term political instability of Guinea-Bissau. Therefore, I wish to emphasize the need for the country to remain high on the international community’s agenda, with paramount focus on reforms and the strengthening of State institutions.”
2020-08-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8754 (2020) · source
“The implementation of key reforms, notably the constitutional review as well as the continuation of efforts in key peacebuilding priorities, namely, the protection and promotion of human rights and the rule of law, women’s participation and gender parity and the fight against drug trafficking and transnational organized crime, are an imperative beyond UNIOGBIS. I would also recall that as included in the Conakry Agreement, the local elections are to be considered among the peacebuilding priorities. Accordingly, the continued role of the Peacebuilding Commission in maintaining the international community’s attention on Guinea-Bissau will be of utmost importance following the departure of UNIOGBIS. That will help ensure long-term sustainable support for the implementation of peacebuilding priorities that remain crucial.”
2020-08-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8754 (2020) · source
“A prognosis of the current impasse and beyond underscores the need for continued and robust engagement by the international community to avoid a deterioration of the political and human rights situation, consolidate past democratic gains and preserve the much-needed peace and stability. Entrenched postures and divisions among political stakeholders pose a serious threat to stability and sustainable development. All political forces must be encouraged to commit to constructive dialogue and consensus-building around national priorities. The military and security forces must consistently be reminded not to interfere in politics. Security-sector reform remains paramount, as the Conakry Agreement had highlighted. The military and security forces should become agents of change towards peace and stability.”
2020-08-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8754 (2020) · source
“Coordination with international partners, including with the group of five in Bissau and particularly with ECOWAS, continues. Additionally, tripartite coordination meetings between UNIOGBIS, ECOWAS and UNOWAS are being held to accompany the transition process and for supporting ECOWAS mediation efforts. A strengthened Resident Coordinator’s Office is being envisioned, with adequate and dedicated capacity to continue supporting the protection and promotion of human rights in the country. Meanwhile, the first phase of UNIOGBIS staff separation was concluded in July. Further separations are planned for September and December. A residual number of 28 staff will remain, for mission closure and liquidation purposes, until 28 February 2021.”
2020-08-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8754 (2020) · source
“Meanwhile, opportunities and challenges for the United Nations country team have been identified, and peacebuilding priorities will be anchored in the new United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework, which will need to be aligned with the country’s development programme following consultations with the national authorities. Continuing our efforts in support of the country will remain crucial. Funding will be essential to averting a financial cliff, and I appeal once again to the international community to generously support the Cooperation Framework. Considering the closure of UNIOGBIS, the mission remains committed to exploring options to move the process ahead. I have been engaging with regional partners to ensure that the United Nations transition is fully supported by all stakeholders.”
2020-08-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8754 (2020) · source
“Following the closure of UNIOGBIS, the platform would continue under the leadership of the Resident Coordinator and in line with commitments made by the Peacebuilding Commission. Despite challenges, regular meetings of the United Nations Strategic Policy Group ensure high-level coordination and decision-making on joint strategic and operational issues. The assessment of the United Nations country team’s capacity to meet peacebuilding priorities identified in the conflict analysis was concluded. A comprehensive assessment of the capacities of the Government and other partners remains outstanding.”
2020-08-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8754 (2020) · source
“Further to those endeavours, a comprehensive action plan is being defined by the mission in coordination with the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) and ECOWAS, to, inter alia, extend technical support to specialized commissions towards achieving cross-party consensus. In this framework, civil society contributions to political dialogue and peacebuilding are also being supported, in coordination with the European Union. In that context, women’s groups continue to play a prominent role. My plan to establish a high-level platform that brings together relevant international partners and national authorities to discuss, sustain momentum in and accompany the country’s reform efforts is progressing.”
2020-08-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8754 (2020) · source
“The Peacebuilding Fund has been utilized to identify and support key partners, including United Nations agencies and civil society organizations, for the continuation of the implementation of key peacebuilding priorities. Efforts are ongoing to reconfigure the United Nations presence in the country to allow the United Nations country team to continue critical peacebuilding activities, including political dialogue, confidence-building measures, urgent reforms and combating drug trafficking and transnational organized crime, following the closure of UNIOGBIS. In coordination with the United Nations country team and the Peacebuilding Fund, capacity-building activities for the National Assembly were supported, including training tailored for parliamentarians.”
2020-08-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8754 (2020) · source
“While there is no political consensus at this juncture on the approval process of a constitutional review, the parallel mechanisms and processes have a potential to further exacerbate political tensions. Meanwhile, the President has expressed his desire to change the system of governance — from semi-presidential to presidential — under the new constitution. This will likely lead to internal disputes within the new Movimento para Alternância Democrática parliamentary alliance as well as with its supporters and the new Prime Minister, if not carefully managed and widely discussed, thus further compounding an already fragile situation. Regarding the drawdown of UNIOGBIS, despite the political crisis and challenges posed by COVID-19, coordination with the United Nations country team on the transition is ongoing.”
2020-08-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8754 (2020) · source
“The establishment of the commission has been criticized by several national stakeholders, including the President of the National Assembly, the PAIGC alliance, civil society organizations and prominent legal figures, who argue that the revision of the Constitution is the prerogative of the legislature. President Sissoco Embaló counterargues that the work of the commission is in line with the request of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and will provide the foundation for the revision of the Constitution in conformity with the country’s legal framework. It remains unclear how the technical commission’s draft will reconcile with the one being drafted by the parliamentary ad hoc commission on the review of the Constitution, which UNIOGBIS has been supporting.”
2020-08-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8754 (2020) · source
“The political crisis and the parliamentary paralysis that emerged following the presidential election prevented the mission from supporting urgent reforms outlined in the Conakry Agreement, including the review of the Constitution, the electoral law and the law on political parties. Regretfully, therefore, the UNIOGBIS mandate is unlikely to be fully implemented before the mission’s departure. Regarding the Constitution, the technical commission established by President Sissoco Embaló on 11 May to review the Constitution is expected to submit a draft to the President in the next few days.”
2020-08-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8754 (2020) · source
“A sustainable solution that promotes stability requires all sides to compromise, but this appears far-fetched at the present time as both sides remain deeply entrenched in their positions. Concerns about insecurity and human rights abuses, such as the 26 July raid on Radio Capital FM, which is considered to be allied to the opposition, as well as the arbitrary arrests, intimidation and detention of persons and political figures perceived as opposing the current Administration have been reported. These occurrences have heightened political tensions. Resolutions 2458 (2019) and 2512 (2020) determined a phased closure for UNIOGBIS. The transition, the reconfiguration of the United Nations presence in the country and the drawdown of UNIOGBIS are proceeding accordingly.”
2020-08-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8754 (2020) · source
“While the new authorities are focused on consolidating power, the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC) is contesting the parliamentary vote of 29 June that approved the programme of the Nuno Gomes Nabiam Government. The PAIGC continues to question the legality of the session, alleging procedural errors and denouncing threats and intimidation against members of Parliament, which preceded the session. The PAIGC continues to reiterate its call for a political solution. While President Umaro Sissoco Embaló has expressed the wish to form a broad-based Government with Nuno Gomes Nabiam as the Prime Minister, the prospects of a breakthrough are poor, given the PAIGC’s strong opposition to joining the Government under the current circumstances.”
2020-08-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8754 (2020) · source
“As a result, a coordination framework was established and resources have been channelled to support national efforts. Meanwhile, United Nations staff in the country has been telecommuting since 26 March. Recent political developments in the country have led to a politically charged atmosphere, with mounting mistrust among stakeholders. Mutual accusations and reported acts of intimidation against those opposing the new political dispensation have created a hostile environment, making it difficult to reach a compromise for the sake of political stability and consensus-building around national peacebuilding priorities.”
2020-08-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8754 (2020) · source
“Ms. Sori-Coulibaly: I thank you, Mr. President, for this opportunity to brief the Security Council once more on the situation in Guinea-Bissau, particularly as the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNIOGBIS) draws nearer to its closure on or before 31 December 2020. As countries around the world grapple with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, the situation in Guinea-Bissau is particularly fragile given its dire health infrastructure and limited resources, with the peak still to come. The United Nations is supporting the implementation of the national response plan to the pandemic, led by my deputy in his capacity as Resident Coordinator, together with the World Health Organization, the World Bank and other United Nations agencies.”
2020-08-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8754 (2020) · source
“Finally, following the legacy of Amílcar Cabral, I encourage Bissau-Guinean political leaders to engage in constructive dialogue to overcome their differences and respect their national institutions — the very basis of the State — in order to rebuild their country for the next generation.”
2020-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8724 (2020) · source
“Now, ahead of the reconfiguration of the United Nations presence in the country, we have a collective responsibility to safeguard the democratic and peacebuilding dividends. It is imperative that Guinea-Bissau be kept high on the agenda of the regional and international community, including the Peacebuilding Commission. We must collectively step up our efforts aimed at inclusive and sustainable development for all, within the context of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework and beyond. Focusing on the most vulnerable, particularly women and youth, is paramount, considering that about 60 per cent of Guinea-Bissau’s population is under 25-years old and most young people are unemployed. Without opportunities, they could become spoilers, rather than peace agents.”
2020-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8724 (2020) · source
“In that connection, I intend to establish a high-level platform that brings together international partners and national authorities to regularly discuss, promote and accompany the country in its reform agenda, as well as inform on the United Nations transition. That platform would continue under the chairmanship of the Resident Coordinator following the closure of UNIOGBIS. I take this opportunity to commend the other members of the group of five — the African Union, ECOWAS, the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries and the European Union — whose joint and tireless efforts ensured that Guinea-Bissau complied with the electoral calendar. Before I conclude, allow me to recall that, during the past 20 years, the United Nations has invested considerably in Guinea-Bissau.”
2020-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8724 (2020) · source
“Regional and international stakeholders must also remain engaged. In that regard, UNIOGBIS continues to support preparations for the holding of a national conference on peace, reconciliation and development, with financial assistance from the Peacebuilding Fund. That commendable initiative should be supported by the international community. I encourage the Security Council to call upon the relevant actors to firmly move forward with that agenda, which would also contribute to ensuring political and institutional stability. It is also important for the international community — and ECOWAS in particular — to remain committed to Guinea-Bissau in support of political dialogue and confidence-building, while encouraging a culture of democracy, inclusivity and national unity.”
2020-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8724 (2020) · source
“I appeal to the international community to lend generous support to the Cooperation Framework in Guinea-Bissau. With the conclusion of the electoral cycle, the mission has shifted its efforts towards supporting the reform agenda, as envisioned in the Conakry Agreement and the Stability Pact. However, the lack of constructive dialogue among national political stakeholders, including in Parliament, poses a serious threat to the implementation of reforms, particularly the constitutional review, which is recognized as being at the heart of the country’s recurrent instability. During the critical post-electoral period, all political forces and civil society organizations should be encouraged to commit to political dialogue and consensus-building on important national priorities to consolidate peace and stability.”
2020-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8724 (2020) · source
“Those peacebuilding priorities will be anchored in the United Nations country team’s long-term programmatic interventions, encapsulated in the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for the period 2021 to 2025. In that regard, I intend to hold a joint UNIOGBIS-United Nations country team retreat in March to help streamline ongoing transition efforts and the development of the Cooperation Framework. However, to allow the United Nations country team to take on critical peacebuilding activities — including political dialogue, national reconciliation and the implementation of urgent reforms, as well as combating drug trafficking and transnational organized crime — after the departure of UNIOGBIS, funding will be essential.”
2020-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8724 (2020) · source
“I have also been engaging with national authorities and regional partners to ensure that the transition is fully supported by all stakeholders. A set of benchmarks has been developed and reflected in an integrated United Nations transition calendar that will enable the gradual drawdown and transfer of residual tasks to the United Nations country team, ECOWAS, UNOWAS and other partners in preparation of the mission’s closure. However, diligent engagement with national counterparts is critical at this stage, and I call upon Bissau-Guinean national stakeholders to enhance their involvement with the transition process. As part of the transition efforts, a comprehensive assessment of the United Nations country team’s capacities against the national peacebuilding priorities will also be undertaken to identify gaps in its capacity.”
2020-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8724 (2020) · source
“Consolidating recent gains made in drug seizures and the prosecution of cases requires political will at the highest level, but also reinforced collaboration among national, regional and international players. In line with resolution 2458 (2019), which endorsed a three-phase transition and drawdown of UNIOGBIS, I would like to assure the Council that the mission is working towards its exit by 31 December. In that regard, the closure of the four regional offices was completed in 2019. Meanwhile, I have been working to ensure solid transition planning with the United Nations country team, as well as through close engagement with the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), which will assume the role of good offices in Guinea-Bissau following the mission’s departure.”
2020-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8724 (2020) · source
“Progress in human rights and gender mainstreaming represents key peacebuilding components. Accordingly, political stakeholders and a free and respected media should set the tone to curb all forms of discrimination and hate speech. Most important, as history has taught us, ethnic and religious discourse must not find its way into the political arena. The establishment of an independent national human rights institution compliant with the Paris Principles remains a fundamental pillar for the promotion and protection of human rights following the withdrawal of the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNIOGBIS). Furthermore, the implementation of the national action plan on drug trafficking and transnational organized crime will be key for the country’s long-term stability.”
2020-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8724 (2020) · source
“Moreover, the country has witnessed no interference by the military in the political arena; the media have been enjoying freedom of speech; and there have been no major human rights violations. The upcoming post-electoral period could present a window of opportunity for sustainable peace, stability, national cohesion and reconciliation, should there be political will and commitment by national stakeholders. Within the framework of Guinea-Bissau’s Stability Pact, there is an urgent need for a far-reaching reform agenda that includes the constitutional review, the electoral law and the political parties’ law reforms, as well as the reform of the defence and security sector and the judiciary. National authorities should renew efforts to build a culture of accountability at all levels of the State.”
2020-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8724 (2020) · source
“Other areas that registered progress include the fight against drug trafficking and organized crime, with regard to which the Bissau Regional Court is currently hearing a landmark case involving the seizure of 1.8 tons of cocaine in September 2019. The judiciary police has also concluded key investigations, leading to the 10-to-15-year prison sentence of three suspects. In addition, a national action plan on drug trafficking and transnational organized crime is now in place and will serve as a road map for justice, security and judicial institutions in their efforts to combat drug trafficking. State institutions in Guinea-Bissau have also shown resilience and should be commended for resorting to legal means to resolve political disputes in connection with the presidential election results.”
2020-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8724 (2020) · source
“However, given the deep mistrust between the two political camps, divisions in the executive branch and shifting political alliances in the Parliament, the swearing in of the future President will unlikely bring about stability. Therefore, the continued engagement of the Security Council and the broader international community will be essential. Likewise, the continued engagement and active participation of civil society to advocate and monitor the implementation of the Stability Pact and the Conakry Agreement will be paramount for the sake of stability. Despite the challenges facing the outcome of the presidential election, Guinea-Bissau should be commended for completing its electoral cycle.”
2020-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8724 (2020) · source
“On 9 February, ECOWAS held an extraordinary session of its Authority of Heads of State and Government, in Addis Ababa, on the margins of the African Union Summit. They welcomed the conclusion of the verification process by the CNE, invited the Supreme Court to play its role fully in accordance with the constitutional provisions and electoral law and finalize its work by 15 February. The Supreme Court has since initiated the examination of the complaint in order to issue a decision. As a result, the legal process involving the electoral outcome has yet to be resolved in order to allow for the first-ever peaceful transfer of power to a democratically elected Head of State in the country.”
2020-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8724 (2020) · source
“Subsequently, on 24 January the Court requested the CNE to repeat the national tabulation of the data from the regional electoral commissions, in accordance with the electoral law. A period of uncertainty ensued following the Court’s orders and the CNE’s compliance. However, following high-level mediation led by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on 4 February, the CNE completed the verification exercise under the aegis of ECOWAS and in the presence of the representatives of the two presidential candidates, the outcome of which reconfirmed the provisional results. However, the PAIGC filed another complaint concerning the verification process, seeking the annulment of the second-round election results.”
2020-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8724 (2020) · source
“Ms. Sori-Coulibaly: Since my previous briefing to the Security Council, in a closed meeting on 31 October 2019, Guinea-Bissau has witnessed renewed tensions among political stakeholders, hampering stabilization and the Government’s ability to focus on the country’s economic performance and improve the living conditions of the population. Following the peaceful holding of the presidential election and the announcement by the National Electoral Commission (CNE) that Umaro Sissoco Embaló, the candidate from the Movement for Democratic Change, had won the election, the candidate of the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC), Domingos Simóes Pereira, filed a legal challenge with the Supreme Court of Justice claiming electoral irregularities and fraud.”
2020-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8724 (2020) · source