Dakar, 28 November, 2011 - The Heads of the United Nations (UN) Peace Missions in West Africa held their twenty-second high-level consultation in Dakar in order to facilitate the coordination of the action of the UN in promoting the stability in the sub-region.

The meeting was chaired by Mr. Said Djinnit, Special Representative of the UN Secretary General (SRSG) for West Africa (UNOWA). Ms. Ellen Margrethe Løj, SRSG in Liberia (UNMIL); Mr. Albert Gérard Koenders, SRSG in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI) and Mr. Joseph Mutaboba, SRSG in Guinea-Bissau (UNIOGBIS) also participated.
 

The Heads of Missions in West Africa underscored their determination to continue joining efforts and working closely in order to contribute to crisis prevention and resolution- in particular those related to electoral processes, combating insecurity, preserving democratic gains and promoting food security and development in West Africa.
 

The Heads of Missions reviewed their collaboration on the implementation of the Secretary-General's decision to develop a sub-regional strategy to tackle cross-border threats between Liberia and Cote d'Ivoire and in the Mano River sub-region, including mercenaries, movements of weapons and armed groups, illicit trafficking as well as their impact on forced population movements.
 

Regarding the issue of maritime piracy and armed robbery at sea in the Gulf of Guinea, the Heads of Missions welcomed the prompt deployment of a UN assessment Mission to Benin and to the concerned regional organizations in accordance with Security Council resolution 2018 (2011).
 

The Heads of Missions in West Africa, exchanged views on the deteriorating security situation in the Sahel Band including the impact of the crisis in Libya on the sub-region and the continued activities of terrorist networks. They welcomed the reinforced collaboration between the Sahel countries in fighting terrorism and promoting development in the affected areas. They stressed the need for the international community to support the efforts of these countries especially in addressing the additional burden that was brought by the returnees particularly in Mali and Niger from Libya, some of them carrying heavy weapons. The Heads of Missions also echoed the appeal made by the affected countries to the international community for a quick response to avoid a severe food crisis threatening to affect millions of people in Burkina Faso, Chad, Niger, Mali and Mauritania.
 

The Heads of Missions reiterated their determination to join efforts in combating drug trafficking and organized crime in West Africa through the West Africa Coast Initiative (WACI) launched to support the implementation of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) action plan on illicit drug trafficking, organized crime and drug abuse (2008-2011). They welcomed progress in the establishment of the transnational crime units (TCU's) in the four pilot countries namely Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Sierra Leone, as well as the inclusion of Guinea into the program.
 

The Heads of Mission discussed the peace process in Cote d'Ivoire where legislative elections are slated for 11 December 2011. The holding of open, free, fair and transparent legislative elections, which SRSG Koenders is mandated to certify, should complete the institutional architecture, thus complementing the 2010 presidential elections. UNOCI is multiplying its contacts with all political parties to call for an inclusive electoral process and is providing technical and logistical support for the organization of the elections. The Mission is also working in close cooperation with the Ivorian security forces and with the support of UNMIL within the inter-mission cooperation framework, to ensure that elections take place in a peaceful environment. The UN also remains engaged in accompanying the Ivorian authorities in implementing the other aspects of the peace process, including in the areas of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration, security sector reform, human rights, rule of law, national reconciliation, and economic and social development.
 

With regards to Liberia, SRSG Løj, briefed the meeting on the general elections held in that country on 11 October, noting that international and national observer missions had declared the process to have been free, fair and transparent.  The Heads of Mission, however, noted concern that the main opposition party, Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), boycotted of the 8 November Presidential run-off and that violence between the CDC and the police on the eve of the run-off would have intimidated some Liberians from voting. They also noted with appreciation the close cooperation between international partners during the elections, especially the cooperation between the UN and ECOWAS, as well as with the African Union (AU), the Carter Center, the International Contact Group on Liberia (ICGL) and bilateral partners. The Heads of Mission welcomed President Johnson Sirleaf's establishment of a Special Independent Commission of Inquiry to investigate the violence of 7 November at the CDC Headquarters and emphasized the importance of thoroughly investigating the incident to successfully lay the groundwork for much needed political dialogue and reconciliation.
 

On Guinea-Bissau, the Heads of Missions in West Africa welcomed the continued improvement of the political stability security and socio-economic positive outputs in recent months. They urged for sustained engagement and political will from Government to pursue major reforms, and advocated for substantive and immediate support by international partners, including for launching the crucial Pension Fund for the retirement of defense and security forces elements. Further, while noting the ongoing efforts of all partners in support of security sector reform (SSR) priorities in the country, the Heads of Peace Missions urged for the swift finalization of the tripartite memorandum of understanding (MOU) involving ECOWAS, CPLP and the Government of Guinea-Bissau for implementing the roadmap for SSR adopted earlier this year. The UN-sponsored National Conference on peace, development and reconciliation planned for January 2012 was identified as a key milestone for sustaining democracy and enabling a positive political environment for implementing major reforms and holding peaceful legislative elections at the end of 2012. With regard to the fight against drug trafficking and organized crime, they called for more financial and technical support from UN and partners for capacitating the Transnational Crime Unit and implementing the 2011/2014 operational plan prepared by the Government for tackling drug trafficking and organized crime.
 

The Heads of Missions were briefed on the preparations for the holding of the Regional Conference on "Impunity, Justice, and Human Rights" in West Africa, which is scheduled to take place from 2 to 5 December 2011 in Bamako. The conference will be organized by the United Nations in cooperation with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the African Union, the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) and other partners. The objective of the conference is to promote justice and human rights in support to ECOWAS efforts to combat impunity as a threat to peace and stability in the sub-region
 

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For more information: Laurence Gerard, Public Information Officer for the UN Office for West Africa (UNOWA) - Office: 221 33-869-8560 - Mobile: 221 77- 3324928 - E-mail: gerardl@un.org - http://unowa.unmissions.org