United Nations Security Council Resolution 1479
Encyclopedia
United Nations
Security Council Resolution
1479, adopted unanimously on May 13, 2003, after reaffirming Resolution 1464
(2003) on the situation in Côte d'Ivoire
(Ivory Coast) and resolutions 1460
(2003) and 1467
(2003), the Council established the United Nations Mission in Côte d'Ivoire (MINUCI) after determining the situation in the country to be a threat to international peace and security in the region.
(ECOWAS), the African Union
and France
to promote a peaceful settlement to the civil war
, and reiterated its endorsement of the Linas-Marcoussis Agreement.
in leading the United Nations system in Côte d'Ivoire was reaffirmed, and, for an initial period of six months, MINUCI would be established to facilitate the implementation of the Linas-Marcoussis Agreement and complement the operations of ECOWAS and French forces. A small number of support staff were also approved, to: provide assistance to the Special Representative on military issues; monitor the military and refugee
situation and liaise with ECOWAS, French and National Armed Forces of Côte d'Ivoire (FANCI) forces. The military liaison component would initially consist of 26 officers and special attention would be given to human rights
, particularly concerning women and children in accordance with Resolution 1325 (2000).
All Ivorian parties were called upon to fully implement the Linas-Marcoussis Agreement and of the importance of allowing the Government of National Reconciliation to exercise its mandate
during the transitional period. There was a need to bring to justice those responsible for violations of human rights and international humanitarian law
and the Council stressed the importance of early disarmament
, demobilisation
and reintegration procedures. Furthermore, Ivorian parties were requested to co-operate with MINUCI throughout the duration of its mandate and ensure the safety and freedom of movement
of its personnel, while the ECOWAS and French forces had to report periodically on the implementation of their mandates.
The resolution welcomed a ceasefire
agreement between FANCI and the Forces Nouvelles
. All states in the region were asked to support the peace process in Côte d'Ivoire and refrain from actions that could undermine the security and stability of the country, including the movement of armed groups and weapon
s across their borders. Ivorian parties were urged to refrain from recruiting mercenaries
, foreign military units and child soldiers
.
Resolution 1479 concluded by urging logistical and financial support to the ECOWAS force and for the Secretary-General Kofi Annan
to report every three months on the implementation of the current resoluion.
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"....
1479, adopted unanimously on May 13, 2003, after reaffirming Resolution 1464
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1464
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1464, adopted unanimously on February 4, 2003, after reaffirming its commitment to the sovereignty, territorial integrity and unity of Côte d'Ivoire, the Council called for the implementation of the peace agreement signed at Linas-Marcoussis to end the...
(2003) on the situation in Côte d'Ivoire
Côte d'Ivoire
The Republic of Côte d'Ivoire or Ivory Coast is a country in West Africa. It has an area of , and borders the countries Liberia, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso and Ghana; its southern boundary is along the Gulf of Guinea. The country's population was 15,366,672 in 1998 and was estimated to be...
(Ivory Coast) and resolutions 1460
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1460
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1460, adopted unanimously on January 30, 2003, after recalling resolutions 1261 , 1265 , 1296 , 1306 , 1308 , 1314 , 1325 and 1379 , the Council called for the immediate end to the use of child soldiers and endorsed an "era of application" of...
(2003) and 1467
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1467
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1467, adopted unanimously on March 18, 2003, after expressing concern at the situation in West Africa, the Council adopted a declaration regarding the proliferation of weapons and mercenary activities in West Africa....
(2003), the Council established the United Nations Mission in Côte d'Ivoire (MINUCI) after determining the situation in the country to be a threat to international peace and security in the region.
Observations
The Security Council began by recalling the importance of good-neighbourliness, non-interference and regional co-operation. It welcomed efforts by the Economic Community of West African StatesEconomic 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 African Union
African Union
The African Union is a union consisting of 54 African states. The only all-African state not in the AU is Morocco. Established on 9 July 2002, the AU was formed as a successor to the Organisation of African Unity...
and France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
to promote a peaceful settlement to the civil war
Civil war
A civil war is a war between organized groups within the same nation state or republic, or, less commonly, between two countries created from a formerly-united nation state....
, and reiterated its endorsement of the Linas-Marcoussis Agreement.
Acts
The role of the Special Representative of the Secretary-GeneralSpecial Representative of the Secretary-General
A Special Representative of the Secretary-General is a highly respected expert who has been appointed by the Secretary-General of the United Nations to represent her/him in meetings with heads of state on critical human rights issues...
in leading the United Nations system in Côte d'Ivoire was reaffirmed, and, for an initial period of six months, MINUCI would be established to facilitate the implementation of the Linas-Marcoussis Agreement and complement the operations of ECOWAS and French forces. A small number of support staff were also approved, to: provide assistance to the Special Representative on military issues; monitor the military and 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...
situation and liaise with ECOWAS, French and National Armed Forces of Côte d'Ivoire (FANCI) forces. The military liaison component would initially consist of 26 officers and special attention would be given to 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...
, particularly concerning women and children in accordance with Resolution 1325 (2000).
All Ivorian parties were called upon to fully implement the Linas-Marcoussis Agreement and of the importance of allowing the Government of National Reconciliation to exercise its mandate
Mandate (international law)
In international law, a mandate is a binding obligation issued from an inter-governmental organization like the United Nations to a country which is bound to follow the instructions of the organization....
during the transitional period. There was a need to bring to justice those responsible for violations of human rights and international 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 the Council stressed the importance of early 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...
, demobilisation
Demobilization
Demobilization is the process of standing down a nation's armed forces from combat-ready status. This may be as a result of victory in war, or because a crisis has been peacefully resolved and military force will not be necessary...
and reintegration procedures. Furthermore, Ivorian parties were requested to co-operate with MINUCI throughout the duration of its mandate and 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, while the ECOWAS and French forces had to report periodically on the implementation of their mandates.
The resolution welcomed 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...
agreement between FANCI and the Forces Nouvelles
Forces Nouvelles de Côte d'Ivoire
The Forces Nouvelles de Côte d'Ivoire is a political coalition that was formed in December 2002, in the wake of the first peace accords of the Ivorian Civil War.-Composition:FNCI includes these political parties:...
. All states in the region were asked to support the peace process in Côte d'Ivoire and refrain from actions that could undermine the security and stability of the country, including the movement of armed groups and 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 across their borders. Ivorian parties were urged to refrain from recruiting mercenaries
Mercenary
A mercenary, is a person who takes part in an armed conflict based on the promise of material compensation rather than having a direct interest in, or a legal obligation to, the conflict itself. A non-conscript professional member of a regular army is not considered to be a mercenary although he...
, foreign military units and child soldiers
Military use of children
The military use of children takes three distinct forms: children can take direct part in hostilities , or they can be used in support roles such as porters, spies, messengers, look outs, and sexual slaves; or they can be used for political advantage either as human shields or in...
.
Resolution 1479 concluded by urging logistical and financial support to the ECOWAS force and for 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...
to report every three months on the implementation of the current resoluion.
See also
- Ivorian Civil War
- List of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1401 to 1500 (2002 – 2003)
- Operation LicorneOperation LicorneOperation Unicorn is the name of the French Armed Forces's peacekeeping operation in support of the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire. The French forces have been stationed in the country since shortly after the outbreak of the Ivorian Civil War...