Security Council SC/6980
4252nd Meeting (PM) 21
December 2000
SECURITY COUNCIL CONDEMNS
INCURSIONS INTO GUINEA
BY LIBERIA AND SIERRA LEONE
REBELS
The Security Council this
afternoon condemned, in the strongest terms, the recent incursions into Guinea
by rebel groups from Liberia and Sierra Leone that have affected villages and
towns along the entire length of Guinea’s border.
In a statement
read out it by its President, Sergey Lavrov (Russian Federation), the Council
deplored the fact that attacks by the rebel groups had claimed many lives –- in
particular, those of civilians –- and had caused an exodus of local inhabitants
and refugees, further exacerbating an already grave humanitarian situation.
The Council also
condemned the recent looting of the facilities of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for
Refugees (UNHCR) and other humanitarian organizations. It demanded an immediate halt to all acts of
violence, especially those directed against civilians, as well as the
infiltration of displaced persons camps by armed elements. It further demanded that those responsible
for the violations of international humanitarian law be brought to justice.
The Council reaffirmed its commitment to
the sovereignty, political independence and territorial integrity of
Guinea. In that regard, it expressed
serious concern over reports that external military support was being provided
to the rebel groups. It called on all
States, particularly Liberia, to refrain from providing any such military
support and from any act that might contribute to further destabilization of
the situation. The Council also called
on all States in the region to prevent armed individuals from using their
national territory to prepare and commit attacks in neighbouring countries.
The Council expressed deep appreciation to
the Government of Guinea for hosting a large number of refugees. It pronounced itself concerned by the
growing hostile attitude among the local population towards refugees, and urged
Guinea’s Government to take urgent measures to discourage the propagation of
such anti-refugee feelings.
Noting its deep concern over the fate of
all those who continue to live in a state of insecurity, the Council urged all
competent organizations to ensure that humanitarian relief continues. In that regard, it underlined the importance
of integrated action by the United Nations agencies, acting in coordination
with the Government of Guinea and with the support of the Economic Community of
West African States (ECOWAS).
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4252nd Meeting (PM) 21 December 2000
The Council also expressed its concern
over the security of humanitarian personnel working in Sierra Leone and Guinea
and, in that regard, called on all the parties to facilitate the work of the
humanitarian organizations. It urged
the parties to guarantee the security of refugees and displaced persons, and
the security of the staff of the United Nations and humanitarian organizations.
The Council requested the
Secretary-General to consider what support the international community, and in
particular the United Nations, might provide to ECOWAS to ensure security on
the border that Guinea shares with Liberia and Sierra Leone, and to report
thereon to the Council as soon as possible.
The Council supported the appeal made by the heads of State and
government of ECOWAS for an urgent meeting of the heads of the three countries
under the auspices of ECOWAS and the Organization of African Unity (OAU).
The Council welcomed the proposed inter-agency multidisciplinary mission
to West Africa, supported its earliest possible departure to the region and
looked forward to its report and recommendations.
The meeting was called to order at 1:19 p.m.
and adjourned at 1:26 p.m.
Presidential Statement
The full text of the statement, document S/PRST/2000/41,
reads as follows:
“The Security
Council expresses its deep concern at developments on the border that Guinea
shares with Liberia and Sierra Leone.
“The Security
Council condemns in the strongest terms the recent incursions into Guinea by
rebel groups coming from Liberia and Sierra Leone that have affected villages
and towns along the entire length of Guinea’s border, including in Gueckedou on
6 December 2000 and in Kissidougou on 10 December 2000. The Council deplores the fact that these
attacks claimed many lives, in particular the lives of civilians, and caused an
exodus of local inhabitants and refugees, further exacerbating an already grave
humanitarian situation. The Council
also condemns the recent looting of the facilities of the Office of the United
Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and other humanitarian organizations. The Council demands an immediate halt to all
acts of violence, especially those directed against civilians, as well as the
infiltration of displaced persons camps by armed elements, and that those
responsible for the violations of international humanitarian law be brought to
justice.
“The Security
Council reaffirms its commitment to the sovereignty, political independence and
territorial integrity of Guinea. It
expresses its serious concern, in this regard, over reports that external
military support is being provided to these rebel groups. It calls on all States, particularly
Liberia, to refrain from providing any such military support and from any act
that might contribute to further destabilization of the situation on the
borders between Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. The Council further calls upon all States in the region to
prevent armed individuals from using their national territory to prepare and
commit attacks in neighbouring countries.
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4252nd Meeting (PM) 21 December 2000
“The Security
Council notes with interest the common undertakings assumed by Guinea, Liberia
and Sierra Leone at the Conference of Heads of State and Government of the
Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) held in Bamako on 15 and 16
December 2000 (S/2000/1201, annex) and calls upon them to implement those
undertakings fully and without delay.
It again pays tribute to the current Chairman of ECOWAS and to that
organization for the important role they play towards restoring peace and
security to the three countries of the Mano River Union. [The Council requests the Secretary-General
to consider what support the international community, and in particular the
United Nations, might provide to ECOWAS in order to ensure security on the
border that Guinea shares with Liberia and Sierra Leone, and to report in that
connection to the Council as soon as possible.] The Council supports the appeal made by the Heads of State and
Government of ECOWAS for an urgent meeting of the Heads of State of Guinea,
Liberia and Sierra Leone under the auspices of ECOWAS and the Organization of
African Unity (OAU).
“The Security
Council expresses deep appreciation for the Government of Guinea for hosting a
large number of refugees. The Council
is concerned by the growing hostile attitude among the local population towards
refugees, and urges the Government of Guinea to take urgent measures to
discourage the propagation of such anti-refugee feelings.
“The Security
Council expresses its deep concern over the fate of all those who continue to
live in a state of insecurity, especially the local populations and the tens of
thousands of refugees and displaced persons.
It urges all the competent organizations to ensure that humanitarian
relief continues, and it underlines the importance of integrated action by the
United Nations agencies, acting in coordination with the Government of Guinea
and the support of ECOWAS. The Council
believes that humanitarian assistance in secure locations must be made
available not only to displaced refugees and Guineans, but also to those
refugees returning to Sierra Leone. The
Council calls on the Secretary-General and UNHCR to ensure that suitable
programmes of reintegration and assistance exist and are enhanced where
security permits in Sierra Leone. It
also recognizes the important role of the international community and the
competent non-governmental organizations in providing the humanitarian relief
which the local populations, the refugees and the displaced persons so sorely
need. The Council is concerned over the
security of humanitarian personnel working in Sierra Leone and Guinea. It calls on all the parties concerned to
facilitate the work of the humanitarian organizations. It urges the parties to guarantee the
security of refugees and displaced persons, and the security of the staff of
the United Nations and humanitarian organizations. The Council also reaffirms the need to respect the civilian
character of refugee camps.
“The Security
Council welcomes the proposed Inter-Agency multidisciplinary mission to West
Africa, supports its earliest possible departure to the region and looks
forward to its report and recommendations.”
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