Security Council resolution 1721 (2006) [on peace process in Côte d'Ivoire]
Symbol: S/RES/1721(2006)
Date: 2006-11-01
Status: adopted
Agenda: S/61 [196] CÔTE D'IVOIRE--POLITICAL CONDITIONS
S/61 [198] UN OPERATION IN CÔTE D'IVOIRE
Subjects: Gbagbo, Laurent|Banny, Charles Konan|Sassou N'Guesso, Denis|African Union. Peace and Security Council > Resolutions and decisions|Côte d'Ivoire. National Assembly|International Working Group on Côte d'Ivoire|Côte d'Ivoire. President|Côte d'Ivoire. Prime Minister|Economic Community of West African States|Côte d'Ivoire. Forces armées nationales|Forces nouvelles (Côte d'Ivoire)|UN Operation in Côte d'Ivoire|African Union|UN. High Representative for the Elections in Côte d'Ivoire|African Union Mediation Mission on Côte d'Ivoire. Mediator|African Union. Chairperson|African Union. Commission. Chairperson|UN. Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Côte d'Ivoire|UN. High Representative for the Elections in Côte d'Ivoire > Terms of reference|UN. Security Council Committee Established pursuant to Resolution 1572 (2004) concerning Côte d'Ivoire|Final Communiqué of the Tenth Meeting of the International Working Group on Côte d'Ivoire (2006)|Charter of the United Nations (1945). Chapter VII|PEACEBUILDING|ELECTIONS|INTERIM GOVERNMENTS|PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS|CÔTE D'IVOIRE|POLITICAL PARTIES|DISARMAMENT|VOTER REGISTRATION|PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION|ARMED FORCES|WORKING GROUPS|MILITARY REFORM|INTERNAL SECURITY|CIVIL SOCIETY|WOMEN'S RIGHTS|GENDER MAINSTREAMING|MASS MEDIA|CODES OF CONDUCT|MEDIATION|REPORT PREPARATION|RECOMMENDATIONS|DISPUTE SETTLEMENT|IDENTIFICATION CARDS|STAFF SECURITY|AUTHORITY|FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT|NEIGHBOURING STATES|HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS|IMPUNITY|SANCTIONS|HUMAN RIGHTS IN ARMED CONFLICTS|GROUP HATRED|ARMS EMBARGO
Votes in favour: 15
Votes against: 0
Abstentions: 0
Voting record:
country: ARGENTINA
vote: yes
country: CHINA
vote: yes
country: CONGO
vote: yes
country: DENMARK
vote: yes
country: FRANCE
vote: yes
country: GHANA
vote: yes
country: GREECE
vote: yes
country: JAPAN
vote: yes
country: PERU
vote: yes
country: QATAR
vote: yes
country: RUSSIAN FEDERATION
vote: yes
country: SLOVAKIA
vote: yes
country: UNITED KINGDOM
vote: yes
country: UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA
vote: yes
country: UNITED STATES
vote: yes

               United Nations                                                                    S/RES/1721 (2006)
               Security Council                                                 Distr.: General
                                                                                1 November 2006




               Resolution 1721 (2006)
               Adopted by the Security Council at its 5561st meeting, on
               1 November 2006

                    The Security Council,
                     Recalling its previous resolutions and the statements of its President relating to
               the situation in Côte d’Ivoire,
                     Reaffirming its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, territorial
               integrity and unity of Côte d’Ivoire, and recalling the importance of the principles of
               good-neighbourliness, non-interference and regional cooperation,
                     Recalling that it endorsed the Agreement signed by the Ivorian political forces
               in Linas-Marcoussis on 24 January 2003 (S/2003/99) (the Linas-Marcoussis
               Agreement) approved by the Conference of Heads of State on Côte d’Ivoire, held in
               Paris on 25 and 26 January 2003, the Agreement signed in Accra on 30 July 2004
               (the Accra III Agreement) and the Agreement signed in Pretoria on 6 April 2005 (the
               Pretoria Agreement),
                    Commending the continued efforts of the African Union, the Economic
               Community of West African States and the leaders of the region to promote peace
               and stability in Côte d’Ivoire, and reiterating its full support for them,
                    Paying tribute to President Thabo Mbeki of the Republic of South Africa for
               the untiring efforts he has deployed in the service of peace and reconciliation in
               Côte d’Ivoire, as well as the numerous initiatives he has taken to move forward the
               peace process, in his capacity as African Union Mediator, driven by his deep
               commitment to finding African solutions to African problems,
                     Commending also the constant efforts of the Special Representative of the
               Secretary-General, Mr. Pierre Schori, and of the High Representative for the
               Elections, Mr. Gérard Stoudmann, and of the International Working Group (IWG),
               and reiterating its full support for them,
                    Reaffirming its support to the impartial forces, namely the United Nations
               Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI) and the French forces which support it,
                    Having taken note of the decision of the Peace and Security Council of the
               African Union adopted at its 64th meeting at the level of Heads of State and
               Government, held on 17 October 2006 in Addis Ababa (“the decision of the Peace
               and Security Council”) (S/2006/829),

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                  Having heard on 25 October 2006 the report by M. Saïd Djinnit,
               Commissioner of the African Union,
                    Having taken note of the report of the Secretary-General dated 17 October
               2006 (S/2006/821), in particular its paragraphs 68 to 80,
                    Bearing in mind that the constitutional mandate of President Laurent Gbagbo
               expired on 30 October 2005 and the mandate of the former National Assembly
               expired on 16 December 2005,
                     Expressing its serious concern at the persistence of the crisis and the
               deterioration of the situation in Côte d’Ivoire, including its grave humanitarian
               consequences causing large-scale civilian suffering and displacement,
                     Reiterating its firm condemnation of all violations of human rights and
               international humanitarian law in Côte d’Ivoire,
                     Determining that the situation in Côte d’Ivoire continues to pose a threat to
               international peace and security in the region,
                    Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations,
                     1.    Endorses the decision of the Peace and Security Council, underlines that
               its unfettered implementation requires the full support from the Council, considers
               therefore that the following provisions of the present resolution, based on the
               decision of the Peace and Security Council, aim at implementing fully the peace
               process in Côte d’Ivoire and at organizing free, open, fair and transparent elections
               in this country by 31 October 2007, and affirms that such provisions are intended to
               be applicable during the transition period until a newly elected President takes up
               his duties and a new National Assembly is elected;
                    2.    Takes note of the tenth final communiqué of the IWG dated 8 September
               2006;
                     3.    Takes note of the impossibility of organizing elections, presidential and
               legislative, on the scheduled date and of the expiry, on 31 October 2006, of the
               transition period and of the mandates of President Laurent Gbagbo and
               Prime Minister, Mr. Charles Konan Banny;
                     4.   Recalls paragraphs 5 and 8 of the tenth final communiqué of the IWG
               dated 8 September 2006, paragraph 10 of the decision of the Peace and Security
               Council and paragraph 75 (a) of the report of the Secretary-General dated
               17 October 2006 (S/2006/821), and, therefore, declares that the full implementation
               of the present resolution, consistent with paragraphs 13 and 14 of the decision of the
               Peace and Security Council, and of the peace process led by the Prime Minister
               requires full compliance by all Ivorian parties and that no legal provisions should be
               invoked by them to obstruct the process;
                     5.   Endorses the decision of the Peace and Security Council that
               President Laurent Gbagbo should remain Head of State as from 1 November 2006
               for a new and final transition period not exceeding 12 months;
                     6.   Endorses the decision of the Peace and Security Council to renew the
               mandate of the Prime Minister, Mr. Charles Konan Banny, as from 1 November
               2006 for a new and final transition period not exceeding 12 months, and endorses
               also the decision of the Peace and Security Council that the Prime Minister shall not



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           be eligible to stand for the presidential elections to be organized by 31 October
           2007;
                 7.   Stresses that the Prime Minister shall have a mandate to implement all
           the provisions of the road map drawn up by the IWG and of the agreements
           concluded between the Ivorian parties with a view to holding free, open, fair and
           transparent elections by 31 October 2007 at the latest, with support from the United
           Nations and potential donors, and to carry out, in particular:
              – The disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) programme,
              – The identification of population and registration of voters in order to compile
                credible electoral rolls,
              – The operations of disarmament and dismantling of militias,
              – The restoration of State authority and the redeployment of the administration
                and public services throughout the territory of Côte d’Ivoire,
              – The technical preparations for the elections,
              – The restructuring of the armed forces, in accordance with paragraph 17 of the
                decision of the Peace and Security Council and paragraph 3 article f) of the
                Linas-Marcoussis Agreement;
                 8.    Stresses that the Prime Minister, for the implementation of the mandate
           set out in paragraph 7 above, must have all the necessary powers, and all appropriate
           financial, material and human resources, as well as full and unfettered authority,
           consistent with ECOWAS recommendations dated 6 October 2006 and must be
           empowered to take all necessary decisions, in all matters, within the Council of
           Ministers or the Council of Government, by ordinances or decree-laws;
                9.   Stresses also that the Prime Minister, for the implementation of the
           mandate set out in paragraph 7 above, must also have the necessary authority over
           the Defence and Security Forces of Côte d’Ivoire;
                10. Recalls paragraph 10 article (iii) of the decision of the Peace and
           Security Council of the African Union dated 6 October 2005 (S/2005/639) and the
           statement of the President of the Council dated 9 December 2005
           (S/PRST/2005/60), reaffirms the provisions of paragraphs 6 and 7 of resolution
           1633 (2005), and recalls that the Prime Minister shall have full authority over the
           Government that he will establish;
                 11. Reaffirms that the DDR and identification processes should be carried out
           concomitantly, stresses the centrality of both processes to the peace process, urges
           the Prime Minister to implement them without delay, and calls upon all the Ivorian
           parties to cooperate fully with him in this regard;
                 12. Demands the immediate resumption of the programme for the
           disarmament and dismantling of militias throughout the national territory, stresses
           that this programme is a key element of the peace process, and underlines the
           individual responsibility of the leaders of the militias in the full implementation of
           this process;
                13. Urges the Prime Minister to immediately take all appropriate measures,
           through the signing of the relevant ordinances in the conditions set out in paragraph



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               8 above, to expedite the issuance of birth and nationality certificates in the context
               of the identification process, in a spirit of equity and transparency;
                    14. Demands that all the Ivorian parties concerned, in particular the Armed
               Forces of Forces Nouvelles and the Armed Forces of Côte d’Ivoire, participate fully
               and in good faith in the work of the quadripartite commission responsible for
               overseeing the implementation of the DDR programme and the operations for the
               disarmament and dismantling of militias;
                     15. Invites the Prime Minister to establish immediately, in liaison with all the
               Ivorian parties, UNOCI and the French forces which support it, a working group
               responsible for submitting to him a plan on the restructuring of the Defence and
               Security Forces and preparing possible seminars on security sector reform to be
               organized by the African Union and ECOWAS, with a view to rebuilding Defence
               and Security Forces committed to the values of integrity and republican morality;
                     16. Encourages the African Union and ECOWAS to organize seminars on
               security sector reform, in collaboration with partners and with the participation of
               commanding and senior officers from West African countries emerging from
               conflict, to examine, among other issues, the principles of civilian control of armed
               forces and personal and individual responsibility for acts of impunity or violation of
               human rights;
                     17. Invites the Prime Minister to establish immediately, in liaison with all the
               Ivorian parties concerned and the High Representative for the Elections, a working
               group responsible for helping him implement the identification of the population
               and registration of voters, in order to ensure their credibility and transparency;
                     18. Encourages the Prime Minister to seek, as appropriate, the active
               involvement of civil society in moving the peace process forward, and urges the
               Ivorian parties, the High Representative for the Elections together with UNOCI to
               take account of the rights and resources of women and of gender considerations as
               set out in resolution 1325 (2000) as cross-cutting issues in the implementation of the
               peace process including through the consultations with local and international
               women’s groups;
                     19. Demands that all Ivorian parties end all incitement to hatred and
               violence, in radio and television broadcasting as well as in any other media, and
               urges the Prime Minister to establish and implement without delay a code of
               conduct for the media, in conformity with the decisions taken at Yamoussoukro on
               5 July 2006 and the decision of the Peace and Security Council;
                     20. Endorses the decision of the Peace and Security Council that, to avoid
               multiple and conflicting mediation efforts, President Denis Sassou Nguesso of the
               Republic of the Congo (“the Mediator”), in his capacity as Chairperson of the
               African Union shall lead the mediation efforts, in liaison with the Chairperson of the
               Commission of the African Union and ECOWAS and, as the need may arise, in
               liaison with any other African leader willing to make a contribution to the search for
               peace in Côte d’Ivoire and underlines that the representative of the Mediator in Côte
               d’Ivoire will lead, in liaison with the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, the day-to-day mediation;
                    21. Requests the African Union and the Economic Community of West
               African States to continue to monitor and follow up closely the implementation of



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           the peace process, and invites them to review before 1 February 2007 the progress
           achieved, and should they deem it appropriate, to review the situation again between
           that date and 31 October 2007, and requests them to report to the Council, through
           the Secretary-General, on their assessment and, if necessary, to submit to the
           Council any new recommendations;
                 22. Renews for a period of 12 months the mandate of the High
           Representative for the Elections laid down in paragraph 7 of resolution 1603 (2005),
           underscores that the Peace and Security Council of the African Union encouraged
           the High Representative for the Elections to play a greater role in the resolution of
           disputes linked to the electoral process, or issues arising out of the procedures and
           processes to be adopted to ensure open, free, fair and transparent elections, and
           decides therefore that, in addition to this mandate, the High Representative for the
           Elections, in full support of and in consultation with the Prime Minister:
              – shall be the sole authority authorized to arbitrate with a view to preventing or
                resolving any problems or disputes related to the electoral process, in liaison
                with the Mediator,
              – shall certify that all stages of the electoral process, including the process of
                identification of the population, the establishment of a register of voters and
                the issuance of voters’ cards, provide all the necessary guarantees for the
                holding of open, free, fair and transparent presidential and legislative elections
                in accordance with international standards;
                23. Requests UNOCI, consistent with its mandate in resolution 1609 to
           protect United Nations personnel, to provide security to the High Representative for
           the Elections, within its capabilities and its areas of deployment;
                24. Recalls paragraph 9 above, and stresses therefore that the Prime Minister
           must have authority over the personnel of the Defence and Security Forces of Côte
           d’Ivoire who ensure his close protection and provide the security of his offices,
           including through designating them, without prejudice to the provisions of
           paragraph 2 (alinea 1) of resolution 1609 (2005);
                25. Recalls the IWG’s role of guarantor and impartial arbitrator of the peace
           process, and requests the IWG to:
              – establish as soon as possible, in liaison with the Prime Minister, a precise
                timetable for the implementation of the main components of the road map,
              – evaluate, monitor and follow up closely the progress achieved in implementing
                the road map on a monthly basis,
              – report to the Council, through the Secretary-General, on its assessment of the
                progress achieved and on any obstacles encountered by the Prime Minister in
                carrying out his mandate set out in paragraph 7 above,
              – submit as appropriate, to all the Ivorian parties concerned and to the Council,
                any recommendations it deems necessary;
                 26. Demands that all Ivorian parties refrain from any use of force and
           violence, including against civilians and foreigners, and from all kinds of disruptive
           street protests;




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                   27. Demands that all Ivorian parties guarantee the security and freedom of
               movement of all Ivorian nationals throughout the territory of Côte d’Ivoire;
                     28. Demands that all Ivorian parties cooperate fully with the operations of
               UNOCI and the French forces which support it, as well as United Nations agencies
               and associated personnel, in particular by guaranteeing the safety, security and
               freedom of movement of their personnel, as well as associated personnel,
               throughout the territory of Côte d’Ivoire, and reaffirms that any obstacle to their
               freedom of movement or to the full implementation of their mandates would not be
               tolerated;
                   29. Urges countries neighbouring Côte d’Ivoire to prevent any cross-border
               movement of combatants or arms into Côte d’Ivoire;
                     30. Reiterates its serious concern at all violations of human rights and
               international humanitarian law in Côte d’Ivoire, and urges the Ivorian authorities to
               investigate these violations without delay in order to put an end to impunity;
                    31. Recalls the individual responsibility of all Ivorian parties, including
               members of the Ivorian Defence and Security Forces and of the Armed Forces of the
               Forces Nouvelles, whatever their rank, in the implementation of the peace process;
                     32. Underlines that it is fully prepared to impose targeted measures against
               persons to be designated by the Committee established by paragraph 14 of
               resolution 1572 (2004) who are determined to be, among other things, blocking the
               implementation of the peace process, including by attacking or obstructing the
               action of UNOCI, of the French forces which support it, of the High Representative
               for the Elections, of the IWG, of the Mediator or his representative in Côte d’Ivoire,
               responsible for serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian
               law committed in Côte d’Ivoire since 19 September 2002, inciting publicly hatred
               and violence or in violation of the arms embargo, as provided in resolutions 1572
               (2004) and 1643 (2005);
                    33.   Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.




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