Security Council resolution 1609 (2005) [on extension of the mandate of the UN Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI) and of the French forces which support it]
Symbol: S/RES/1609(2005)
Date: 2005-06-24
Status: adopted
Agenda: S/60 [196] CÔTE D'IVOIRE--POLITICAL CONDITIONS
S/60 [198] UN OPERATION IN CÔTE D'IVOIRE
Subjects: UN Operation in Côte d'Ivoire|UN Operation in Côte d'Ivoire > Terms of reference|Force Licorne (France)|Côte d'Ivoire. Forces armées nationales|Forces nouvelles (Organization : Côte d'Ivoire). Forces armées|Côte d'Ivoire. Government of National Reconciliation|UN Mission in Sierra Leone|UN Mission in Liberia|African Union|Economic Community of West African States|Pretoria Agreement on the Peace Process in Côte d'Ivoire (2005)|Charter of the United Nations (1945). Chapter VII|PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS|CEASEFIRES|POLICE|CÔTE D'IVOIRE|MILITARY PERSONNEL|FRANCE|BORDER TRAFFIC|MILITARY DEMOBILIZATION|DISARMAMENT|SOCIAL INTEGRATION|REPATRIATION|RESETTLEMENT|STAFF SECURITY|ARMS EMBARGO|HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE|ELECTIONS|HUMAN RIGHTS|PUBLIC INFORMATION|RULE OF LAW|CIVILIAN PERSONS|INTER-AGENCY COOPERATION|TROOP-CONTRIBUTING STATES|INFORMATION EXCHANGE|STAFFING|ILLICIT ARMS TRAFFICKING|GENDER MAINSTREAMING|POST-CONFLICT RECONSTRUCTION|PEACEBUILDING|SEXUAL HARASSMENT|SEX CRIMES|CODES OF CONDUCT|CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION|PUNISHMENT|INTERNAL SECURITY
Votes in favour: 15
Votes against: 0
Abstentions: 0
Voting record:
country: ALGERIA
vote: yes
country: ARGENTINA
vote: yes
country: BENIN
vote: yes
country: BRAZIL
vote: yes
country: CHINA
vote: yes
country: DENMARK
vote: yes
country: FRANCE
vote: yes
country: GREECE
vote: yes
country: JAPAN
vote: yes
country: PHILIPPINES
vote: yes
country: ROMANIA
vote: yes
country: RUSSIAN FEDERATION
vote: yes
country: UNITED KINGDOM
vote: yes
country: UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA
vote: yes
country: UNITED STATES
vote: yes

               United Nations                                                                     S/RES/1609 (2005)
               Security Council                                                 Distr.: General
                                                                                24 June 2005




               Resolution 1609 (2005)
               Adopted by the Security Council at its 5213th meeting,
               on 24 June 2005

                    The Security Council,
                     Recalling its previous resolutions and statements of its President relating to the
               situation in Côte d’Ivoire,
                     Recalling also its resolutions 1561 (2004) of 17 September 2004 on the
               situation in Liberia and 1562 (2004) of 17 September 2004 on the situation in Sierra
               Leone,
                     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),
                    Having taken note of the report of the Secretary-General of 17 June 2005
               (S/2005/398 and S/2005/398/Add.1) and of his report of 2 March 2005 on intermission cooperation and possible cross-border operations between the United
               Nations Mission in Sierra Leone, the United Nations Mission in Liberia and the
               United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (S/2005/135),
                    Expressing its serious concern at the continued deterioration of the security
               and humanitarian situation, in particular after the dramatic events that occurred in
               the West of the country,
                     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.     Decides that the mandate of UNOCI and of the French forces which
               support it shall be extended, in this specific instance, for a period of 7 months, until
               24 January 2006;


05-39861 (E)
*0539861*

S/RES/1609 (2005)


                    2.    Decides that UNOCI shall have the following mandate from the date of
               adoption of this resolution:

               Monitoring of the cessation of hostilities and movements of armed groups
                     (a) To observe and monitor the implementation of the joint declaration of the
               end of the war of 6 April 2005 and of the comprehensive ceasefire agreement of
               3 May 2003, to prevent, within its capabilities and its areas of deployment, any
               hostile action, in particular within the Zone of Confidence, and to investigate
               violations of the ceasefire,
                    (b) To liaise with the National Armed Forces of Côte d’Ivoire (FANCI) and
               the military elements of the Forces Nouvelles in order to promote, in coordination
               with the French forces, the re-establishment of trust among all the Ivorian forces
               involved,
                    (c) To assist the Government of National Reconciliation in monitoring the
               borders, with particular attention to the situation of Liberian refugees and to any
               cross-border movement of combatants,

               Disarmament, demobilization, reintegration, repatriation and resettlement
                     (d) To assist the Government of National Reconciliation in undertaking the
               regrouping of all the Ivorian forces involved and to assist in ensuring the security of
               their disarmament, cantonment and demobilization sites,
                     (e) To support the Government of National Reconciliation in the
               implementation of the national programme for the disarmament, demobilization and
               reintegration of combatants, paying special attention to the specific needs of women
               and children,
                     (f) To coordinate closely with the United Nations missions in Sierra Leone
               and in Liberia in the implementation of a voluntary repatriation and resettlement
               programme for foreign ex-combatants, paying special attention to the specific needs
               of women and children, in support of the efforts of the Government of National
               Reconciliation and in cooperation with the Governments concerned, relevant
               international financial institutions, international development organizations and
               donor nations,
                     (g) To ensure that the programmes mentioned in paragraphs (e) and (f) take
               into account the need for a coordinated regional approach,
                     (h) To secure, neutralize or destroy any weapons, ammunition or any other
               military materiel surrendered by the former combatants,

               Disarmament and dismantling of militias
                     (i) To assist the Prime Minister of the Government of National
               Reconciliation in formulating and monitoring the implementation of the Joint
               Operation Plan for the disarmament and dismantling of militias envisaged in
               article 4 of the Pretoria Agreement,
                     (j) To secure, neutralize or destroy all weapons, ammunition and other
               military materiel surrendered by militias,




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Protection of United Nations personnel, institutions and civilians
      (k) To protect United Nations personnel, installations and equipment, ensure
the security and freedom of movement of United Nations personnel and, without
prejudice to the responsibility of the Government of National Reconciliation, to
protect civilians under imminent threat of physical violence, within its capabilities
and its areas of deployment,
     (l) To support, in coordination with the Ivorian and South African
authorities, the provision of security for members of the Government of National
Reconciliation,

Monitoring of the arms embargo
     (m) To monitor the implementation of the measures imposed by paragraph 7
of resolution 1572 (2004), in cooperation with the Group of Experts established
under resolution 1584 (2005) and, as appropriate, with the United Nations Mission
in Liberia (UNMIL), the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) and
Governments concerned, including by inspecting, as they deem it necessary and
without notice, the cargo of aircraft and of any transport vehicle using the ports,
airports, airfields, military bases and border crossings of Côte d’Ivoire,
     (n) To collect, as appropriate, arms and any related materiel brought into
Côte d’Ivoire in violation of the measures imposed by paragraph 7 of resolution
1572 (2004), and to dispose of such arms and related materiel as appropriate,

Support for humanitarian assistance
      (o) To facilitate the free flow of people, goods and humanitarian assistance,
inter alia, by helping to establish the necessary security conditions and taking into
account the special needs of vulnerable groups, especially women, children and
elderly people,

Support for the redeployment of State administration
     (p) To facilitate, with the assistance of the African Union, ECOWAS and
other international partners, the re-establishment by the Government of National
Reconciliation of the authority of the State throughout Côte d’Ivoire which is
essential for the social and economic recovery of the country,

Support for the organization of open, free, fair and transparent elections
      (q) To provide all necessary technical assistance to the Government of
National Reconciliation, the Independent Electoral Commission and other relevant
agencies or institutes, with the support of the African Union, ECOWAS and other
international partners, for the organization of open, free, fair and transparent
presidential and legislative elections within the time frames envisaged in the
Constitution of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire,
     (r) To provide technical information, advice and assistance as appropriate to
the High Representative referred to in paragraph 7 of resolution 1603 (2005) of
3 June 2005,
     (s) To contribute, within its capabilities and its areas of deployment, to the
security of the areas where voting is to take place,


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               Assistance in the field of human rights
                     (t) To contribute to the promotion and protection of human rights in Côte
               d’Ivoire, with special attention to violence committed against children and women,
               to monitor and help investigate human rights violations with a view to ending
               impunity, and to keep the Security Council Committee established pursuant to
               resolution 1572 (2004) regularly informed of developments in this regard,

               Public information
                    (u) To promote understanding of the peace process and the role of UNOCI
               among local communities and the parties, through the Mission’s public information
               capacity, including its radio broadcasting capability,
                    (v) To monitor the Ivorian mass media, in particular with regard to any
               incidents of incitement by the media to hatred, intolerance and violence, and to keep
               the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1572 (2004)
               regularly informed of the situation in this regard,

               Law and order
                     (w) To assist the Government of National Reconciliation in conjunction with
               the African Union, ECOWAS and other international organizations in restoring a
               civilian policing presence throughout Côte d’Ivoire, to advise the Government of
               National Reconciliation on the restructuring of the internal security services, and to
               assist the Ivorian parties with the implementation of temporary and interim security
               measures in the northern part of the country, as provided for in paragraph 6 of the
               Pretoria Agreement,
                     (x) To assist the Government of National Reconciliation in conjunction with
               the African Union, ECOWAS and other international organizations in reestablishing the authority of the judiciary and the rule of law throughout Côte
               d’Ivoire;
                    3.    Authorizes, for the period specified in paragraph 1 above, an increase in
               the military component of UNOCI of up to 850 additional personnel as well as an
               increase in the civilian police component of up to a ceiling of 725 civilian police
               personnel, including three formed police units, and the necessary additional civilian
               personnel;
                     4.   Authorizes the Secretary-General to take all the necessary steps in order
               to implement as appropriate relevant measures envisaged in paragraphs 19 to 23 and
               in paragraph 76 (b) through (e) of his report on inter-mission cooperation and
               possible cross-border operations between the United Nations Mission in Sierra
               Leone (UNAMSIL), the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) and the United
               Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire dated 2 March 2005 (S/2005/135), subject to the
               agreements of the troop-contributing countries and, where relevant, of the
               governments concerned and without prejudice to the performance of the mandates of
               these United Nations missions;
                     5.   Requests the Secretary-General to seek the agreement of the countries
               contributing military and civilian police personnel to UNMIL, UNAMSIL and
               UNOCI to redeploy such personnel as may be needed on a temporary basis to




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reinforce another of the above three missions, as appropriate, taking account of the
need to ensure effective performance of the current mandates of those missions;
      6.   Authorizes, subject to the necessary prior steps referred to in paragraphs
4 and 5 above, including the agreements of the troop-contributing countries and,
where relevant, the governments concerned, the temporary redeployment of military
and civilian police personnel among UNMIL, UNAMSIL and UNOCI to deal with
challenges which cannot be handled within the authorized personnel ceiling of a
given mission, subject to the following conditions:
      (a) The Secretary-General shall inform the Security Council in advance of
his intention to make such a redeployment, including its scope and duration, with
the understanding that the implementation of the above-mentioned reinforcement
will require a corresponding decision of the Security Council,
      (b)    Any forces redeployed shall continue to be counted against the
authorized ceiling on military and civilian personnel of the mission from which they
are being transferred and shall not count against the ceiling of the mission to which
they are being transferred,
      (c) Any such transfer shall not result in any increase in the total combined
ceilings on military and civilian personnel deployed in UNOCI, UNAMSIL and
UNMIL determined by the Security Council in the respective mandates of the three
missions,
     (d) Any such transfer shall not have the effect of extending the deployment
period of personnel deployed under the mandate of their original mission, unless the
Security Council decides otherwise;
      7.    Decides to review the troop level of UNOCI by 31 December 2005,
including the civilian police component, in the light of the situation in Côte d’Ivoire
after the forthcoming general elections and on the basis of the tasks remaining to be
carried out, with a view to further reduction as appropriate;
     8.     Authorizes UNOCI to use all necessary means to carry out its mandate,
within its capabilities and its areas of deployment;
     9.   Requests UNOCI to carry out its mandate in close liaison with the United
Nations missions in Sierra Leone and in Liberia, including especially in the
prevention of movements of arms and combatants across shared borders and the
implementation of disarmament and demobilization programmes;
     10. Underlines the importance of mainstreaming the gender perspective in
peacekeeping operations and post-conflict peacebuilding and of appropriate
expertise in this regard, and encourages UNOCI to actively address this issue;
      11. Welcomes the efforts undertaken by UNOCI to implement the Secretary-General’s zero tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse and to ensure full
compliance of its personnel with the United Nations code of conduct, requests the
Secretary-General to continue to take all necessary action in this regard and to keep
the Security Council informed, and urges troop-contributing countries to take
appropriate preventive action including the conduct of pre-deployment awareness
training, and to take disciplinary action and other action to ensure that such acts are
properly investigated and punished in cases involving their personnel;




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                    12. Authorizes from the date of adoption of this resolution the French forces
               to use all necessary means in order to support UNOCI in accordance with the
               agreement reached between UNOCI and the French authorities, and in particular to:
                    – Contribute to the general security of the area of activity of the international
                      forces,
                    – Intervene at the request of UNOCI in support of its elements whose security
                      may be threatened,
                    – In consultation with UNOCI, intervene against belligerent actions, if the
                      security conditions so require, outside UNOCI’s areas of deployment,
                    – Help to protect civilians, in the deployment areas of their units,
                    – Contribute to monitoring the arms embargo established by resolution 1572
                      (2004) in accordance with paragraphs 2 and 3 of resolution 1584 (2005);
                     13.   Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.




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