Security Council resolution 2349 (2017) [on the situation in the Lake Chad Basin region]
Symbol: S/RES/2349 (2017)
Date: 2017-03-31
Status: adopted
Agenda: S/72 [308] LAKE CHAD BASIN REGION--REGIONAL SECURITY
S/72 [100] AFRICA--REGIONAL SECURITY
S/72 [31] TERRORISM
Subjects: Boko Haram (Organization)|Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Organization)|TERRORISM|COUNTER-TERRORISM|HUMAN RIGHTS IN ARMED CONFLICTS|HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE|REGIONAL SECURITY|LAKE CHAD BASIN
Votes in favour: 15
Votes against: 0
Abstentions: 0
Voting record:
country: BOLIVIA (PLURINATIONAL STATE OF)
vote: yes
country: CHINA
vote: yes
country: EGYPT
vote: yes
country: ETHIOPIA
vote: yes
country: FRANCE
vote: yes
country: ITALY
vote: yes
country: JAPAN
vote: yes
country: KAZAKHSTAN
vote: yes
country: RUSSIAN FEDERATION
vote: yes
country: SENEGAL
vote: yes
country: SWEDEN
vote: yes
country: UKRAINE
vote: yes
country: UNITED KINGDOM
vote: yes
country: UNITED STATES
vote: yes
country: URUGUAY
vote: yes

               United Nations                                                                     S/RES/2349 (2017)
               Security Council                                                 Distr.: General
                                                                                31 March 2017




               Resolution 2349 (2017)
               Adopted by the Security Council at its 7911th meeting, on
               31 March 2017

                    The Security Council,
                     Recalling its previous resolutions and presidential statements on counter -
               terrorism, conflict prevention in Africa, the protection of civilians, women, peace
               and security, children and armed conflict, and on the United Nations Office for West
               Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) and the United Nations Regional Office for
               Central Africa (UNOCA),
                     Recalling its visit to the Lake Chad Basin Region (the Region) from 2 to
               7 March 2017 to engage in dialogue with the Governments of Cameroon, Chad,
               Niger, and Nigeria, displaced persons, security and humanitarian personnel, civil
               society including women’s organizations, and regional bodies,
                    Affirming its solidarity and full support for the conflict-affected populations of
               the Region including displaced and host communities who are suffering from the
               ongoing security crisis, humanitarian emergency, and development deficits resulting
               from the violence by terrorist groups Boko Haram and the Islamic State in Iraq and
               the Levant (ISIL, also known as Da’esh), and its solidarity with the r espective
               Governments in their efforts to address these urgent needs, whilst addressing
               adverse economic conditions,
                      Affirming its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and
               territorial integrity of Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria,
                    Recognizing the determination and ownership of the Governments in the
               Region, as well as well as sub-regional and regional organizations, to address the
               impact of Boko Haram and ISIL,
                    Expressing grave concern at the ongoing terrorist attacks perpetrated by Boko
               Haram and ISIL, and the dire humanitarian situation across the Region caused by
               the activities of Boko Haram, including large-scale displacement, and the risk of
               famine in north-east Nigeria,
                     Reaffirming that terrorism in all forms and manifestations constitutes one of
               the most serious threats to international peace and security and that any acts of
               terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable regardless of their motivations, whenever



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               and by whomever committed, and remaining determined to contribute further to
               enhancing the effectiveness of the overall effort to fight this scourge on a global
               level,
                     Expressing deep concern that terrorist groups benefiting from transnational
               organized crime and trafficking in all forms may contribute to undermining affect ed
               States, specifically their security, stability, governance, social and economic
               development, and recognizing the connection between trafficking in persons, sexual
               violence and terrorism and other transnational organized criminal activities, which
               can prolong and exacerbate conflict and instability or intensify its impact on civilian
               populations,
                    Recognizing that security, development, and human rights are interlinked and
               mutually reinforcing and are vital to an effective and comprehensive approach to
               countering terrorism, stabilisation and reconciliation,
                      Welcoming the commitment expressed by the Governments in the Region to
               combat Boko Haram, in order to create a safe and secure environment for civilians,
               enable the return of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees, facilitate
               stabilisation, and enable access for humanitarian organisations, in accordance with
               the African Union Peace and Security Council’s (AUPSC)’s mandate, commending
               the important territorial advances by the Governments in the Region against Boko
               Haram, including through the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) which has
               contributed to the liberation of hostages, the arrest of Boko Haram members, and an
               increase in the number of defectors, and further paying tribute to all those who have
               lost lives in the fight against Boko Haram,
                     Recognising the threat posed by terrorist groups Boko Haram and ISIL, and
               recalling that Boko Haram has been designated as associated with Al -Qaida by the
               1267/1989/2253 ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee (the Committee),
                     Underscoring the need for a holistic, comprehensive approach to degrade and
               defeat Boko Haram and ISIL that includes coordinated security operations,
               conducted in accordance with applicable international law, as well as enhanced
               civilian efforts to improve governance, promote development and economic growth
               in affected areas, tackle radicalisation, and ensure women’s empowerment and
               protection,
                    Recognizing the interconnectedness of the challenges facing the Lake Chad
               Basin and the wider Sahel region and encouraging greater regional and international
               coherence in addressing these challenges,

               Security, Protection of Civilians and Human Rights
                     1.   Strongly condemns all terrorist attacks, violations of international
               humanitarian law and abuses of human rights by Boko Haram and ISIL in the
               Region, including those involving killings and other violence against civilians,
               notably women and children, abductions, pillaging, child, early and forced marriage,
               rape, sexual slavery and other sexual and gender-based violence, and recruitment
               and use of children, including increasingly the use of girls as suicide bombers, and
               destruction of civilian property, and calls for those responsible for these acts to be
               held accountable, and brought to justice;




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                 2.    Recalls the Communiqués of the AUPSC on Boko Haram, including from
           the 484th meeting, recognises the continued support of the AU to the MNJTF, and
           calls for the Member States of the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC) and Benin
           to continue their efforts in the fight against Boko Haram and implementation of the
           Communiqués; further acknowledging the need for an effective and strategic
           relationship between the AUPSC and the Security Council, to enable both
           institutions to support stability and development in the Lake Chad Basin;
                 3.   Encourages Governments in the Region to sustain momentum, further
           enhance regional military cooperation and coordination, comply with obligations
           under international humanitarian and human rights law, secure the conditions to
           enable safe, timely and unhindered humanitarian access, facilitate the restoration of
           civilian security and the rule of law in areas restored to Government control, and
           guarantee free movement of goods and persons; and further encourages regional
           collaboration on the implementation of the 2016 Abuja Regional Security Summit
           conclusions and strengthened cooperation under the auspices of a third Regional
           Security Summit in 2018, including with respect to post-conflict stabilisation and
           recovery;
                 4.    Welcomes the multilateral and bilateral support provided to the military
           efforts in the Region and encourages greater support to strengthen the operational
           capability of the MNJTF to further the Region’s efforts to combat Boko Haram and
           ISIL, which may include appropriate, logistical, mobility and communications
           assistance, equipment, as well as modalities to increase effective information
           sharing as appropriate, given the complex environment in which they operate and
           the evolving tactics of Boko Haram and ISIL, as well as training, including on
           sexual and gender-based violence, gender and child protection;
                5.    Calls for the urgent deployment of the remaining MNJTF civilian
           personnel, including Human Rights Advisers through the AU, and a dedicated
           Gender Adviser, and for the pledges made at the AU donor conference of 1 February
           2015 in support of the MNJTF to be promptly fulfilled, encourages the AU to
           disperse funds provided for the MNJTF by key partners, further encourages
           Member States to contribute generously to the AU Trust Fund, and requests the
           Secretary-General to advocate strongly with the international community and
           donors in support of this effort;
                 6.    Reiterates its call on Member States to move vigorously and decisively
           to cut the flows of funds and other financial assets and economic resources to
           individuals, groups, undertakings and entities on the ISIL and Al -Qaida Sanctions
           List, including Boko Haram, reiterates its readiness to consider listing individuals,
           groups, undertakings and entities providing support to Boko Haram, including those
           who are financing, arming, planning or recruiting for Boko Haram, and in this
           regard encourages all Member States to submit to the Committee listing requests for
           individuals, groups, undertakings and entities supporting Boko Haram;
                 7.   Calls upon the countries of the Region to prevent, criminalize,
           investigate, prosecute and ensure accountability of those who engage in
           transnational organized crime, in particular in arms trafficking and trafficking in
           persons;




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                     8.    Calls upon relevant United Nations entities, including UNOCA,
               UNOWAS, and the United Nations Office to the African Union (UNOAU) to
               redouble their support for Governments in the Region, as well as sub -regional and
               regional organizations, to address the impact of Boko Haram and ISIL violence on
               the peace and stability of the Region, including by addressing the conditions
               conducive to the spread of terrorism, and violent extremism that can be conducive
               to terrorism, in line with the United Nations Global Counter -Terrorism Strategy, and
               to conduct and gather gender-sensitive research and data collection on the drivers of
               radicalization for women, and the impacts of counter-terrorism strategies on
               women’s human rights and women’s organizations, in order to develop targeted and
               evidence-based policy and programming responses;
                     9.   Calls upon Member States to ensure that any measures taken to counter
               terrorism comply with all their obligations under international law, in particular,
               international human rights law, international refugee law and international
               humanitarian law; and further encourages Governments in the Region to consider,
               in discussion with communities, the potential impact of operations against and
               security responses to Boko Haram and ISIL on people’s livelihoods, and freedom of
               movement;
                     10. Expresses regret at the tragic loss of life in the January 2017 Rann
               incident, welcomes the commitment expressed by relevant Nigerian authorities to
               investigate and ensure accountability for those responsible, and calls for
               transparency on the findings of the investigation report and action taken;
                      11. Expresses concern about the protection needs of civilians in the Region
               affected by the scourge of terrorism, including those resulting from sexual
               exploitation and abuse, extra-judicial killings, arbitrary detention, torture, and
               recruitment and use of children in violation of international law; and welcomes
               initial steps taken such as the deployment of female members of the security
               services to IDP camps where sexual exploitation and abuse has been reported or
               confirmed;
                     12. Reiterates the primary responsibility of Member States to protect civilian
               populations on their territories, in accordance with their obligations under
               international law, and calls on all Governments in the Region, and as relevant the
               United Nations and other actors, to prioritise human rights protection concerns
               including through: greater cooperation by concerned Governments with the Office
               of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the Offices of the
               Special Representatives on Sexual Violence in Conflict and Children and Armed
               Conflict; taking urgent measures to prevent arbitrary arrest and detention and ensure
               that persons deprived of liberty are treated in accordance with international law;
               enhanced capacity and responsiveness of national human rights mechanisms across
               the Region; and taking measures to increase the number of women in the security
               sector;
                    13. Emphasises the importance of strengthening cross-border judicial
               cooperation in identifying and prosecuting perpetrators of human rights violations
               and abuses, as well as the most serious crimes, such as sexual a nd gender-based
               violence; calls on Governments in the Region to provide rapid access for survivors
               of abduction and sexual violence to specialised medical and psychosocial services,
               and community reintegration, to prevent stigmatisation and persecution, an d




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           encourages the international community to extend its support in this regard; urges
           the prompt investigation of all allegations of abuse, including sexual abuse, and
           holding those responsible accountable; and encourages the creation of a timeline for
           transferral of camp management to civilian structures to ensure the civilian nature
           of IDP sites, whilst taking due consideration of the security situation in these sites;
                 14. Urges Governments in the Region to ensure women’s full and equal
           participation in national institutions and mechanisms for the prevention and
           resolution of conflicts, including in the development of strategies to counter Boko
           Haram and ISIL, welcomes initial efforts in the Region to address women’s
           representation such as the 25% quota for elected offices in Niger, and strongly
           encourages the further development, implementation and funding of National
           Action Plans on Women, Peace and Security by Cameroon, Chad, Niger and
           Nigeria; and encourages all regional organizations engaged in peace and security
           efforts in the Region to ensure that gender analysis and women’s participation are
           integrated into their assessments, planning, and operations;

           Humanitarian
                 15. Welcomes the efforts of Governments in the Region and of regional and
           sub-regional organisations, as well as the hospitality provided by host communities
           for the millions of displaced people, the majority of whom are women and children,
           who are uniquely impacted, and urges Governments in the Region, donors and
           relevant international non-governmental organisations to urgently redouble their
           efforts and ensure close coordination, including between development and
           humanitarian actors, in particular to enhance early re covery, food security, improve
           living conditions, and increase livelihood opportunities;
                 16. Urges all parties to the conflict to ensure respect for and protection of
           humanitarian personnel, facilities, and their means of transport and equipment, and
           to facilitate safe, timely and unhindered access for humanitarian organisations to
           deliver lifesaving aid to affected people, and in particular in the case of
           Governments, where applicable, through facilitating bureaucratic and administrative
           procedures such as the expediting of outstanding registrations, and importation of
           humanitarian supplies, and further calls upon Governments in the Region to
           increase collaboration with United Nations partners including through more
           effective civilian-military coordination mechanisms;
                 17. Welcomes the $458 million in humanitarian assistance pledged at the
           Oslo conference for 2017 and urges swift disbursement of these funds to prevent
           further deterioration of the humanitarian crisis and to begin to address endemic
           development needs; and strongly encourages all other/non-traditional donors to
           contribute in line with the needs highlighted in the 2017 Humanitarian Response
           Plans of each country;
                18. Further welcomes the Government of Nigeria’s announcement of its
           2017 spending plans for north-east Nigeria which project total federal and state
           government expenditure of $1 billion on development and humanitarian activities,
           and urges swift implementation of these plans;
                19. Welcomes the scaling up of the United Nations response, especially in
           north-east Nigeria, and calls for further deployment of experienced staff, measures




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               to reduce staff turnover, and strong coordination, including through creation of
               civil-military coordination guidelines, provision of training to further imp rove
               coordination between armed forces and humanitarian personnel, coordination across
               borders and the development of multi-year prioritised plans; and further calls on all
               humanitarian organisations to ensure programming is gender -sensitive, based on
               strengthening resilience within communities and developed based on the need of,
               and where possible in consultation with affected people and local organisations;
                    20. Urges relevant national and through them local authorities to ensure that
               resources dedicated to the humanitarian effort are directed to those most in need;
                     21. Calls upon Governments in the Region to ensure that the return of
               refugees and IDPs to their areas of origin is voluntary, based on informed decisions,
               and in safety and dignity; urges relevant national and local authorities to work
               cooperatively with displaced persons and host communities, to prevent secondary
               displacement of affected populations, and to take all necessary steps to respond to
               the humanitarian needs of host communities, and encourages the international
               community to extend its support in this regard; welcomes the signing by the
               Governments of Nigeria and Cameroon, and the Office of the High Commissioner
               for Refugees, of the tripartite agreement on 2 March 2017 on the voluntar y
               repatriation of Nigerian refugees, and urges its swift and complete implementation;

               Root Causes and Development
                     22. Calls upon the Governments in the Region to take further measures to
               address social, political, economic and gender inequalities, and environmental
               challenges, and to develop strategies to counter the violent extremist narrative that
               can incite terrorist acts, and address the conditions conducive to the spread of
               violent extremism, which can be conducive to terrorism, including by empowering
               youth, families, women, religious, cultural and education leaders, in order to help
               address the conditions which have enabled the emergence and survival of Boko
               Haram and ISIL;
                     23. Recognises the complex challenges faced by the Region and welcomes
               the development of programmes by the respective Governments to help build and
               sustain peace by addressing the root causes of the crisi s, namely the “Buhari Plan”
               of Nigeria, the Programme “Renaissance” of Niger, the “Recovery Road Map” the
               Special Youth Triennial Programme of Cameroon, the “Vision 2030: the Chad we
               want” of Chad, and the Lake Chad Development and Climate Resilience Actio n
               Plan of the LCBC; calls upon respective Governments to strengthen their
               coordination and prioritisation within these programmes to enable effective
               implementation, and calls upon international partners to extend their support in this
               regard;
                     24. Calls upon Governments in the Region, including through the support of
               the international community, to support early recovery activities and long -term
               investment in vital services such as health care and education, agriculture,
               infrastructure such as the safe trade corridor and livelihoods, social cohesion, good
               governance, and the rule of law, to enhance longer -term recovery and resilience of
               populations, particularly for the areas with the most pressing need;




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                 25. Encourages the Economic Community of West African States
           (ECOWAS) and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS),
           together with the LCBC, to develop a comprehensive and common strategy that
           effectively addresses the drivers that contributed to the emergence of Boko Haram
           and ISIL, with a particular focus on longer term development needs; and further
           urges the two sub-regional organisations to convene their planned summit on Boko
           Haram to adopt a common strategy and develop active cooperation and coordination
           mechanisms;
                26. Recognises the adverse effects of climate change and ecological changes
           among other factors on the stability of the Region, including through water scarcity,
           drought, desertification, land degradation, and food insecurity, and emphasises the
           need for adequate risk assessments and risk management strategies by governments
           and the United Nations relating to these factors;
                27. Acknowledges the important contribution of civil society, in particular
           women’s and youth organisations, to conflict prevention, conflict resolution, and
           peacebuilding and humanitarian efforts in the region, and encourages greater
           dialogue between respective Governments and civil society, as well as support;
                28. Calls upon the United Nations and its partners to make further progress
           towards the implementation of the United Nations Integrated Strategy for the Sahel
           (UNISS) in order to address comprehensively the security, political, and
           developmental challenges and the underlying root causes and drivers of instability
           and conflicts in the Sahel region;

           Disarmament, demobilisation, rehabilitation and reintegration, and accountability
                 29. Encourages Governments in the Region, in collaboration with regional
           and sub-regional organisations, relevant United Nations entities and other relevant
           stakeholders, and, in the context of this resolution, to develop and implement a
           regional and coordinated strategy that encompasses transparent, inclusive, human
           rights-compliant disarmament, demobilisation, de-radicalisation, rehabilitation and
           reintegration initiatives, in line with strategies for prosecution, where appropriate,
           for persons associated with Boko Haram and ISIL, drawing upon regional and
           international best practice and lessons learned; and urges relevant national and
           through them local actors, to develop and implement appropriate plans for the
           disarmament, demobilisation, reintegration, and where appropriate prosecution of
           the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) and other commu nity-based security groups;
                 30. Stresses the need to pay particular attention to the treatment and
           reintegration of women and children formerly associated with Boko Haram and
           ISIL, including through the signing and implementing of protocols for the rapid
           handover of children suspected of having association with Boko Haram to relevant
           civilian child protection actors, as well as access for child protection actors to all
           centres holding children, in accordance with applicable international obligations,
           and the best interests of the child;
                 31. Urges Governments in the Region to develop and implement consistent
           policies for promoting defections from Boko Haram and ISIL and for deradicalising
           and reintegrating those who do defect, and to ensure that there is no impunity for
           those responsible for terrorist acts, and abuses and violations of international human




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               rights and violations of humanitarian law; and invites the international community
               to extend its support to the Governments in the Region in developing and
               implementing their disarmament, demobilisation, rehabilitation and reintegration
               strategies and policies;
                     32. Calls upon concerned governments to urgently develop and implement,
               consistent with international law, in particular international human rights law,
               international refugee law and international humanitarian law as applicable, vetting
               criteria and processes allowing for the prompt assessment of all persons who have
               been associated with Boko Haram and ISIL in the custody of authorities, including
               persons captured or surrendered to authorities, or who are found in refugee or IDP
               camps, and to ensure that children are treated in accordance with international law;
               and encourages Governments in the Region, within the context of this resolution, to
               prosecute those responsible for terrorist acts, where appropriate, and to develop both
               rehabilitation programmes in custodial settings for detained terrorist suspects and
               sentenced persons, and reintegration programmes to assist persons either released
               from custody having served their sentence or those who have completed a
               rehabilitation programme in an alternative setting, in order to facilitate reintegration
               into their communities;

               Follow-Up
                     33. Encourages the Secretary-General, with a view to enhancing
               collaboration and responsibility among relevant entities and mobilising resources
               for the region, to make a high level visit to the Region, and invites him to consider
               undertaking a joint visit with the World Bank, Chairperson of the AU Commission,
               the President of the World Bank Group, and the President of the African
               Development Bank, to strengthen the focus on and commitment to the Region of the
               international community;
                    34. Requests the Secretary-General to produce a written report within five
               months on the United Nations’ assessment of the situation in the Lake Chad Basin
               Region as it relates to elements of this resolution, particularly regarding the
               progress made and remaining challenges, and possible measures for consideration,
               including with respect to achieving greater coherence of efforts in the context of
               overlapping regional strategies, and thereafter to include these elements in regular
               reporting by UNOCA and UNOWAS.




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