Security Council resolution 2512 (2020) [on extension of the mandate of the UN Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNIOGBIS) until 31 Dec. 2020]
Symbol: S/RES/2512 (2020)
Date: 2020-02-28
Status: adopted
Agenda: S/75 [186] GUINEA-BISSAU SITUATION
S/ X The situation in Guinea-Bissau.
Subjects: UN Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Guinea-Bissau|UN. Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Guinea-Bissau|Economic Community of West African States|PEACEBUILDING|GOOD OFFICES|ELECTIONS|GUINEA-BISSAU|DISSOLUTION|HUMAN RIGHTS|DRUG TRAFFIC|POST-CONFLICT RECONSTRUCTION|SANCTIONS
Votes in favour: 15
Votes against: 0
Abstentions: 0
Voting record:
country: BELGIUM
vote: yes
country: CHINA
vote: yes
country: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
vote: yes
country: ESTONIA
vote: yes
country: FRANCE
vote: yes
country: GERMANY
vote: yes
country: INDONESIA
vote: yes
country: NIGER
vote: yes
country: RUSSIAN FEDERATION
vote: yes
country: SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES
vote: yes
country: SOUTH AFRICA
vote: yes
country: TUNISIA
vote: yes
country: UNITED KINGDOM
vote: yes
country: UNITED STATES
vote: yes
country: VIET NAM
vote: yes

               United Nations                                                                  S/RES/2512 (2020)
               Security Council                                                 Distr.: General
                                                                                28 February 2020




               Resolution 2512 (2020)
               Adopted by the Security Council at its 8736th meeting, on
               28 February 2020

                    The Security Council,
                    Recalling all of its previous resolutions, statements of its President and press
               statements on the situation in Guinea-Bissau,
                     Reaffirming its strong commitment to the sovereignty, unity and territorial
               integrity of Guinea-Bissau, emphasizing that the Bissau-Guinean authorities have
               primary responsibility for the provision of stability and security throughout the
               country, and underscoring the importance of national ownership of the
               implementation of inclusive political, peace and security-related initiatives,
                     Calling on the Government of Guinea-Bissau to take concrete steps towards
               ensuring peace, security and stability in the country by resolving the political crisis
               through inclusive dialogue, implementing urgent reforms as per the Conakry
               Agreement of 14 October 2016, tackling corruption through the reinforcement of the
               judicial sector, combatting drug trafficking and trafficking in all forms, improving
               public administration and state revenue management, working to eradicate poverty
               and ensure the supply of basic services to the population, and promoting and
               protecting human rights,
                     Welcoming the peaceful holding of legislative and presidential elections within
               the legally-mandated timeframe in 2019,
                     Welcoming the communiqué of the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) of
               6 November 2019 calling on all Bissau-Guinean political stakeholders to put the
               interest of the country above all other considerations and create an environment for
               constructive dialogue among all stakeholders in order to consolidate peace, st ability
               and socio-economic development in Guinea-Bissau and,
                     Calling for an inclusive dialogue among all political actors, including women,
               youth, and civil society organizations, as the only viable method for finding durable
               solutions to the protracted disagreements and recurrent political and institutional
               crises in Guinea-Bissau,
                     Welcoming the communiqué of the extraordinary session of the ECOWAS
               Authority of Heads of State and Government of 9 February 2020, which invites the
               Supreme Court of Justice, the judicial body competent in electoral disputes in Guinea-Bissau, to play its full role, in accordance with the constitutional provisions and
               electoral law of Guinea-Bissau, in support of political and institutional normalization



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               in the country, and welcoming also the ECOWAS communiqué of 21 February 2020,
               reiterating its invitation to the National Electoral Commission and the Supreme Court
               of Justice to cooperate constructively in order to safeguard the integrity of the
               electoral process and guarantee the peace and stability of the country,
                     Recalling that the Conakry Agreement, based on the ECOWAS Six-Point
               Roadmap entitled “Agreement on the resolution of the political crisis in Guinea -
               Bissau”, is the primary framework for the restoration of durable peac e and stability
               in Guinea-Bissau, the strict respect and full implementation of which, in accordance
               with the Stability Pact of 14 February 2018, is essential for the resumption of
               sustainable and nationally-owned reform efforts,
                     Commending and encouraging the continued efforts of international partners, in
               particular the United Nations, the Economic Community of West African States
               (ECOWAS), the African Union (AU), the Community of Portuguese-Speaking
               Countries (CPLP), and the European Union (EU) (“the Group of Five”) in helping to
               sustain and promote peace, stability and development in Guinea-Bissau, including
               through support for the implementation of the Conakry Agreement, in this regard
               recognizing the role of the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) in enhancing these
               efforts with a view to supporting the long-term peacebuilding priorities of Guinea-Bissau and, in this context, encouraging close coordination between all national,
               regional and international partners,
                     Emphasizing the need for respect of democratic principles and stressing that
               national reconciliation, inclusive dialogue and good governance are essential to the
               attainment of lasting peace in Guinea-Bissau, further stressing the importance of
               ensuring the full and effective participation of all Bissau-Guineans, including women
               and youth, in the political and peacebuilding processes at both national and local
               levels, while upholding the principles of separation of powers, rule of law, justice and
               combating impunity, and encouraging all stakeholders to engage in these processes,
                     Reiterating its concern at the threat posed by trafficking in all forms, including
               drug trafficking and trafficking in persons, and related transnational organized crime,
               to peace and stability and, in this regard, encouraging the sustained efforts of the
               Government of Guinea-Bissau, ECOWAS, UNIOGBIS, the United Nations Office on
               Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and other relevant stakeholders in combating this threat,
                     Noting the common and shared responsibility for combatting drug trafficking in
               the countries of origin, transit and final destination, in this regard, stressing the need
               for increased coordination between relevant partners to enhance their collective
               efforts, in particular through sharing of information, and underlining that any lasting
               solution to instability in Guinea-Bissau must include provisions to fight impunity and
               ensure that those responsible for politically-motivated assassinations and other
               serious crimes, including those involving breaches of constitutional order and those
               related to drug trafficking, are brought to justice, including through national judicial
               mechanisms,
                     Emphasizing the important role of women in the prevention and resolution of
               conflicts and in peacebuilding, as per resolution 1325 (2000) and subsequent
               resolutions on Women, Peace and Security, and in this regard welcoming the
               continued cooperation between UNIOGBIS, national authorities and civil society
               organizations to increase women’s social and political participation in Guinea-Bissau,
                    Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on Guinea-Bissau, dated
               6 February 2020 (S/2020/105),

               Renewal of UNIOGBIS’s mandate
                    1.    Decides to extend the mandate of UNIOGBIS until 31 December 2020;

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                 2.   Commends the successful completion of Phase I and the closure of all
           UNIOGBIS regional offices by the 31 December 2019 as part of Phase II, as per
           resolution 2458 (2019), based on the recommendations of the Secretary-General in
           his special report of 6 December 2018 (S/2018/1086) regarding the reconfiguration
           of UNIOGBIS and endorses the reprioritization of its tasks and planning for its phased
           drawdown, including through the implementation of joint programmatic activities
           with national partners and the United Nations Country Team (UNCT), supported by
           the Peacebuilding Fund (PBF); and requests that UNIOGBIS focus on the following
           phases:
                (a)   Phase II (post-electoral phase)
              – UNIOGBIS will continue to perform its good offices function, in coordination
                with international partners, including the Group of Five, to support the Bissau-Guinean authorities in bringing the electoral dispute to a peaceful, stable and
                democratic conclusion;
              – UNIOGBIS will establish the conditions conducive to the implementation of the
                reform agenda, as per the Conakry Agreement and the ECOWAS Six-Point
                Roadmap, including through the UN transition plan, encapsulated in the new
                United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (2021–
                2025), and in coordination with the Bissau-Guinean national authorities and
                international partners;
                (b)   Phase III (transition phase)
              – UNIOGBIS will continue to implement its transition plan for the gradual
                drawing down and transfer of tasks to UNCT, the United Nations Office for West
                Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) and other regional and international partners,
                towards mandate completion by 31 December 2020, bearing in mind the need
                for a flexible approach to ensure a seamless transfer of responsibilities, and
                cooperating closely with the Government of Guinea-Bissau to ensure national
                ownership of the process;
                 3.   Decides that UNIOGBIS should continue to operate as a streamlined good
           offices special political mission, led by a Special Representative at the Assistant
           Secretary-General level;
                 4.    Requests UNIOGBIS, including through the good offices and political
           support of the Special Representative, to focus, in particular, on the following
           priorities:
                (a) Supporting the full implementation of the Conakry Agreement and the
           ECOWAS Six-Point Roadmap, and facilitating an inclusive political dialogue and
           national reconciliation process, strengthening democratic governance, particularly
           with regards to the implementation of urgent reforms, including the reform of: the
           Constitution, the Electoral law, and the Framework Law on Political Parties;
                (b) Providing support, including technical assistance, to Bissau-Guinean
           national authorities in expediting and completing the review of Guinea -Bissau’s
           Constitution;
                 5.    Requests that, in addition to the abovementioned priorities, UNIOGBIS
           and the Special Representative continue to assist, coordinate and lead international
           efforts in the following areas to ensure lasting peace and stability in Guinea Bissau:
                 (a) Providing support to the Government of Guinea-Bissau in strengthening
           democratic institutions and enhancing the capacity of state organs to function
           effectively and constitutionally;



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                    (b) Assisting national authorities and stakeholders in the promotion and
               protection of human rights as well as undertaking human rights monitoring and
               reporting activities;
                    (c) Providing strategic and technical advice and support to the Government of
               Guinea-Bissau to combat drug trafficking and transnational organized crime, in close
               cooperation with UNODC;
                    (d) Providing support to the Government of Guinea-Bissau and other
               stakeholders to incorporate a gender perspective into peacebuilding, in accordance
               with Security Council resolutions 1325 (2000), 1820 (2008), 2242 (2015) and 2493
               (2019); and to implement the National Action Plan on Gender in order to ensure the
               involvement, representation and participation of women at all levels, including
               through the provision of gender advisers;
                     (e) Support the Government of Guinea Bissau, in close cooperation with the
               PBC, in the mobilization, harmonization and coordination of international assistance
               for the implementation of the reforms outlined in the Conakry agreement and the
               ECOWAS roadmap;
                     6.    Requests the Secretary-General to conduct comprehensive capacity
               mapping of UNCT and other partners to which UNIOGBIS will transfer tasks and
               develop a complementary inclusive vision and plan for the UNCT footprint following
               the closure of UNIOGBIS, including non-resident UNCT staff and, in this context,
               prioritizing the finalization of the resource mobilization strategy and the deployment
               of staff based on the gaps in capacity already identified;
                     7.   Decides that UNIOGBIS will continue its efforts to reduce the impact of
               its closure on the host country environment, in accordance with national and
               international laws, and UN rules and regulations, ensuring an environmental
               assessment is carried out of the sites remaining to be closed;
                     8.   Requests the Secretary-General to start liquidation of UNIOGBIS
               immediately following the mandate completion date of 31 December 2020, once all
               substantive staff have left the mission, and end the liquidation process no later than
               28 February 2021; and stresses the importance of the alignment of timelines for the
               liquidation of UNIOGBIS and the decision-making of UNCT regards assets and
               premises;

               Political process
                     9.   Expresses its concern at the political situation in Guinea-Bissau, and calls
               on all Bissau-Guinean political stakeholders to refrain from actions and statements
               that could disrupt the political process, escalate tensions or incite discrimination,
               hatred or violence, and urges them to call on their constituencies to do likewise,
                     10. Calls on the Government of Guinea-Bissau to implement urgent reforms
               as per the Conakry Agreement and the ECOWAS Six-Point Roadmap, including, as a
               priority, the reform of the Constitution, as well as reform of: the Ele ctoral Law, the
               Framework Law on Political Parties, the defence and security sector, and the judicial
               sector, ensuring therein the separation of powers and access to justice for all, with
               particular attention to women and youth;
                    11. Calls on the Government of Guinea-Bissau, with the support of the United
               Nations and other relevant partners, to develop an updated development strategy for
               the country and to re-establish momentum in key areas of development, including
               economic and social development,
                    12. Calls on the Government of Guinea-Bissau, the Organizing Committee of
               the National Conference (OCNC) and relevant political stakeholders and civil society

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           organizations, to organize an inclusive national conference for peace, stability and
           reconciliation;
                 13. Encourages continued efforts by the Government of Guinea-Bissau to
           ensure effective civilian control and oversight of the Bissau-Guinean defence and
           security forces, and stresses the importance of continuing to do so to ensure the proper
           functioning of state institutions;
                14. Welcomes the continued non-interference of the Bissau-Guinean defence
           and security forces in the political process in Guinea-Bissau and calls on them to
           continue to submit themselves fully to civilian control;
                 15. Reiterates the importance of defence and security sector reform to longterm stability in Guinea-Bissau and encourages relevant sub-regional, regional and
           international partners to coordinate efforts in support of the Bissau -Guinean
           authorities’ implementation of such reform;
                 16. Commends ECOWAS for holding to account those who obstruct the
           smooth conduct of the political and electoral processes and threaten peace and
           stability in Guinea-Bissau, encourages ECOWAS to continue its political, good
           offices and mediation support to the Bissau-Guinean authorities, welcomes the
           extension by ECOWAS of the mandate of the ECOWAS Mission in Guinea -Bissau
           (ECOMIB) until March 2020 to support the implementation of the Conakry
           Agreement and the ECOWAS Six-Point Roadmap, commends the crucial role of
           ECOMIB in securing state institutions and supporting the reform of the defence and
           security sector, encourages ECOWAS to consider a further extension of ECOMIB’s
           mandate, commends the financial support provided by the EU and welcomes the EU’s
           willingness to consider options for providing further support to ECOMIB, and urges
           bilateral, regional and international partners to consider providing financial assistance
           to support the continued deployment of ECOMIB;
                 17. Welcomes the continued engagement of the PBC with the Bissau-Guinean
           authorities and other relevant stakeholders in Guinea-Bissau, encourages the PBC to
           follow closely and support the UNIOGBIS transition process and the long-term
           peacebuilding efforts in Guinea-Bissau, and welcomes regular briefings by the PBC
           to the Security Council on its work in support of Guinea-Bissau;
                 18. Stresses the importance of mainstreaming gender and supporting the
           empowerment of women to achieve political and socio-economic stability in Guinea-Bissau and to build a lasting and sustainable peace, requests the Secretary-General to
           ensure UNIOGBIS’s transition process is consistently gender-responsive, and that the
           United Nations configuration in Bissau has the requisite resources to continue
           providing the relevant expertise following UNIOGBIS closure and, in this regard,
           calls on donors to provide adequate financial contributions in support of the gender
           peacebuilding priorities in Guinea-Bissau;
                19. Expresses the Security Council’s readiness to take appropriate measures in
           response to further developments in the situation in Guinea-Bissau;

           Drugs trafficking and organized crime
                 20. Reiterates its call on the Bissau-Guinean authorities to implement and
           review national legislations and mechanisms to combat transnational organized
           crime, including drug trafficking, trafficking in persons and money-laundering, which
           threaten security and stability in Guinea-Bissau and in the sub-region; and encourages
           international partners to support the relevant national institutions in this regard, as
           well as provide support to the presence of UNODC in Guinea-Bissau, and to the
           UNIOGBIS Trust Fund for immediate, medium and longer-term priorities; further
           encourages the international community’s cooperation with Guinea-Bissau on air

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               traffic control, surveillance, and maritime security, within its jurisdiction, in
               particular to fight drug trafficking, illegal fishing, and illegal exploitation of natural
               resources; and calls on the Bissau-Guinean authorities to demonstrate commitment to
               combating drug trafficking through provision of adequate resources and political
               support to its counternarcotic units, as well as through investigations into and pursuit
               of accountability for the perpetrators;
                     21. Stresses the importance of combating drug trafficking to achieve political
               and economic stability in Guinea-Bissau, requests the Secretary-General to ensure
               relevant capacity within the existing UNIOGBIS structure, and requests the
               Secretary-General, through collaboration with international partners, to guarantee
               sufficient staffing for the UNODC office in Bissau and encourages donors to ensure
               adequate financial contributions for the UNODC programme in Guinea-Bissau and
               appropriate expertise following UNIOGBIS’s withdrawal;

               Human rights
                     22. Urges the Bissau-Guinean authorities to take all necessary measures to
               promote and protect human rights, end impunity, ensure due process, including
               through the protection of witnesses, and conduct transparent, independent and
               credible investigations into human rights violations and abuses, including genderbased violence and gender discrimination, in accordance with national and
               international law, and identify the perpetrators and hold them accountable;
                     23. Calls on the Government of Guinea-Bissau, with international and
               regional support, to take steps to ensure early warning and prevention of, and
               accountability for human rights violations, with particular focus on freedom of
               expression, freedom of peaceful assembly and the condemnation of hate speech and
               incitement to violence and the prohibition of incitement to imminent violence;
                    24. Calls on the Government of Guinea-Bissau to strengthen their national
               system for the promotion and protection of human rights, including by establishing
               an independent National Human Rights Institution, compliant with the Paris
               Principles;

               Reports by the Secretary-General
                     25. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report to the Security Council
               within five months of the adoption of this resolution on the implementation of this
               resolution and the drawdown and transition of UNIOGBIS, including details on the
               stage of each phase of the drawdown, and to submit a report within five months of
               the adoption of this resolution to the Committee established pursuant to resolution
               2048 (2012) on the progress made regarding the stabilization of Guinea-Bissau and
               the restoration of constitutional order and giving recommendations on the sanctions
               regime, including, but not limited to, its continuation, adjustment or suspension, and
               on prospective delisting, in accordance with paragraph 12 of resolution 2048 (2012);
                     26. Decides to review the sanctions measures established pursuant to
               resolution 2048 (2012) six months from the adoption of this resolution, especially in
               light of its above-mentioned expectations, and consider appropriate, concrete
               measures including, but not limited to, its continuation, adjustment or suspension, and
               on prospective delisting, in accordance with paragraph 12 of resolution 2048 (2012);
                    27.   Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.




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