Security Council resolution 404 (1977) [on the UN special mission to Benin]
Symbol: S/RES/404(1977)
Date: 1977-02-08
Meeting record: S/PV.1987
Subjects: SPECIAL MISSIONS|BENIN
Notes: Concerns the United Nations special mission to Benin.
In: Resolutions and decisions of the Security Council, 1977. - S/INF/33. - 1978. - p. 17. - (SCOR, 32nd year).

Resolution 404 (1977)
of 8 February 1977

The Security Council,

Taking note of the letter dated 26 January 1977
from the Chargé d’Affaires, a.i., of the Permanent Mission of the People’s Republic of Benin to the United
Nations addressed to the President of the Security
Council, 66

Having heard the statement of the Permanent Representative of the People’s Republic of Benin, 67

Bearing in mind that all Member States must refrain in their international relations from the threat or
use of force against the territorial integrity or political
independence of any State, or in any other manner
inconsistent with the purposes of the United Nations,

1. Affirms that the territorial integrity and political
independence of the People’s Republic of Benin must
be respected;

2. Decides to send a Special Mission composed of
three members of the Security Council to the People’s
Republic of Benin in order to investigate the events of
16 January 1977 at Cotonou and report not later than
the end of February 1977;

3. Decides that the members of the Special Mission will be appointed after consultations between the
President and the members of the Security Council;

4. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the
Special Mission with the necessary assistance;

5. Decides to remain seized of the question.

Adopted at the 1987th meeting by consensus.



66 Ibid., document S/12278.
67 Ibid., Thirty-second Year, 1986th meeting.

Texto español (official Spanish version): Tomando nota de que el Gobierno de Chipre ha convenido en que, en vista de las condiciones existentes en
la isla, es necesario mantener la Fuerza en Chipre después del 15 de diciembre de 1977,

1. Reafirma las disposiciones de la resolución 186
(1964) de 4 de marzo de 1964, así como las resoluciones y decisiones ulteriores relativas al establecimiento
y mantenimiento de la Fuerza de las Naciones Unidas
para el Mantenimiento de la Paz en Chipre y a otros
aspectos de la situación en Chipre;

2. Reafirma una vez más su resolución 365 (1974)
de 13 de diciembre de 1974, por la cual hacía suya
la resolución 3212 (XXIX) de la Asamblea General,
aprobada por unanimidad el 1% de noviembre de 1974,
e insta nuevamente a que se apliquen dichas resoluciones en forma urgente y eficaz, así como su resolución
367 (1975), de 12 de marzo de 1975;

3. Exhorta a las partes interesadas a que actúen
con la mayor mesura para cualquier medida unilateral
o de otro tipo que pudiera perjudicar las perspectivas
de las negociaciones encaminadas a lograr una solución
justa y pacífica y a que continúen y aceleren en cooperación sus decididos esfuerzos por lograr los objetivos
del Consejo de Seguridad;

4. Prorroga una vez más el estacionamiento en
Chipre de la Fuerza de las Naciones Unidas para el
Mantenimiento de la Paz, establecida en virtud de la
resolución 186 (1964) del Consejo de Seguridad, por
un nuevo período que expirará el 15 de junio de 1978,

con la esperanza de que para entonces se habrán realizado progresos suficientes hacia una solución definitiva,
a fin de que sea posible retirar o reducir considerablemente la Fuerza;

5. Hace un nuevo llamamiento a todas las partes
interesadas para que presten su mayor cooperación de
modo que la Fuerza de las Naciones Unidas para el
Mantenimiento de la Paz pueda cumplir eficazmente sus
tareas;

6. Pide al Secretario General que prosiga la misión
de buenos oficios que se le confió en el párrafo 6 de la
resolución 367 (1975), que mantenga al Consejo de
Seguridad al corriente de los progresos logrados, y que
le presente un informe sobre la aplicación de la presente
resolución antes del 31 de mayo de 1978.

Aprobada en la 2054a. sesión por 14 votos contra
ningunos,

Decisión

En su 2055a. sesión, celebrada el 16 de diciembre
de 1977, el Consejo decidió enviar una invitación al
Sr. Nail Atalay en virtud del artículo 39 del reglamento
provisional,

Si Un miembro (China) no participó en la votación.

D. DENUNCIA DE BENIN

Decisiones

En su 1986a. sesión, celebrada el 7 de febrero de
1977, el Consejo decidió invitar a los representantes
de Argelia, Guinea, Madagascar, Rwanda y Togo a
participar, sin derecho de voto, en el debate del tema
titulado:

“Denuncia de Benin:

“a) Carta, de fecha 26 de enero de 1977, dirigida
al Presidente del Consejo de Seguridad por el
Encargado de Negocios interino de la Misión
Permanente de Benin ante las Naciones Unidas
(S/12278)5;

Carta, de fecha 4 de febrero de 1977, dirigida
al Presidente del Consejo de Seguridad por el
Encargado de Negocios interino de la Misión
Permanente de Guinea ante las Naciones Unidas (S/12281)”5,

“b)

5 Véase Documentos Oficiales del Consejo de Seguridad,
mrisósimo segundo año, Suplemento de enero, febrero y marzo
e .

17

En su 1987a. sesión, celebrada el 8 de febrero de
1977, el Consejo decidió invitar a los representantes
de Cuba, Malí, el Senegal y Somalia a participar, sin
derecho de voto, en el debate de la cuestión.

Resolución 404 (1977)
de 8 de febrero de 1977

El Consejo de Seguridad,

Tomando nota de la carta de fecha 26 de enero de
1977 dirigida al Presidente del Consejo de Seguridad
por el Encargado de Negocios interino de la Misión
Permanente de la República Popular de Benin ante
las Naciones Unidas,

Habiendo oído la declaración del Representante Permanente de la República Popular de Benin”,

98 Jbid., documento S/12278.
ST Ibid., trigésimo segundo año, 1986a. sesión.
Teniendo presente que todos los Estados Miembros,
en sus relaciones internacionales, deben abstenerse de
recurrir a la amenaza o al uso de la fuerza contra la
integridad territorial o la independencia política de
cualquier Estado, o en cualquier otra forma incompatible con los propósitos de las Naciones Unidas,

1. Afirma que deben respetarse la integridad territorial y la independencia política de la República Popular de Benin;

2. Decide enviar a la República Popular de Benin
una misión especial, compuesta por tres miembros del
Consejo de Seguridad, para que efectúe una investigación de los acontecimientos ocurridos el 16 de enero
de 1977 en Cotonou, y presente un informe no más
tarde de fines de febrero de 1977;

3. Decide que los miembros de la Misión Especial
se nombren después de la celebración de consultas entre
el Presidente y los miembros del Consejo de Seguridad;

4. Pide al Secretario General que proporcione a
la Misión Especial la asistencia necesaria;

5. Decide seguir ocupándose de la cuestión.

Aprobada por consenso en
la 1987a. sesión.

Decisiones

En una nota de fecha 10 de febrero de 1977%, el
Presidente del Consejo de Seguridad declaró, con relación al párrafo 3 de la resolución 404 (1977), que,
después de haber celebrado consultas con los miembros del Consejo, se había acordado que la Misión Especial a la República Popular de Benin estuviera compuesta por la India, Panamá y la República Arabe Libia
y que el Embajador Jorge Enrique Illueca, de Panamá,
actuara como Presidente de la Misión Especial.

En una nota de fecha 23 de febrero de 1977%, el
Presidente del Consejo declaró que el 22 de febrero
había recibido un telegrama del Presidente de la Misión
Especial en el que informaba al Consejo que, en vista
de la gran cantidad de testimonios y otras pruebas materiales reunidas en el curso de su investigación, la
Misión Especial solicitaba que se prorrogara el plazo
de la presentación de su informe hasta el 8 de marzo.
Después de celebrar consultas con los miembros del
Consejo, el Presidente declaró que los miembros del
Consejo habían acordado acceder al pedido arriba mencionado. En consecuencia, el plazo para la presentación del informe de la Misión Especial quedó prorrogado hasta el 8 de marzo.

88 Ibid., trigésimo segundo año, Suplemento de enero, febrero y marzo de 1977, documento S/12286.
69 Tbid., S/12289.

18

En su 2000a. sesión, celebrada el 6 de abril de 1966,
el Consejo decidió invitar a los representantes de la
Arabia Saudita, Botswana, el Gabón, Guinea, Marruecos y el Níger a participar, sin derecho de voto, en el
debate del tema titulado “Denuncia de Benin: informe
de la Misión Especial del Consejo de Seguridad, establecida en virtud de la resolución 404 (1977), a la
República Popular de Benin (S/12294 y Add.1)””'.

En su 2001a. sesión, celebrada el 7 de abril de 1977,
el Consejo decidió invitar a los representantes de Argelia, la Costa de Marfil, Madagascar, Mauritania, el
Senegal y el Togo a participar, sin derecho de voto, en
el debate de la cuestión.

En su 2002a. sesión, celebrada el 12 de abril de
1977, el Consejo decidió invitar a los representantes
de Cuba, Egipto, la República Democrática Popular
Lao y Somalia a participar, sin derecho de voto, en el
debate de la cuestión.

En su 2003a. sesión, celebrada el 13 de abril de
1977, el Consejo decidió invitar a los representantes
de Guinea Ecuatorial y Mozambique a participar, sin
derecho de voto, en el debate de la cuestión.

En su 2004a. sesión, celebrada el 14 de abril de
1977, el Consejo decidió invitar a los representantes
de Malí, Mongolia y la República Unida de Tanzanía
a participar, sin derecho de voto, en el debate de la
cuestión.

En su 2005a. sesión, celebrada el 14 de abril de
1977, el Consejo decidió invitar al representante del
Alto Volta a participar, sin derecho de voto, en el
debate de la cuestión.

Resolución 405 (1977)
de 14 de abril de 1977

El Consejo de Seguridad,

Habiendo examinado el informe?” de la Misión Especial del Consejo de Seguridad, establecida en virtud
de la resolución 404 (1977) de 8 de febrero de 1977,
a la República Popular de Benin,

Gravemente preocupado por la violación de la integridad territorial, la independencia y la soberanía del
Estado de Benin,

70 Ibid., trigésimo segundo año, Suplemento Especial No. 3.

Texte français (official French version): D. — PLAINTE DU BÉNIN

Décisions

A sa 1986* séance, le 7 février 1977, le Conseil a dé-
cidé d’inviter les représentants de l'Algérie, de la Guinée, de Madagascar, du Rwanda et du Togo à participer, sans droit de vote, à la discussion de la question
intitulée :

‘*Plainte du Bénin :

**a) Lettre, en date du 26 janvier 1977, adressée au
Président du Conseil de sécurité par le chargé
d’affaires par intérim de la mission permanente
du Bénin auprès de l’Organisation des Nations
Unies (S/1227865);

Lettre, en date du 4 février 1977. adressée au
Président du Conseil de sécurité par le chargé
d’affaires par intérim de la mission permanente
de Guinée auprès de l'Organisation des Nations
Unies (S/122816*)"".

“p)

A sa 1987° séance, le 8 février 1977, le Conseil a dé-
cidé d'inviter les représentants de Cuba, du Mali, du
Sénégal et de la Somalie à participer, sans droit de vote,
à la discussion de la question.

Résolution 404 (1977)
du 8 février 1977

Le Conseil de sécurité,

Prenant acte de la lettre en date du 26 janvier 1977
adressée au Président du Conseil de sécurité par le
chargé d’affaires par intérim de la mission permanente
de la République populaire du Bénin auprès de l'Organisation des Nations Unies“s,

Ayant entendu la déclaration du représentant permanent de la République populaire du Bénin°7,

Considérant que tous les Etats Membres doivent
s'abstenir, dans leurs relations internationales, de recourir à la menace ou à l'emploi de la force soit contre
l’intégrité territoriale ou l'indépendance politique de
tout Etat, soit de toute autre manière incompatible
avec les buts des Nations Unies,

1. Déclare que l'intégrité territoriale et l'indépendance politique de la République populaire du Bénin
doivent être respectées:

2. Décide d’envoyer en République populaire du
Bénin une mission spéciale composée de trois membres du Conseil de sécurité, chargée d'enquêter sur les

65 Voir Documents officiels du Conseil de sécurité, trentedeuxième année, Supplément de janvier, février et mars 1977.

66 [hid., document S/12278.

67 [hid., trente-deuxième année, 1986“ séance.

événements survenus le 16 janvier 1977 à Cotonou et de
faire rapport à la fin de février 1977 au plus tard;

3. Décide que les membres de la Mission spéciale
seront nommés après consultations entre le Président
et les membres du Conseil de sécurité:

4. Prie le Secrétaire général de fournir à la Mission
spéciale l'assistance nécessaire:

S. Décide de rester saisi de la question.

Adoptée par consensus à la
1987“ séance.

Décisions

Dans une note en date du 10 février 1977°*, le Président du Conseil de sécurité a déclaré, au sujet du paragraphe 3 de la résolution 404 (1977), qu’à la suite de
consultations avec les membres du Conseil il avait été
convenu que la Mission spéciale au Bénin serait composée de l'Inde, du Panama et de la République arabe
libyenne et que l'ambassadeur Jorge Enrique Illueca
exercerait les fonctions de président de la Mission spé-
ciale.

Dans une note en date du 23 février 19776°, le Président du Conseil a déclaré que, le 22 février, il avait reçu
un télégramme du Président de la Mission spéciale dans
lequel celui-ci informait le Conseil que, étant donné le
volume considérable des témoignages et autres preuves
matérielles recueillis au cours de son enquête, la Mission spéciale demandait que la date de présentation de
son rapport soit reportée au 8 mars. Ayant procédé à
des consultations avec les membres du Conseil, le Pré-
sident déclarait que ceux-ci acceptaient de faire droit à
cette demande. La date de présentation du rapport de la
Mission spéciale était donc reportée au 8 mars.

À sa 20005 séance, le 6 avril 1977, le Conseil à décidé
d'inviter les représentants de l'Arabie Saoudite, du
Botswana, du Gabon, de la Guinée, du Maroc et du Niger à participer, sans droit de vote, à la discussion de la
question intitulée ‘’Plainte du Bénin : rapport de la
Mission spéciale du Conseil de sécurité en République
populaire du Bénin constituée en vertu de la résolution 404 (1977) [S/12294 et Add.17°]"".

°8 Ibid, trente-deuxième année, Supplément de janvier, fevrier et
mars 1977, document S/12286.

*9 [bid., document S/12289.

"© Ibid. trente-deuxième année, Supplément spécial n° 3.

Русский текст (official Russian version): Ассамблеи, принятую единогласно | ноября 1974
года, и вновь призывает к срочному и эффектив-
ному осуществлению этих резолюций, равно как
и его резолюции 367 (1975) от 12 марта 1975
года;

3. настоятельно призывает
стороны действовать с крайней сдержанностью,
воздерживаясь от любых односторонних или
иных действий. которые могут отрицательно ска-
заться на перспективах переговоров по справед-
ливому ин мирному урегулированию, а также про-
должить и ускорить решительные совместные
усилия для достижения целей Совета Безопасно-
сти;

заннтересованные

4. продлевает вновь пребывание на Кипре Во-
оруженных сил Организации Объединенных На-
ций по поддержанию мира, созданных в соотвст-
ствии с резолюцией 186 (1964) Совета Безопас-
ности, на новый срок, истекающий 15 июня 1978
года, в ожидании того, что достигнутый к тому
времени достаточный прогресс в деле окончатель-
ного урегулирования этой проблемы сделает воз-
можным вывод или существенное сокращение
Вооруженных сил;

5. вновь призывает все заинтересованные сто-
роны оказать самое полное сотрудничество, с
тем чтобы позволить Вооруженным силам Орга-
низации Объединенных Наций по поддержанию
мира эффективно выполнять свои обязанности;

6. предлагает Генеральному секретарю про-
должать миссию добрых услуг, возложенную на
него по пункту 6 резолюции 367 (1975), постоян-
но информировать Совет Безопасности о ДОСТИГ-
нутом прогрессе и представить доклад о выпол-
нении настоящей резолюции к 31 мая 1978 года.

Принята на 2054-м заседании
14 голосами, причем никто не
голосовал против “4.

Решение

На своем 2055-м заседании 16 декабря 1977
года Совет постановил направить приглашение
г-ну Нанлу Аталаю на основании правила 39 вре-
менных правил процедуры.

‘* Один
вовал

член Совета (Китай) в голосованни не участ-

0. ЖАЛОБА БЕНИНА

Решения

На своем 1986-м заседании 7 февраля 1977 го-
да Совет постановил пригласить представителей
Алжира, Гвинеи, Мадагаскара, Руанды и Того
принять участие без права голоса в обсужде-
нии вопроса, озаглавленного:

хЖалоба Бенина:

а) письмо временного поверенного в делах
постоянного — представительства Бенина при
Организации Объединенных Наций от 96 ян-
варя 1977 года на имя Председателя Совета
Безопасности (5/12278) 65;

Ь) письмо временного поверенного в делах
постоянного  представительства Гвинеи при
Организации Объединенных Наций от 4 фев-
раля 1977 года на имя Председателя Совета
Безопасности (5/12281)» 65.

На своем 1987-м заседании 8 февраля 1977 го-
да Совет постановил пригласить представителей
Кубы, Мали, Сенегала и Сомали принять участие
в обсуждении этого вопроса без права голоса.

Резолюция 404 (1977)
от 8 февраля 1977 года
Совет Безопасности,

принимая во внимание письмо временного по-
веренного в делах постоянного представительст-
ва Народной Республики Бенин при Организа-

® См. Официальные отчеты Совета Безопасности,  три-
дцсть второй год, Дополнение за январь. февраль и март
1977 года.

ции Объединенных Наций от 26 января 1977 го-
да на имя Председателя Совета Безопасности 56,

заслушав заявление постоянного представитс-
ля Народной Республики Бенин 67,

учитывая, что все государства-члены должны
воздерживаться в их международных отношени-
ях от угрозы силой или ее применения как про-
тив территориальной неприкосновенности или
политической независимости любого государст-
ва, так и каким-либо другим образом, несовме-
стимым © целями Организации Объединенных
Наций,

|. подтверждает, что территориальная непри-
косновенность и политическая независимость
Народной Республики Бенин должны уважаться;

2. постановляет направить специальную мис-
сию в составе трех членов Совета Безопасности
в Народную Республику Бенин для проведения
расследования событий 16 января 1977 года в
Котону и представления доклада не позднее кон-
ца февраля 1977 года;

3. постановляет, что члены этой специальной
миссии будут назначены после консультаций
между Председателем и членами Совета Без-
опасности;

4. предлагает Генеральному секретарю ока-

зать специальной миссии необходимое содейст-
вне;

5. постановляет продолжать заниматься этим
вопросом.

Принята на 1987-м заседании
на основе консенсуса.

‘6 Там же, документ 5/12278

Там же, тридцать второй год, 1986-е заседание.

67

17

中文文本 (official Chinese version): “(a ) 一 九 七 七 年 一 月 二 十 六 日 贝 宁 常 驻 联 合 国
代表 团 临 时 代办 给 安全 理事 会 主席 的 信
(S/12278) ;四

“(b ) 一 九 七 七 年 二 月 四 日 几内亚 常 驻 联 合 国 代

表 团 临时 代办 给 安全 理事 会 主席 的 信 (S/
12281)”。 国

一 九 七 七 年 二 月 八 有 由 ， 安 理会 第 一 九 八 七 次 会 议
决定 邀请 古巴 、 马 里 、 塞 内 加 尔 和 索马里 代表 参加 讨
论 本 问题 ， 但 无 表决 权 。

一 九 七 七 年 二 月 八 日
第 404(1977) 号 决议

安全 理事 会 ，

注意 到 一 九 七 七 年 一 月 二 十 六 日 贝 宁 人 民 共 和 国
常 驻 联合 国 代表 团 临时 代办 给 安全 理事 会 主席 的
信 ， 镶

听取 了 贝 宁 人 民 共 和 国 常 驻 代 表 的 声明 ,@@

考虑 到 联合 国 各 会 员 国 在 其 国际 关系 上 不 得 为 侵
害 任何 国家 领土 完整 或 政治 独立 的 目的 ， 或 以 与 联合
国 宗旨 不符 的 任何 其 他 方法 进行 武力 威胁 或 使 用 武
力 ，

1 确认 贝 宁 人 民 共 和 国 的 领土 完整 和 政治 独立
必须 受到 尊重

2， 决定 向 贝 宁 人 民 共 和 国 派出 由 安全 理事 会 三
个 成 员 国 组 成 的 一 个 特派 团 以 便 调查 一 九 七 七 年 一 月
十 六 月 在 科 托 努 发 生 的 事件 ， 并 至 迟 于 一 九 七 七 年 二
月 底 提 出 报告 ;

3 决定 这 个 特派 团 的 成 员 由 主席 同安 全 理事 会
各 成 员 国 进 行 协商 后 予以 任命 ;

4. 请 秘书 长 对 特派 团 提供 必要 协助 ;

因 见 《安全 理事 会 正式 记录 ， 第 三 十 二 年 ， 一 九 七 七 年 -
月 、 二 月 和 三 月 份 补 编 >。

例 同上，S7/12278 号 文件 。

四 同上 ,， 《第 三 十 二 年》， 第 一 九 八 六 次 会 议 。

18

5. 决定 继续 处 理 这 个 问题 。
第 一 妃 入 七 次 会 议 以 协商
一 致 方式 通过 。

人

决 是

安全 理事 会 主席 在 一 九 七 七 年 二 月 十 日 发 出 的 一
件 说 明 @@ 里 ， 就 第 404 (1977) 号 决议 的 第 3 段 发 表 声
明说 ， 他 同安 理会 各 成 员 国 进行 协商 后 已 达成 协议 ，
派 往 贝 宁 人 民 共 和 国 的 特派 团 将 由 印度 、 阿 拉 伯 利 比
亚 共和 国 和 巴拿马 组 成 ， 并 由 巴拿马 的 豪 尔 赫 ， 恩 里
克 。 伊 留 埃 卡 大 使 任 特派 团 主席 。

安理会 主席 在 一 九 七 七 年 二 月 二 十 三 日 发 出 的 一
件 说 明 鳃 里 声明 ， 他 在 二 月 二 十 二 日 收 到 特派 团 主席
的 一 封 电报 ， 特 派 团 主 席 在 这 封 电报 里 通知 安理会
说 ， 鉴 于 特派 团 在 进行 调查 期 间 所 收集 的 证 词 和 其 他
物证 的 数量 很 多 ， 它 请 求 将 提出 报告 的 日 期 延至 三 月
八 日 。 安 理会 主席 同 各 成 员 国 进行 协商 后 说 ， 各 成 员
国 已 同意 答应 这 项 请 求 。 因 此 ， 特 派 团 提 出 报告 的 日
期 将 延至 三 月 八 日 。

一 九 七 七 年 四 月 六 日 ， 安 理会 第 二 OOO 次 会 议
决定 邀请 博茨瓦纳 、 加 茵 、 几 内 亚 、 摩 洛 哥 、 尼 日 尔
和 沙特 阿拉 伯 代 表 参 加 讨论 下 列 项 目 ， 但 无 表决 权 :
“ 贝 宁 的 控诉 ， 按 照 第 404(1977) 号 决议 所 设 安全 理
事 会 派 往 贝 宁 人 民 共 和 国 特派 团 提出 的 报告 (3/12294
和 Add.1)”.@

一 九 七 七 年 四 月 七 日 ， 安 理会 第 二 口 D 一 次 会 议
决定 邀请 阿尔 及 利 亚 、 象 牙 海 岸 、 马 达 加 斯 加 、 毛 里
塔 尼 亚 、 塞 内 加 尔 和 多 哥 代 表 参 加 讨论 本 问题 ， 但 无
表决 权 。

一 九 七 七 年 四 月 十 二 日 ， 安 理会 第 二 OO 〇 二 次 会
议决 定 邀 请 古巴 、 埃 及 、 老 挝 人 民 民 主 共和 国 和 索 蕊
里 代表 参加 讨论 本 问题 ， 但 无 表决 权 。

一 九 七 七 年 四 月 十 三 月 ， 安 理会 第 二 OO 〇 三 次 会

四 问 上 ,，《 第 革 十 年， 一 九 七 二 年 一 月 、 二 月 和 二 月 份
补 编 》， SSZ12286 叶 文 件 。

@ 合 站 上 上 ，S7/12289 号 文件 。

图 加 上 ,，《 第 汪 二 二 年 ， 特 别 补 编 第 3 避 >。


Draft resolution (S/12282
S/12282/Rev.1):
UNITED NATIONS

SECURITY
COUNCIL

Distr.
GENERAL

5/12282
T February 1977

ORIGINAL: ENGLISH

Benin, Libyan Arab Republic and Mauritius: draft resolution

The Security Council,

Taking note of the letter dated 26 January 1977 from the Chargé d'affaires a.i.
of the Permanent Mission of the People's Republic of Benin to the United Nations
addressed to the President of the Security Council (S8/12278),

Having heard the statcment made by the Permanent Representative of the
People's Republic of Benin,

Bearing in mind that all States Members of the United Nations must refrain
in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the
territorial integrity or political independence of any State, or any other manner
inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations,

1. Affirms that the territorial integrity and political independence of
the People's Republic of Benin must be respected;

2. Decides to send a special mission composed of three members of the
Security Council to the People's Republic of Benin in order to investigate and
report not later than 24 February 1977;

3. Decides that the members of this special mission will be appointed after
consultations between the President and the members of the Security Council;

4, Decides to remain seized of the question.

T7-02830

Meeting record:
UNITED NATIONS

SECURITY COUNCIL
OFFICIAL RECORDS

THIRTY-SECOND YEAR

th
1 987 MEETING: 8 FEBRUARY 1977

NEW YORK

CONTENTS

Provisional agenda (S/Agenda/1987) ..... i 1
Adoption of the agenda... ...... 1

Complaint by Benin:

(a) Letter dated 26 January 1977 from the Chargé d'affaires ai of the
Permanent Mission of Benin to the United Nations addressed to the President
of the Security Council (S/12278)

(b) Letter dated 4 February 1977 from the Chargé d'affaires ai of the
Permanent Mission of Guinea to the United Nations addressed to the
President of the Security Council (§/12281) .......... conn 1

§/PV.1987
NOTE

Symbols of United Nations documents are composed of capital letters combined with
figures. Mention of such a symbol indicates a reference to a United Nations document.

Documents of the Security Council (symbol S. . .) are normally published in quarterly
Supplements of the Official Records of the Security Council. The date of the document
indicates the supplement in which it appears or in which information about it is given.

The resolutions of the Security Council, numbered in accordance with a system
adopted in 1964, are published in yearly volumes of Resolutions and Decisions of the
Security Council, The new system, which has been applied retroactively to resolutions
adopted before 1 January 1965, became fully operative on that date.
NINETEEN HUNDRED AND EIGHTY-SEVENTH MEETING

Held in New York on Tuesday, 8 February 1977, at 4 p.m.

President: Mr. James MURRAY (United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Northern Ireland).

Present: The representatives of the following States:
Benin, Canada, China, France, Germany, Federal Republic
of, India, Libyan Arab Republic, Mauritius, Pakistan,
Panama, Romania, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics,
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland,
United States of America and Venezuela.

Provisional agenda (S/Agenda/1987)
1. Adoption of the agenda

2. Complaint by Benin:

(a) Letter dated 26 January 1977 from the Chargé
d’affaires a.i. of the Permanent Mission of Benin to
the United Nations addressed to the President of
the Security Council (S§/12278)

(b) Letter dated 4 February 1977 from the Chargé
d'affaires a.i of the Permanent Mission of Guinea
to the United Nations addressed to the President of
the Security Council (S/12281)

The meeting was called to order at 4.05 p.m.

Adoption of the agenda

The agenda was adopted.

Complaint by Benin:

(a) Letter dated 26 January 1977 from the Chargé
d'affaires a.i. of the Permanent Mission of Benin to the
United Nations addressed to the President of the
Security Council (5/12278)

(b) Letter dated 4 February 1977 from the Chargé
d'affaires a.f. of the Permanent Mission of Guinea to
the United Nations addressed to the President of the
Security Council (S/12281)

1. The PRESIDENT: In accordance with the decision
taken by the Council at its 1986th meeting, 1 invite the
representatives of Algeria, Guinea, Madagascar, Rwanda and
Togo to take the places reserved for them at the side of the
Council chamber, on the understanding that they will be
invited to take places at the Council table whenever they
wish to address the Council.

At the invitation of the President, Mr. A. Rahal (Algeria),
Mr, A. Doukouré (Guinea ), Mr. B. Rabetafika (Madagascar),

Mr. I. Karuhije (Rwanda) and Mr. A. A. Kodjovi (Togo)
took the places reserved for them at the side of the Council
chamber.

2. The PRESIDENT: In addition, I should like to inform
members of the Council that letters have been received
from the representatives of Cuba, Senegal and Somalia, in
which they request to be invited to participate, without the
right to vote, in the discussion of the question on the
Council’s agenda. Since there are no objections, I propose,
therefore, in accordance with the usual practice, to invite
these representatives to participate in the discussion,
without the right to vote, under the provisions of Article 31
of the Charter and rule 37 of the provisional rules of
procedure of the Council and to take the places reserved for
them at the side of the Council chamber, on the under
standing that they will be invited to take a place at the
Council table whenever they wish to address the Council.

At the invitation of the President, Mr. R. Alarcon (Cuba),
Mr. M. Fall (Senegal) and Mr. A. H. Hussen (Somalia) took
the places reserved for them at the side of the Council
chamber.

3. The PRESIDENT: | should like to draw the attention
of the members of the Council to document S§/12282/
Rev.1, containing the revised text of the draft resolution,
sponsored by Benin, the Libyan Arab Republic and
Mauritius.

4, Mr. TROYANQVSKY (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) (interpretation from Russian): Before stating the
position of the Soviet Union on the matter under consideration by the Security Council, I should like first to discharge
the pleasant duty of congratulating you, Mr. President, the
representative of a country with which the Soviet Union is
successfully developing relations of mutual co-operation, on
your assumption of this lofty and responsible post.

5. 1 should also like heartily to thank the representatives
of the States members of the Council, who spoke such kind
words about my country and me.

6. In the letter dated 26 January 1977 from the Permanent Mission of Benin to the United Nations addressed to
the President of the Security Council, it is requested that
the Council discuss the matter of the treacherous and
barbaric aggression of imperialism and its mercenaries
against the People’s Republic of Benin. We listened very
carefully to the statement made by the head of the
delegation of Benin /! 986th meeting) who gave a detailed
account of the position of his country on this matter. From
the facts made available to the members of the Council,
approximately the following picture emerges: the choice of
a progressive course by one more State on the shores of the
Bay of Guinea is by no means to the liking of those
reactionary forces which are attempting to halt the irreversible process of the liberation of Africa. Understanding as
they do that the reforms carried out by the authority of the
people in Benin are well liked by the population of the
country, outside forces have attempted to do away with the
peoples régime by force of arms. Thus, with the help of
mercenaries, they organized an act of aggressive gangsterism
which, thanks to the discipline and solidarity displayed by
the people of Benin, was a failure.

7. The events in Benin are further evidence of the fact that
peace and security on the African continent are under a
constant threat from those forces that, in their efforts to
prevent the full liberation of Africa, do not intend to
acquiesce in the face of reality. Those events bear out the
accuracy of the warning of progressive forces in Africa of
the need to be vigilant with regard to imperialism and
neo-colonialism. At the same time, the treacherous attack
on Benin has once again demonstrated the danger to the
sovereignty and independence of progressive African States
that is represented by international mercenary forces.

[4

8. The position taken by the People’s Republic of Benin
on this matter has won wide support among the non-aligned
countries and all of progressive Africa. As the representative
of Madagascar stated at yesterday’s meeting of the Council:

“This position is by no means something which derives
from a mere formality. It is justified by an objective
analysis of what is happening and of the plotting that has
been going on for several years from the Congo to
Somalia, from Angola to Mozambique and Madagascar,
from Guinea and Benin to Uganda, to cite but a few
African countries.” [ Ibid, para. 86./

9. The position of the Soviet Union with regard to the
processes now going on on the African continent is well
known. We are firmly in favour of the complete and
immediate liberation of Africa by the liquidation of all
hotbeds of racism, colonialism and apartheid. In the
resolution recently adopted by the Central Committee of
the Communist Party of the Soviet Union on the sixtieth
anniversary of the Great October Socialist Revolution it is
stated:

“The Soviet Union and other Socialist States will give
every assistance and support to the developing countries
in their struggle for the fulfilment of their legitimate
aspirations to rid themselves completely of imperialist
exploitation and for their right to take charge of their
own affairs.”

10. In view of its consistent position of principle on
African questions, the Soviet Union will support the draft
resolution sponsored by Benin, the Libyan Arab Republic
and Mauritius /S/12282/Rev. 1]. We think that it is both
timely and appropriate to reaffirm that the territorial
integrity and political independence of Benin must be
respected. We also believe that the Security Council should
support Benin’s request that a special mission of the

Security Council be sent to the spot in order that it may
elucidate the facts connected with this criminal act ang
present a report as soon as possible. We believe that such
decision would be correct and fair to the people of Benin,
would represent a further contribution in the struggle for
the complete and final implementation of the historic
Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonjg)
Countries and Peoples and contribute to the consolidation
of peace and security on the African continent ang
throughout the world.

11. The PRESIDENT: I thank the representative of the
Soviet Union for his reference to the close relations
between his country and mine.

12. Mr. KIKHIA (Libyan Arab Republic): Mr. President, I
should like first of all to offer you the compliments of my
delegation on your assumption of the presidency of the
Security Council for the month of February, We are
confident that you will wisely and ably guide the progress
of this delicate and important debate.

13. My delegation also wishes to express its sincere
appreciation for the efficient manner in which the represen.
tative of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics presided
over the Council during the month of January.

14. The question with which we are concerned today
involves an act of aggression against an independent and
sovereign State member of the Organization of African
Unity and Member of the United Nations. That act of
aggression was perpetrated by a gang of international
criminals at the expense of a peaceful African people
committed to the raising of their standard of living and the
progress of their country.

15. The criminal act unsuccessfully undertaken by the
mercenaries against the People’s Republic of Benin on 16
January 1977 nevertheless resulted in substantial material
damage to buildings and installations at Cotonou, the
economic capital of Benin, What is more important, there
was a significant loss of human life among both the military
and civilians, who courageously offered their lives in the
defence of their country, its freedom and dignity against
the ravages of this criminal gang of mercenaries.

16. This is not the first time that mercenaries have
attacked peaceful African nations which refuse to submit to
slavery and colonial domination, When the continent of
Africa awoke in the second half of the twenticth century, it
found itself enchained and deprived of freedom, with its
resources being plundered and its people being exploited.
When Africa began a bitter struggle to restore its freedom,
its resources and its dignity, it was to be expected that
those colonialist interests would not accept the termination
of their domination. The imperialist forces have therefore
attempted to use every possible stratagem in order to

maintain their domination of the African continent and its
peoples,

17. Why is it that the people of Benin should be the
victims of aggression in this manner, as were the people of
Guinea, the people of Zaire, the people of Nigeria, the
people of Uganda and the people of Angola? Why is it that
the people of Zimbabwe and Namibia are menaced with
genocide at the hands of hired mercenaries? Why is it that
the People’s Republic of Mozambique is faced with
threats? In fact, why should the African peoples in those
areas and others be confronted with aggression, murder and
terrorism?

18. The answer to these questions can be found in the fact
that those peoples have rejected the domination, control
and exploitation imposed upon them by the colonialists
who will not leave that continent and its peoples to build
their own future by themselves.

19. The General Assembly at its thirty-first session discussed the question of terrorism and adopted a resolution
calling on the Ad Hoc Committee on International Terrorism to continue its work of preparing a study with a view to
finding a solution to this problem [resolution 31/102]. 1
should like, therefore, to draw attention to this kind of
terrorism, perpetrated not only against individuals but also
against entire nations.

20. What happened in Benin at dawn on 16 January of
this year was an act of aggression not only against the
people of Benin but also against the whole of Africa and
the world community. One of the most basic objectives of
our Organization is to ensure the safety and security of its
Members, especially the small States which have recently
attained independence. These States have difficulty in
defending their freedom and dignity against those whose
ambition it is to reimpose their domination and exploitation, The Security Council has already condemned the
recruitment of mercenaries and called upon all nations to
withhold assistance to such mercenaries.

21. We have heard the statement of the representative of
Benin [1986th meeting] in which he faithfully reported to
us the clear facts of the shameful aggression perpetrated by
a gang of mercenaries. He also informed us of the losses and
the damage that were the result of that act of aggression. At
this stage we hope that the Council will decide to send a
special mission to Benin in order to investigate the events of
16 January at Cotonou and report back to the Council. My
delegation will express its views at a later stage after
receiving a detailed account of the facts and the conclusions
of the proposed fact-finding mission.

22. Finally, I should like to express the sympathy felt by
my delegation and by my people and the Government of
the Libyan Arab.Republic for the representative of Benin,
his people and Government. Our support has already been
expressed in a telegram sent by Colonel Muammar Al-Qadafi, Chairman of the Revolutionary Command Council
of the Libyan Arab Republic, to President Mathieu
Kerekou, President of the People’s Republic of Benin. That
telegram expressed the complete support of the Libyan
Arab Republic for the people and Government of Benin,
and read as follows:

“We have heard the news of the imperialist aggression
perpetrated against the People’s Republic of Benin. We
thank God for the safety of your country, your administration and your power to confront the aggression. We
congratulate ourselves on your victory against the forces

of evil and aggression that threaten Africa and its devoted
leadership. We assure you that we all stand as one in the
confrontation against imperialism and the forces of evil
and in the cause of ensuring the freedom and peace of
Africa and of its revolutionary régimes. We express to you
the complete commitment of the Libyan Arab Republic
to stand by you with all its resources to defeat reactionary and colonialist conspiracies.”

23. Mr. LEPRETTE (France) (interpretation from
French): Mr. President, the French delegation is partic
ularly pleased to see the representative of the United
Kingdom presiding over the Council. England—and
Scotland—are two great neighbours of France, both worthily represented by you. At the present time, the United
Kingdom is presiding over the work of the European
Community, and thus my country has many reasons for
placing its trust in your wisdom, in the devotion that you
have always shown to causes which are important to you
and in your well-known sense of humour. We are sufficiently familiar with your outstanding qualities and your
natural authority to be convinced that our work will be
conducted in a very skilful manner. We should also like to
convey to Ambassador Richard a friendly tribute for the
tireless efforts which he has constantly made in the course
of his particularly difficult mission. We hold him in very
high esteem.

24. 1 should like to take this opportunity to convey to
Mr. Troyanovsky the congratulations and thanks of the
French delegation. The competent manner in which he
discharged his task as President of the Council directly after
assuming his post as Permanent Representative earned our
admiration.

25. Let me now turn to the agenda item before us. The
French delegation listened with close attention to the
statement made by the Permanent Representative of Benin
[1986th meeting]. Our colleague set forth with circumstantial detail the events which took place in his country on
16 January last. The statements which we heard yesterday
brought out the strong feelings aroused by the events last
month at Cotonou. My delegation would like to join with
all those that have spoken in this debate in expressing our
abhorrence at the intervention of which the People’s
Republic of Benin was the victim. I should like solemnly to
stress here that France is particularly devoted to the

+ principle of respect for the independence of States and

non-interference in their internal affairs. In our view, there
must be no exceptions to that principle. Its application is
particularly important in the case of a continent made up
of States which have committed themselves with determination to the task of development, a continent which is
devoting its best efforts to that task and which has at times
deliberately forsworn the use of military means which
could have protected it from outside intervention.

26. We stated that position in the month of May 1976, in
the presence of the States, including Benin, which participated in the Franco-African conference in Paris. Everyone
at that time condemned any attempts at foreign interference in the affairs of Africa, in the interests of safeguarding
peace on the continent and so that Africa could devote all
its resources to its development for the benefit of man.
27. The President of the French Republic has stated on a
number of occasions that: “Africa should be left to the
Africans, except as regards the assistance required for its
development tasks.”

28. The French delegation shares the strong feelings which
are aroused by the case before us today. My country enjoys
relations with Benin based on mutual respect, friendship
and co-operation. The representative of Benin stated
yesterday that his country was devoted to the development
and strengthening of its relations with France. I should like
in turn to say that my country sincerely shares the same
desire. We have frequently stated as much ever since Benin
won its independence in an atmosphere of exemplary calm
and friendliness.

29. France will long recall with gratitude the sacrifices of
the soldiers of Benin who, in the course of the two world
wars, shed their blood in the cause of freedom.

30. We know that the People’s Republic of Benin is
devoted to economic development and social progress and
we welcome the efforts that are being made to that end. We
hope that the international community will firmly express
its opposition to any outside undertakings of whatever
kind.

31. Reference was made to some munitions of French
origin. So that no link may be established, even by
implication, between that reference and responsibility for
the intervention in question, I should like to be perfectly
clear here and now: as I said at the beginning of this
statement, the principle of non-interference in internal
affairs is for us an absolute principle, regardless of the
ideological or political choices of States Members of the
Organization. For that reason, France will support the
dispatch by the Council of a fact-finding mission to
investigate the events which brought about this meeting.

32. The PRESIDENT: I thank the representative of
France for his kind words about my countries and myself. I
particularly appreciated his tact in referring to my native
Scotland, a country which for many years had what we
called *‘the auld alliance” against our common enemy,
England. I shall not fail to pass his message of good wishes
to my colleague, Mr. Ivor Richard.

33. Mr. GHEORGHE (Romania) (interpretation from
French}: Mr. President, I should first like to address to you,
on behalf of the Romanian delegation, our warmest
congratulations on your assumption of the presidency of
the Security Council. Your well-known diplomatic talents,
your experience and your profound knowledge of the
problems of the United Nations convince us that you will
be completely successful in your important and responsible
work.

34. At the same time, I should like to express our
gratitude to your predecessor, Ambassador Troyanovsky of
the Soviet Union, for the skill and tact with which he
conducted the activities of the Security Council last month.

35. The Romanian delegation listened with close interest
to the important statement made by the representative of

Benin /[1986th meeting] regarding the action directed
against his country on 16 January 1977. The facts that have
been presented to the Council eloquently testify to the
propriety of this complaint by Benin with regard to the
mercenary forces that attacked the airport and city of
Cotonou.

36. The account given by the representative of Benin as
well as the statements made by previous speakers show that
the Council has before it a case of flagrant violation of the
sovereignty and territorial integrity of an independent
State, Member of the Organization, and of brutal interfer
ence in its internal affairs which may endanger peace and
security throughout the African continent and the entire
world.

37. The Romanian delegation believes that the disquiet
and concern displayed by members of the Council are
particularly justified, since those attacks were directed
against Benin, a country that is peace-loving and that has
undertaken a broad effort to do away with the vestiges of
its colonial heritage in order to develop its economy and
strengthen its economic and political independence.

38. In accordance with the principles of its foreign policy,
Romania is firmly in favour of respect for the independence
and sovereignty of all States, and of guaranteeing the right
of each people to determine its own future and organize its
life in accordance with its own wishes without any foreign
interference. This being so, our delegation understands and
supports the request made by Benin, a country with which
Romania is developing links of close friendship and fruitful
co-operation, relations based on mutual respect and esteem,
which are in accordance with the national interests of the
Romanian and Beninese peoples and which serve the cause
of peace and international co-operation.

39. The links of solidarity existing between the Romanian
people and the people of Benin were also mentioned in the
joint communiqué recently signed at Bucharest by Pres
ident Nicolae Ceausescu of Romania and President Mathieu
Kerekou of Benin, in which both countries

“condemn outright any manifestations of neocolonialist policy and any pressure or interference in the
affairs of the African peoples, practices that are designed
to hinder independent economic and social development
in young African States which have set out on the road to
progress and prosperity”.

40. In view of what [ have said, the Romanian delegation
will support the draft resolution that is being sponsored by
three African countries /S/12282/Rev.1] and in which the
Council states that the territorial integrity and political
independence of Benin must be respected. Likewise, we
believe that it is the duty of the Council to respond
positively to Benin’s request, reflected in the draft resolution, for a special mission to be sent to Benin in order to
investigate and report to the Security Council so as to
enable that body to carry out a thorough examination of
the matter and take appropriate action.

41. The Romanian delegation reserves its right to speak
again in the debate whenever it sees fit.
42, Mr. AKHUND (Pakistan): Mr. President, I wish to
avail myself of this opportunity to express to you the warm
felicitations of my delegation on your assumption of the
presidency of the Council for the current month. We are
confident that with your deep understanding of the issues
before the Council and your very evident skill in the correct
and expeditious handling of the Council's proceedings, our
task will be accomplished with dispatch and to the
satisfaction of all. I am not sure what I can say on this
occasion about Pakistan and Scotland except that we have
taken to the bagpipes with great enthusiasm and, I believe,
also export them to your country.

43. Permit me also to convey the sincere admiration of my
delegation to our new Soviet colleague, Ambassador
Troyanovsky, for the manner in which he conducted ‘the
proceedings of the Council during the month of January.
As the representative of a great country which is a
neighbour of Pakistan, we were happy to see him in the
Chair discharging his responsibilities, in his very first month
amongst us, with such skill and success.

44. At our meeting yesterday [1986th meeting], the
representative of Benin, a country with which Pakistan
maintains close and friendly relations, informed us in detail
of the violence perpetrated on 16 January last at Cotonou,
the economic capital of his country, by unidentified
intruders from abroad. The armed attack was organized
with military skill and executed with ruthlessness, resulting
in considerable material damage and the loss of precious
human life in Benin.

45. We join the previous speakers in paying a tribute to
the People’s Armed Forces of Benin for their valiant and
successful defence of their homeland, and for routing the
intruders.

46. The nature of the incident appears to be beyond any
doubt: it was a clear act of armed intervention in the
internal affairs of a sovereign, independent State. What
precise and ulterior purpose it was intended to serve
cannot, we feel, be a matter of indifference to the Council.

47. The attack on Cotonou, indeed, raises basic questions.
The international community of States is composed of a
large number of countries of small and medium size. Those
situated in the third world are engaged in the all-important
task of economic development, relying mainly on their own
efforts, utilizing their own limited natural resources and
following the system which they consider best suited to
their conditions, They are peace-loving States and have no
political designs and neither the need nor the means to
maintain military forces of any size. Indeed, most of the
countries of the third world are not in a position to defend
each and every inch of their territories at all times against
any well-organized military attacks that might be mounted
from outside, but must rely for their security on the
maintenance of orderly relations among States and on
respect for international law.

48. They quite rightly look to the United Nations in
general, and to the Security Council in particular, for the
maintenance of international order, in accordance with
Article 1 of the Charter, which stipulates that one of the

main purposes of the United Nations is to maintain internal
peace and security, and to that end: to take effective
collective measures for the prevention and removal of
threats to the peace, and for the suppression of acts of
aggression or other breaches of the peace.

49, The attack on Cotonou which took place on 16
January seems to have been executed by soldiers of fortune
or mercenaries. It constitutes a breach of the peace and a
threat to the stability and well-being of a Member of the
United Nations, and a member of the Council.

50. By virtue of Article 24 of the Charter, the Members of
the United Nations have conferred on the Council primary
responsibility for the maintenance of international peace
and security. The Security Council, in discharging that
responsibility, acts on behalf of all the Members of our
Organization. It is the view of the delegation of Pakistan
that, in considering and dealing with the complaint of
Benin, the Council is discharging one of its very basic responsibilities.

51, The representative of Benin, in his statement, demanded that light be shed on the aggression of which his
country was the victim and asked the Security Council to
dispatch a special mission to Cotonou in order to ascertain
the facts in a clear and objective manner, to determine
responsibility and to assess the damage caused. We consider
the request of Benin a reasonable one, and one which is
fully in accord with the provisions of the Charter and with
a number of past precedents. The delegation of Pakistan
will, accordingly, support the draft resolution submitted by
Benin, the Libyan Arab Republic and Mauritius /S§/12282/
Rev. 1], by which the Council would affirm the territorial
integrity and political independence of the People’s
Republic of Benin and decide to send a special mission of
the Council to Benin in order to investigate and report back
later this month.

52. We hope that the special mission can proceed to Benin
as quickly as possible and bring back information on the
basis of which the Council may resume its consideration of
the item, The responsibility of the Council in this matter,
we feel, is twofold: first, to take such action as would
ensure against the recurrence of acts of violence and
intervention against Benin and other small countries, and,
secondly, to take measures to enable Benin to repair the
loss and damage it has suffered as a result of that attack.
Further action to be taken by the Council on receipt of the
report of the special mission will have to be determined,
bearing in mind this basic consideration.

53. The PRESIDENT: 1 thank the representative of
Pakistan for his kind words about me and about the
cultural contribution which my country of Scotland has
been able to make to his.

54, 1should like to inform members of the Council that a
letter has just been received from the representative of Mali
in which he requests to be invited to participate in the
discussion of the question on the agenda. I propose, in
accordance with the usual practice and since there are no
objections, to invite the representative of Mali to participate in the discussion, without the right to vote, under
the provisions of Article 31 of the Charter and rule 37 of
the provisional rules of procedure. I therefore invite him to
take the place reserved for him at the side of the Council
chamber, on the understanding that he will be invited to
take a place at the Council table when it is his turn to
address the Council.

At the invitation of the President, Mr. M. B. Kanté (Mali)
took the place reserved for him at the side of the Council
chamber.

55. Mt. LAI Yai (China) (translation from Chinese): The
incident that took place on 16 January 1977 at Cotonou
constituted an encroachment by imperialism and its
mercenaries on the independence, territorial integrity and
sovereignty of the People’s Republic of Benin. The Chinese
Government and people extend congratulations to the
Government and people of Benin, which, under the
leadership of His Excellency President Kerekou of Benin,
victoriously repulsed the invasion and defended their
national independence and sovereignty, and we express
profound sympathy at the losses suffered by the people of
Benin. The Chinese Government is convinced that the
Government and people of Benin will heighten their
vigilance, strengthen their unity and continue to safeguard
their national independence and State sovereignty, The
Chinese delegation supports the draft resolution sponsored
by Benin, the Libyan Arab Republic and Mauritius
[8/12282[Rev.1] concerning the dispatch by the Security
Council of a special mission to Benin to investigate the facts
about the incident, and will vote in favour of the draft.

56. Mr. JAIPAL (India): Mr. President, may I first of all
congratulate you on your assumption of the office of
President of the Security Council during this month, extend
to you our best wishes for your success and offer you our
co-operation. There is, of course, no doubt that you will
conduct the business of this Council briskly and efficiently,
as you have done so far. If I may say so, there is in your
personality the right proportion of conservatism and
progressivism, or progressiveness, which makes me feel that
the Council is in very good hands.

57. May I associate my delegation with the well-deserved
tribute paid by you to your distinguished predecessor, the
representative of the Soviet Union, who carried out his
burdensome responsibilities last month with great charm
and considerable competence.

58. As to the complaint before the Council, we listened
with anxious attention to the statement made yesterday by
the representative of Benin, and we also listened carefully
to the statements made by the representatives of Algeria,
Rwanda, Guinea and Madagascar [1986th meeting].

59. The facts presented by the representative of Benin
have not been controverted. They have, in fact, been
confirmed by press reports. According to these, there was a
blatant attempt by unidentified persons from outside Benin
to overthrow the Government of Benin by the use of armed
force. We accept the facts presented by the representative
of Benin. They do not need verification.

60. Ordinarily we would not consider it necessary for the
Security Council itself to carry out an on-the-spot investi-

gation, but in this case, because the Government of Benin
has specially asked the Council to send a fact-finding
mission, we are disposed to support Benin’s request.

61. It is fortunate indeed that Benin was able to repel the
attackers who thereupon seem to have disappeared into
thin air. The question that troubles us is this: supposing the
mercenaries had succeeded in their objective, their identity
would have been known by now, but would their success
have made them acceptable? Questions of principle are
involved, as well as questions of responsibility. This is a
clear case of the use of force from outside against the
territorial integrity of the State of Benin. It is an
infringement of that country’s sovereignty and a violation
of the Charter of the United Nations. What is not clear,
however, is the identity of the persons who perpetrated
that act of aggression. Their mere description as imperialist
mercenaries is simply not good enough. We hope that
efforts to identify them will be successful.

62. It is of course possible for those unknown persons to
operate without even the knowledge, much less the
assistance, of other Governments. Such clandestine operations are becoming a new and disturbing phenomenon of
international life and seem to be part of a general design to
topple régimes that are not acceptable in certain quarters.
Such under-cover activities constitute a dangerous aspect of
external interference in the internal affairs of States. The
Colombo Summit Conference of Non-Aligned Countries
condemned such acts as being incompatible with the
Charter,

63. We cannot fail to be impressed by the statements
made by representatives of several African States who
referred to the vulnerability of small States to externally
based attacks on their stability and security. We have heard
that mercenaries are being recruited and trained abroad for
such purposes. Clearly, foreign agencies are involved, even
though the Governments may be unaware of the activities
of these mercenaries. Nevertheless, this does raise important
questions of international responsibility for such situations,
Where do these mercenaries come from, and where do
they go? What are their motivations? Is it simply the
profit motive, or is it the political motive that underlies
their operations?

64. The Security Council clearly has the responsibility to
see that the provisions of Article 2, paragraph 4, of the
Charter are observed. What can the Council do to deter and
prevent such attacks in the future? Specifically, what
should Member States of the United Nations do in order to
ensure that the provisions of Article 2, paragraph 4, will be
scrupulously observed? Answers to these questions have to
be found, because the United Nations is today largely an
organization of small States which became Members mainly
for the protection of their sovereignty and territorial
integrity.

65. We hope that the debate on the complaint of Benin
will initiate steps which will lead to the evolution of
international law providing for adequate measures to check
and remove the threat posed by mercenaries who engage in
conspiracies to overthrow established régimes.
66. The PRESIDENT: I thank the representative of India
for his kind words about me. I assure him that I shall do my

best to mix conservatism and progressiveness in the correct
proportions.

67. The next speaker is the representative of Togo, whom

1 invite to take a seat at the Council table and to make a
statement.

68. Mr. KODJOVI (Togo) (interpretation from French):
Mr. President, 1 should first like to thank you for allowing
me to speak on behalf of my country in the present
discussions. I should like to associate myself with those
who have congratulated you on your assumption of the
presidency of the Security Council for this month. 1 am
certain that, prompted by the traditions of freedom and
democracy of your own country, as well as by your
devotion to those traditions and your competence, you
have assumed your position with that desire for justice and
objectivity which alone can ensure that the Council will
effectively play the essential role incumbent on it in
promoting progress for all the peoples of our planet, in
freedom, dignity and tranquillity.

69. May I, from the very outset, state that in this matter
which we are now discussing, the position of my country is
clear, The Central Committee of the People’s Assembly of
Togo met on 21 January of this year

“,..vigorously to condemn and denounce the use of
mercenaries in Africa, and particularly in the People’s
Republic of Benin, since they flout the most elementary
principles of the sovereignty of the people of Benin. The
Central Committee of the Togolese People’s Assembly
fully supports the fraternal people of Benin in its just
struggle to preserve its independence, its unity and its
national sovereignty.”

In other words, the reality of the cowardly aggression
perpetrated against the fraternal people of Benin is for us
not a matter for doubt, and we are relying on the
impartiality of the fact-finding mission, which it has been
requested should be sent to Benin, to determine, in all
objectivity and with complete accuracy, what occurred, and
at the same time to ascertain who was responsible.

70. This position is based on the constant desire of the
leader of our authentic, peaceful and humanistic revolution,
and of the nation-wide movement of popular consensus
which he directs and leads, to struggle, with determination
and perseverance, against all those evils which stand in the
way of the full development of each and every human
being. Those evils are: foreign domination of the colonial
type, neo-colonial and racist domination, imperialism from
whatever source, violence in all its forms, and the odious
crimes perpetrated by the moneyed Powers, or any act of
oppression against peoples throughout the world and
against the honest leaders who refuse to betray their
peoples for their own ends. Togo has not forgotten
Sarakawa; it is very difficult to forget it.

71. My country scrupulously respects the choice by every
State of its own socio-economic system. Every people has
freedom of choice in the achievement of its objectives, its

liberation and its progress. It is for us an honour that in the
world we form part of an ever-tightening network of
friendships, and we are ready for co-operation, providing
that it is based on a spirit of justice, mutual respect, dignity
and solidarity. But by reason of those very friendships and
the fact that we are so ready to co-operate, we cannot
acquiesce in the use by hidden forces of means condemned
by international morality and by the principles of the
Charter of the United Nations, in order to mould the third
world according to the criteria of their own selfish and
material interests. For this reason, we condemn all acts of
provocation, aggression and humiliation perpetrated against
the independent and sovereign States of Africa and elsewhere.

72. The African peoples have struggled, are still struggling,
and will continue to struggle, as long as they have to,
whatever the price to be paid and the sacrifices to be made,
in order to free themselves and become masters of their
own destiny, to ensure their progress and their development, not only in their own interests, but also in order to
contribute to the collective realization of the full potential
of mankind as a whole.

73. Those cynical enterprises and undertakings which tend
to compromise the achievements of this noble design are
therefore viewed by us as committing an odious crime
against humanity, and the entire international community
should rise up, as a man, against those who are endeavouring to turn the African continent into one enormous
swamp, where those adventurers who have not been able to
gain acceptance within their own societies may wallow at
ease and against those who think they they can perform
deeds of heroism by stabbing us in the back, sowing terror
in our countries and massacring our peaceful populations in
order to earn money.

74. Unfortunately, mercenaries have operated in most
parts of Africa: in Zaire, in Guinea, in Nigeria and
elsewhere. Today it is the People’s Republic of Benin which
has been the victim of their attacks. Which people and
which country will be their next target? Who is arming
them? And on whose behalf are they carrying out their
frightful missions? Those are the questions which we
agonize over in connexion with the use of mercenaries, a
practice which is developing and which has become a
universal calamity, a terrifying sword of Damocles permanently suspended over the heads of all peoples.

75. 7t is high time that our international community
heeded the repeated appeals of the heads of African States.
It is high time that they realized the universal dimension of
this problem and took account of the pertinent resolutions
in which, for many years now, the Organization of African
Unity has been calling upon all States to cease tolerating
the recruitment, training and equipment of mercenaries in
their territories, and to forbid their nationals from serving
in their ranks.

76. This matter must be considered with due care. Merely
to condemn the use of mercenaries is not enough. The
machinery of that practice has to be dismantled, and it is
important that specific steps be taken in order to eradicate
it utterly, together with all the forms and sources of
violence, if we want peoples to live in peace and tranquillity
and achieve complete fulfilment in a world of brotherly
solidarity. In this connexion, the active co-operation of my
delegation and of my country is something of which our
Organization can be assured,

77. The PRESIDENT: The next speaker is the representative of Cuba, whom I now invite to take a place at the
Council table and to make his statement.

78. Mr. ALARCON (Cuba) (interpretation from Spanish):
Mr. President, first of all I should like to thank you and the
other members of the Security Council for allowing my
delegation to participate in this debate. I should also like to
join those representatives who have congratulated you on
your assumption of the presidency of the Council, and I am
sure that, thanks to your recognized experience, your
ability and your tact, you will fully discharge the important
responsibilities you have assumed for this month.

79. The Revolutionary Government and the people of
Cuba learned with great indignation of the criminal
aggression against Benin on 16 January last. The events
which occurred at Cotonou that day and were described
yesterday by Ambassador Boya [1986th meeting] cannot
fail to cause alarm and result in protestation throughout the
entire world. The clarification of those events and the
condemnation of those responsible, as well as the adoption
of effective action to prevent a recurrence of such events,
are duties which the Council cannot shirk.

80. It is clear that, on 16 January, a cowardly and ignoble
attack took place against Benin. It was treacherously
planned, perpetrated in the shadows and carried out by
pirates and international mercenaries. Its organizers and
perpetrators in one fell swoop violated the principles of
international law. It was a serious act of aggression, using
armed force against the sovereignty, independence and
territorial integrity of the People’s Republic of Benin. An
attempt was made to set at naught the inalienable right of
the people of that country to choose the political,
economic and social régime most suitable for it. The
aggressors used sophisticated military matériel, which could
only have come from some subversive agency of imperialism. In the commission of that act of aggression the most
elementary principles governing international conduct were
ignored, including those relating to war. An apparently
non-military aircraft was used, the air space of Benin was
violated, and, in an act of treachery, the aircraft landed at a
civilian airport, where a surprise attack was indiscriminately
carried out. The aircraft of the aggressor did not have any
identification and the attackers did not carry any flag or
wear the uniform of the Power which had sent them into
combat. In sum, the criminals were mercenary troops made
up of foreign whites and Africans and perhaps also certain
traitorous citizens of Benin, all well armed and trained. The
victim was a country which was not in conflict with any
other, which had not committed any aggression against
anyone and against which war had not been declared.

81. At Cotonou, near the coasts which in colonial times
were notorious for the slave trade that flourished there, the
imperialists of today, who are attempting to recolonize

Africa, with the aid of modern technology, are emulating
the feats of the pirates of the past. Once again an African
country has had to deal with the dastardly and barbaric
activities of imperialism; once again it has had to confront a
gang of mercenaries and repulse an attack by a group of
hired killers, criminals without a country, who are moved
only by a desire for profit, inspired by the spoils of war and
organized by racism.

82. Just as in Guinea in 1970 and in Angola more
recently, imperialism and its mercenaries found in Benin a
courageous people guided by an experienced vanguard
which was able to repulse the aggressors only three hours
after the attack was begun. The people of Benin and the
People’s Armed Forces of Benin won a significant victory,
which we joyfully proclaim. Those responsible for the
aggression of 16 January wished to put an end to the
revolution in Benin; they wished to reinstall colonialism
and racism and they attempted to eliminate the revolutionary example so worthily set by Benin today. But the
enemies of Africa once again met with failure. This victory

~ will consolidate the revolution and strengthen the will of

the entire people which is backing the People’s Revolutionary Party and President Mathieu Kerekou.

83. However, the fact that the aggressors were defeated
does not relieve the international community or, specifically, the Security Council of the duty of clarifying the
facts and adopting whatever action is needed to put an end
to the use of mercenaries; it is time to call on certain
Western Powers to put an end to their support or tolerance
of the activities of killers who know no national boundaries. The recent Assembly of Heads of State and
Government of the Organization of African Unity spoke to
the world of the importance of creating the necessary
machinery to prosecute and punish the crime of employing
mercenaries, The fifth summit Conference of the nonaligned countries and the General Assembly at its latest
session have echoed that concern.

84, We often hear concern expressed by the spokesmen of
certain Western Powers when the security or tranquillity of
certain individuals happen to be affected by manifestations
of violence which at times arise as a result of oppression
and injustice for which those same Powers are responsible.
If they do not want their words to be termed hypocritical,
they must here and now demonstrate the same firmness and
concern when the victims are Africans, when criminal terror
is indiscriminately used against the people of the third
world, and when the pain and suffering are inflicted on
humble workers who do not travel in luxurious aircraft or
read the major newspapers of the West and who could not
use the powerful means of imperialist propaganda in their
defence.

85. Benin has won a place in history by reason of a culture
and an artistic development which surprised Europeans. It
was the expression of the vitality of a free people, which
colonialism could not find bonds strong enough to enslave.
The heroic resistance which Behanzin, Bio Guera, Kaba and
other leaders waged against the colonialists is proof of that,
Today Benin, inspired by the immortal ideals of socialism
and defended enthusiastically by its workers, peasants and
students, will not return to a state of colonial serfdom.
86. Those responsible for the brutal act of aggression of
16 January represent a past marked by oppression and
poverty which will never return. To ensure that, there is the
heightened awareness and firm revolutionary will of an
Africa determined to be the sole master of its own destiny,
an awareness and a will that were clearly expressed in a
message sent to all Africans by the President of Guinea,
Ahmed Sékou Touré, in connexipn with these events.

87. In their struggle {o put an end to colonial oppression
and racism, the African peoples have and will have in the
People’s Republic of Benin an impregnable bastion. We
reiterate today the complete solidarity of the people and
the Revolutionary Government of Cuba with Benin, with
its courageous and valiant people and with its Party and its
Government.

88. The PRESIDENT: The next speaker is the representa
tive of Somalia. 1 invite him to take a place at the Council
table and to make his statement,

89, Mr. HUSSEN (Somalia): Mr. President, my delegation
extends to you its felicitations on your accession to the
office of President of the Security Council for the month of
February. We are sure that under your guidance the
Council’s consideration of the matters before it will be
wisely directed.

90. We also wish to express our appreciation of the
excellent manner in which your predecessor, the Permanent
Representative of the Soviet Union, conducted the affairs
of the Council in the month of January, when the Council
was seized—as it is again at the present time—of a question
of unprovoked aggression, at that time against Botswana,
another African State.

91. May 1 also take this opportunity to express my
delegation’s gratitude to you, Mr. President, and the other
members of the Council for allowing us to participate in the
debate on this serious matter which compelled the Government of Benin to request the intervention of the Council.

92. My delegation considers it an important duty to
participate in this debate because we believe that the issue
is one of aggression against a peace-loving, sovereign State.
The gravity of the issue is compounded by the fact that the
aggression against the People’s Republic of Benin was
carried out by mercenaries. The use of those predators by
some countries or groups to attack other States is a
dangerous disease that has become endemic in the African
continent. My delegation believes that this matter cannot
be ignored or taken lightly by the Security Council, which
is responsible for preserving international peace and
security.

93. My delegation also maintains that the activities of
mercenaries are no less violent and destructive than is
terrorism and the taking of hostages, matters which have
gained the attention and the condemnation of the international community. My delegation, therefore, believes that,
independently of the question at hand, the mercenary
problem is serious enough to make it necessary for an
international convention to be established against the hiring
of such criminals, whose aim is to engage in subversive

activities against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of
peace-loving States. Such evil methods revive in our minds
shameful memories of how foreign domination penetrated
Africa during the second half of the nineteenth century, an
activity better known as the “scramble for Africa”.

94. As we have heard from the representative of the
People’s Republic of Benin [1986th meeting], the attack
on the city of Cotonou had as its chief aim the occupation
of the Presidential Palace, with the objective of bringing
down the legitimate Government of that country. Since the
aggression was launched from an aircraft which came from
outside the country, flying at a low altitude from the coast
in order to evade the radar screen, it is clear that this was an
external attack on the State of Benin. Fortunately, the
military forces of Benin were able to foil this attempt at
armed aggression against their country. However, it is a
grim commentary that this kind of aggression has always
resulted in great suffering both in the loss of human lives
and in the destruction of property.

95. In the case at hand, we have regretfully learned that,
apart from considerable material damage, at least five
military men and two civilians were murdered by the
mercenaries. To demonstrate the indignation of the Government and people of the Somali Democratic Republic at this
disdainful attack, I should like with your permission,
Mr. President, to quote from a message of support and
solidarity to the Government and people of the People’s
Republic of Benin which my President, Major General
Mohamed Siad Barre, sent to the President of the People’s
Republic of Benin on 16 January. In his message my
President stated, inter alia:

“I am deeply shocked to learn of the cowardly
mercenary invasion of your country, At the same time I
am heartened to hear that the heroic defence forces, the
valiant patriots and militia of revolutionary Benin, under
your wise and courageous guidance and leadership, have
succeeded in routing the aggressors and sending them into
flight... The Government of the Somali Democratic
Republic expresses its condemnation, in the strongest
terms, against this inhuman and barbaric naked imperialist aggression against the brotherly people of Benin
launched through the intermediary of mercenaries. The
party, Government and entire people of Somalia salute
their heroic bretheren of Benin and their democratic
revolution for dealing a resounding blow to the aggressor
forces and restoring a great victory not only for their own
country and people, but also for the entire peace-loving
peoples of the world ... Allow me once more to assure
you of our total and unreserved support, both moral and
material, in the face of this threat, as we stand side by
side with you in militant solidarity. I have every
confidence that imperialist aggressions of this type, which
are only indicative of the perpetrators’ total lack of
morality and utter disregard for the basic principles of
human conduct, will always, as on past occassions, result
in total failure, and will only help to reinforce our
collective resolve to safeguard our hard-won independence and struggle more vigorously for consolidating our
gains and forging ahead with added determination to
achieve a better fe for our peoples in freedom, dignity
and honour.”
96. This is not the first case of its kind to come before the
Security Council. It will be recalled that in the past the
Council has been called on to take action because of armed
attack by mercenaries or because of other kinds of armed
intervention in the internal affairs of other African States.
It will constitute a grave threat to peace and stability on the
African continent if outside forces can threaten with
impunity the hard-won independence of African States. It
is not a question only of peace and stability. What is at
stake is also the very honour and dignity of Africa.

97. At this stage, the least that the Government of the
People’s Republic of Benin can ask for, and the Council
support, is the dispatch of a fact-finding mission to
ascertain the origin of that brutal aggression. Such a mission
would bear in mind the importance of exposing the evil of
mercenary activities and the necessity of eliminating that
scourge from the face of the earth if we are to ensure that
the aims and objectives enshrined in the Charter of the
United Nations are to be preserved.

98. The PRESIDENT: The next speaker is the representative of Mali. I invite him to take a seat at the Council table
and to make his statement.

99. Mr. KANTE (Mali) (interpretation from French):
Mr. President, with your permission, I wish to discharge a
pleasant duty and congratulate you most amicably on
behalf of my delegation, on your assumption of the
presidency of the Security Council. Who better than you,
Sir, old African hand that you are, can comprehend the
problems of our continent? You lived there in a stormy
region when you were representing your country, the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, in
Rwanda. You referred to this with some degree of emotion
at yesterday afternoon’s meeting, We believe, Mr. President,
that you are fully qualified to conduct our debates
successfully.

100. Secondly, Mr. President, I wish to express to you
and, through you, to the other members of the Security
Council my delegation’s appreciation for permission to
participate in the Council’s debate on the complaint of the
People’s Republic of Benin.

101. I wish also to take this opportunity to bid welcome
to the distinguished citizens of Benin who have been sent
by the Central Committee of the People’s Revolutionary
Party of Benin to attend the debate of the Council on this
disturbing affair.

102. Africa and the peoples of the world which cherish
peace and justice have followed with dismay and indignation the clear-cut act of aggression perpetrated against the
People’s Republic of Benin on 16 January last, at daybreak,
by a gang of hired killers directed by unknown evil forces.
The representative of Benin, our brother Mr. Boya, gave us
a detailed account [1986th meeting] in his important and
moving statement yesterday afternoon of the tragic events
that took place at Cotonou. The treachery of that mad
undertaking was matched only by its cynicism.

103. Although the People’s Armed Forces and the militant
people of Benin were swift in their response, there was a

10

heavy toll: seven patriots were killed and a number of
public buildings were damaged. My delegation wishes tq
pay here a heartfelt tribute to the ardent militants of Benin,
soldiers of peace and freedom, who gave their lives in the
line of duty. We bow respectfully to their memory and we
say that their sacrifice will not have been in vain. They have
joined in history our immortals: Kings Behanzin, Samory
Touré, El Hadji Oumar and other distinguished sons of our
continent who symbolize for ever Africa’s resistance to
foreign occupation. All honour and glory go to the militant
people of the People’s Republic of Benin who rallied
spontaneously behind their party in the vanguard, the
People’s Revolutionary Party of Benin, and their distin.
guished leader, President Mathieu Kerekou, and put down
that armed conspiracy by mercenaries against the independence and sovereignty of their country.

104. The aggression carried out against the African
country of Benin is certainly not an isolated act. It is most
assuredly part of a vast undertaking of colonial reconquest
organized by those who yearn for a return to the past. We
recall that the use of European mercenaries first occurred
on the African continent in the early 1960s and that
mercenaries have been involved in all the upheavals that
have shaken Africa since that time. From Katanga to Benin,
via Bukavu in Zaire, in November 1967, Biafra in 1968, the
Republic of Guinea on 22 November 1970, Angola in 1975
and Southern Rhodesia and many other places, the Bob
Dénards, the Steiners, the Schramms and their soldiers of
fortune achieved notoriety through their odious crimes
committed in cold blood against peace-loving African
peoples.

105. But the case of the People’s Republic of Benin is
particularly surprising in that that country is not at war
with any other country nor is there any internal strife
within that country. Mobilized behind its vanguard party,
the People’s Revolutionary Party of Benin, and its distin
guished leader, President Mathieu Kerekou, the militant
people of Benin have been working since 30 November
1972 to build a democratic society that cherishes peace and
justice and one that maintains friendly relations with all
countries that respect its sovereignty and independence.

106. Where, today, are those who pleaded in this Council
in November 1967 to reduce the charges against the
mercenaries who were surrounded at Bukavu in Zaire!
Where, today, are those who so conveniently referred to a
humanitarian spirit in their appeal for clemency from
Africa and, in particular, from the Presidents of Zaire and
of Rwanda, which were the countries primarily involved?

107. Everyone is quite familiar with the subsequent course
of events. The mercenaries were freed and repatriated by
the International Red Cross to Europe from which they
immediately departed before the very eyes of the authorities of their countries of origin and went to Nigeria, to
support efforts at secession by the rebel province of Biafra.
Nothing was done to stop them. Just as in the case of the
act of aggression against the People’s Republic of Benin, no
voice was raised to condemn them, or even to sympathize
with the African peoples that were victims of their crimes,
whereas, in the case of individual acts such as the taking of
hostages or the hijacking of aircraft, which we of course
condemn, whole foreign ministries swing into action, public
opinion is alerted and even wooed at considerable expense
by the self-same Governments.

108. Africans, however, are no fools. We do not wish to
say that there is a certain brand of racism behind all this,
nor do we wish to interpret this lack of response as a kind
of conspiracy of silence. But we wish to proclaim clearly
that acts of aggression against. independent peoples, regardless of the colour of their skin, must move us all much more
than individual common-law crimes. As was declared in the
General Assembly on a number of occasions by the Minister
for Foreign Affairs and Co-operation of my country,
Colonel Charles Samba Cissokho, the détente advocated for
Europe will not be true détente unless its supporters feel
that it must spread to all continents. Because of the law of
interdependence which governs our world, peace can be
neither local nor regional: it must be widespread
international—or it does not exist.

109. Europe, Asia, Africa, the Americas, Oceania—the
whole world—must condemn the act of aggression committed on 16 January last against the courageous people of
Benin, just as they should have condemned the criminal
raid in July 1976 against the independence and sovereignty
of Uganda.

110. Those tragic events provoked, in fact, untimely mirth
in neo-colonialist circles, We regret in that regard the
foot-dragging and the attempts that were made to deter the
Revolutionary Military Government of Benin from making
its complaint.

111. The armed aggression perpetrated against the
People’s Republic of Benin by a gang of mercenaries is not
merely the concern of Africa, even less merely that of
Benin, It concerns the entire international community, for
this is a case of a serious violation of international peace
and security, of which the members of the Council are
guarantors. And as has so often been said, only facts count.

112. That is why my delegation urges the Council to
respond to the request of the Revolutionary Military
Government of Benin and send a special mission to
Cotonou to establish the facts on the spot and inquire into
all aspects of the aggression, in order to guide the important
decisions which the Council will be taking at a subsequent
meeting on the substance of the question—namely, on the
phenomenon of those gangsters employed against the third
world. I am referring, of course, to the use of mercenaries.
There is nothing new in the dispatch of such a mission; it is
common practice in the Council. It guarantees its im partiality and objectivity in studying the serious questions which
are of concern to us today.

113. Mr. ILLUECA (Panama) (interpretation from
Spanish): Sir, your assumption of the presidency of the
Security Council for the month of February is sincerely
welcomed by the delegation of Panama. Your splendid
contribution to the work of the United Nations is well
known and justly valued. In addition to your gentlemanly
courtesy and your style, we admire your political rectitude,
and after what happened yesterday we could add an
additjonal virtue: your just sense of time and place, as

H

shown by the punctual convening of the meeting of the
Security Council under your presidency. My country has
the best of relations with the United Kingdom, and we wish
on this occasion not only to recall the bonds of friendship
between our two peoples, but to welcome them and to
pledge the full co-operation of Panama in making your
tenure of office as successful as possible.

114. We also wish to join the tribute which you, Mr. President, and other representatives have paid to Ambassador
Troyanovsky of the Soviet Union on the splendid job he
did as President of the Council for the month of January.
We repeat once again our conviction that his presence in
the United Nations will be a great contribution to peace
and international détente.

115. Referring specifically to the agenda item, the delegation of Panama wishes to say that it considers the
complaint of the People’s Republic of Benin a very serious
matter indeed. We listened to the statement of Ambassador
Boya [1986th meeting] in which he gave a very vivid
account of how his country fell victim to a carefully
prepared and perpetrated act of aggression on 16 January
1977 against the city of Cotonou. The individuals involved
were carefully trained and had ultra-modern military
matériel at their disposal.

116. Certain features of the act have not been clearly
defined, but it is a matter of the utmost gravity, because
this represents one new way to undermine the peace and
security of States, such as Benin, which are involved in
building their own future in harmony with their neighbours
and with all other countries of the world.

117. The overriding importance of the event was brought
out in the debate by Ambassador Ramphul [ibid.],
speaking both in his capacity as representative of Mauritius
and in that of spokesman of the Organization of African
Unity. He stated yesterday that the attack against the
integrity of Benin was an attack on Africa as a whole. There
is no doubt about that, and I should like to say that not
only was it an attack on Africa as a whele, but it could be
viewed as directed against all the countries of the third
world—against not only the States of Africa, but also of
Asia and Latin America. That act was entirely unlawful,
immoral and completely unjustified, which is why this
matter falls within the competence of the Security Council.

118. In addition to the letters which were received by the
Council on 26 January from the delegation of Benin
[S/12278] and on 4 February from the delegation of
Guinea [§/12281/, 1 wish to refer in particular to document S$/12283, which contains a letter dated 7 February
addressed to the President of the Security Council by
Ambassador Hamilton Shirley Amerashinghe, the Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka, President of the
General Assembly and Chairman of the Co-ordinating
Bureau of the Non-Aligned Countries.

119. Mr. Amerasinghe, on behalf of the Co-ordinating
Bureau, referred to the complaint made to the Security
Council by the People’s Republic of Benin regarding the act
of aggression committed by a commando unit of mercenaries which landed at Cotonou airport on 16 January.
That communication is unquestionably of great impor-
tance. It contains a communiqué from the Co-ordinating
Bureau of the Non-Aligned Countries in which, after
referring to those reprehensible acts, the Co-ordinating
Bureau expresses its pleasure at the success of the People’s
Armed Forces of Benin and the Government of Benin in
repulsing the attack and expresses sympathy to the Government of Benin on the loss of life and the damage caused by
the commando attack. Those sentiments are shared by my
delegation, which wishes to express to the delegation of
Benin our heartfelt condolences at the losses suffered. The
Co-ordinating Bureau also expresses to the Council its
serious concern over the events which took place on
Sunday, 16 January. It seems they were part of a plan
aimed at undermining the stability of régimes whose
policies are viewed with displeasure in certain circles. 1
believe that is truly the heart of the matter.

120. The Security Council has before it a revised draft
resolution [S/12282/Rev.1f. That draft affirms that the
territorial integrity and political independence of the
People’s Republic of Benin must be respected. By its
adoption, the Security Council would decide that a special
mission should be sent to Benin to investigate the events of
16 January at Cotonou, and that it should report not later
than the end of February. The delegation of Panama will
vote in favour of the draft, which is entirely justified. We
shall do so on the understanding that the draft is based on
the complaint by the People’s Republic of Benin, that the
international community believes that actions by mercenaries are unlawful, contrary to international law and
immoral and that they represent methods which should not
be used, and that world public opinion should be aware
that the Security Council will take vigorous action to see to
it that those acts, which are a threat to all developing
countries, particularly those of the third world, are eradicated.

121. All members of the Council are aware that an
operation of the magnitude of that which took place in
Benin requires either the active or passive complicity of the
intelligence, police, customs or immigration services, or the
armies of constituted States. This matter should be investigated thoroughly so that those who continue to believe that
through the use of mercenaries they can do away with
self-determination of peoples, will understand that they
have no future.

122. The PRESIDENT: I thank the representative of
Panama for his reference to the cordial relations between
his country and my own. I thank him also for the very kind
words he addressed to me.

123. There are no further names on the list of speakers. As
no other representative wishes to speak at this stage, the
Council will now proceed to consideration of the draft
resolution submitted by Benin, the Libyan Arab Republic
and Mauritius /S/12282/Rev.1]. As a result of informal
consultations, it is my understanding that members of the
Council are agreed that the draft resolution may be adopted
by consensus, without being put to the vote. Accordingly,
if T hear no objection, I shall declare the draft resolution
adopted.

The draft resolution was adopted. ?

1 See resolution 404 (1977).

12

124. Mr. RAMPHUL (Mauritius): On behalf of my African
brothers members of the Security Council and sponsors of
the draft resolution, 1 had the honour of introducing
yesterday, 1 wish to thank all members of our Council for
their co-operation and understanding in adopting by consensus the draft as revised by the sponsors. In doing so, the
Security Council has, first, served the cause of international
peace and security and, secondly, taken a decisive step
towards the unmasking and condemnation of international
mercenaries. Not only was Benin fully justified in alerting
the Council and in securing a preliminary decision—namely,
the dispatch of a special mission to Cotonou—but it also
deserves our appreciation for highlighting the new curse of
international mercenaries.

125. As President of the Security Council, Sir, you have
played a very important role, with your recognized skill,
diplomatic talents and experience. You have shown great
patience, commendable courtesy and integrity, and we
thank you very much indeed.

126. During the debate several speakers referred to what
appeared to them to be an unwillingness on the part of
some unidentified members of the Security Council to meet
Benin’s request, members who seemingly held the view that
the matter would better be dealt with by the Organization
of African Unity. In this connexion, I wish at this stage to
inform the Council that I communicated with the current
President of the Organization of African Unity, the
Rt. Hon. Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, who informed me
that “no harm could ensue if debate were initiated in the
Security Council”. We have now dealt with the first phase
of the matter. We anxiously await the report of the Special
Mission.

127. Mr, President, at the beginning of this debate 1
intentionally refrained from expressing the traditional
compliments to the presidency. That was not out of a lack
of courtesy or of respect, but rather out of a fear that any
compliments from one member of the Commonwealth to
another, especially to the United Kingdom, might give rise
to some suspicion of collusion should things not go well for
the regional group to which I belong. Nor did I want any
compliments from me to you, Sir, to be interpreted by you
as a form of bribery or corruption to serve the cause of
Africa, though of course I am not suggesting that you are
open to bribery and corruption. However, now that you
have discharged with flying colours your difficult and
delicate duties so far as the first phase of action following
Benin’s complaint is concerned, I wish to state that it has
given me great pleasure to work under your presidency.

128. I say, this, Sir, because since 1810, with the
exception of a few years, and until its independence in
1968, the British Crown Colony of Mauritius was governed
by British Governors of Scottish birth, a fact which led me
to believe that the best exports of the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Northern Ireland were definitely the
scotch and the Scot. The Scots are certainly great soldiers,
administrators and diplomats. I am happy, however, that
they have ceased to govern me and that I participated in the
work of this Council as the representative of an independent and sovereign country ruled by a democraticallyelected Government with a socialist vocation. Who knows,
perhaps the brave Scots, too, will one day free themselves.
If such is your wish, Sir, I wish you the best of British luck.

129. Mr. President, I join you and your delegation in
rejoicing in the celebration of the jubilee of the reign of our
most gracious Queen, Elizabeth II, even if Mauritius seems
to be on the eve of becoming a republic.

130. The PRESIDENT: I thank the representative of
Mauritius for his good wishes to my country on the
occasion of the Queen’s anniversary, and I note with
satisfaction that he has gone on record as saying that I am
not open to bribery.

13

131. I have noted that, in accordance with paragraph 3 of
the resolution we have just adopted, the Security Council

“Decides that the members of the Special Mission will
be appointed after consultations between the President
and the members of the Security Council”.

I shall begin consultations with the members of the Council

on this forthwith and shall keep members informed of
progress.

The meeting rose at 6.05 p.m.
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Voting Summary
Yes: 015 | No: | Abstentions: | Non-Voting: | Total voting membership:
Y BENIN
Y CANADA
Y CHINA
Y FRANCE
Y GERMANY, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF
Y INDIA
Y LIBYAN ARAB JAMAHIRIYA
Y MAURITIUS
Y PAKISTAN
Y PANAMA
Y ROMANIA
Y USSR
Y UNITED KINGDOM
Y UNITED STATES
Y VENEZUELA