UN Security Council renews mission in Côte d'Ivoire despite demands to leave

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UN Security Council renews mission in Côte d'Ivoire despite demands to leave

2010-12-21 10:46:56 GMT+7 (ICT)

UNITED NATIONS (BNO NEWS) -- The United Nations Security Council on Monday renewed its peacekeeping mission in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI) despite demands from disputed President Laurent Gbagbo to leave Ivorian territory.

Last week, Gbagbo demanded UNOCI to leave Côte d'Ivoire after it certified the presidential elections and ratified opposition candidate Alassane Ouattara as winner despite the Gbagbo's allegations of fraud and later self-proclaimed victory.

The Security Council extended UNOCI's nearly 9,000-strong force for another six months and threatened to impose sanctions against those disrupting peace. The mission also accused Gbagbo of launching a new wave of harassment against its members, and said a UN convoy had been fired upon by forces loyal to Gbagbo.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's Special Representative Y. J. Choi said that despite these attempts to disrupt the mission, it will continue doing its job. Choi was the person who ratified the defeat of Gbagbo, who refuses to leave power despite opposition from the international community.

On Saturday, Gbagbo's camp began sending armed men, generally during the night, to the homes of some UN staff, knocking at the door and asking them their departure date or entering their residence under the pretext of looking for weapons.

"UN staff members are blocked and harassed," Mr. Choi said. "UNOCI is carrying out its military and police patrols across the country. Our patrols are intended to monitor, observe and dissuade acts of violence and human rights violations. Our rules of engagement allow us to fire only when we are fired at."

Earlier, the Security Council adopted unanimously a resolution condemning the attempts to usurp the will of the Ivorian people and undermine the integrity of the election process. These attempts also damage the peace process and the progress achieved over the past seven years for the reunification of Côte d'Ivoire, according to the Council.

The UN body further said it is prepared to impose sanctions, including assets freeze and travel bans as announced earlier on Monday by the European Union. The Council sanctions would be imposed to anyone who is threatening the peace process, undermining the outcome of the elections, obstructing UNOCI, or committing human rights violations.

Violence erupted last week after Gbabgo refused leaving the helm of the West African country, which was divided by civil war in 2002 into a Government-controlled south and a rebel-held north. Approximately 50 people have been killed since last week and over 200 others have been injured so far.

In addition to those casualties, ONOCI earlier said it has received reports from hundreds of victims and members of their families about the abduction of individuals from their homes, especially at night, by unidentified armed individuals in military uniform.

Abducted people are reportedly being taken by force to illegal places of detention where they are held incommunicado and without charge. Some have been found dead in questionable circumstances, the UN said.

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