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Tag: Security Council

  • Nigeria takes over as chair, AU Peace and Security Council

    Nigeria takes over as chair, AU Peace and Security Council

    Nigeria has officially assumed the one-month rotational chairmanship of the African Union Peace and Security Council (PSC).

    Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the AU, Bankole Adeoye, took over from Susan Sikaneta, the Permanent Representative of Zambia, who held the Presidency for the month of June.

    Adeyemo, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Addis Asaba said under Nigeria’s leadership, the council would focus on the implementation of AU’s Master Road Map of Practical Steps to Silence the Guns in Africa by 2020.

    “Equally, the Council will build on the substantial progress being recorded by the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) in the fight against terrorism and seek to gain better understanding of the root causes of the conflict.

    “Also to be considered by the Council during this period are the political and security situations in Guinea Bissau, Somalia, South Sudan, Mali/Sahel and Libya.

    “Essentially, Nigeria as chairperson of the Council will prioritise the open debate by the AU Member States on Child soldiers / out of school children in armed conflict situations.”

    He said with the support of other members of the Council, Nigeria would use its month-long presidency to actively promote sub-regional and continental peace and security in line with the principles of the AU Peace and Security Council Protocol and the mandate of the Council.

    NAN reports that in view of Nigeria’s leadership role at the sub-regional and continental levels, the country has sustained its membership of this most vital mechanism since its founding in 2002.

     

     

    The Peace and Security Council is the primary organ of the African Union, which is patterned along the UN Security Council to enforce Union decisions, particularly in matters relating to maintenance of peace and security.

    Members of the Council are elected by the Assembly of the AU so as to reflect regional balance within Africa, as well as a variety of other criteria, including capacity to contribute militarily and financially to the Union.

    The Council is composed of 15 countries, of which five are elected to three-year term, and 10 to two-year term.

    The current members of the PSC are Nigeria, Algeria, Botswana, Burundi, Chad, Congo, Egypt, Niger, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Togo, Uganda and Zambia.

     

     

  • Development will end Boko Haram crisis- UN Security Council

    The UN Security Council says that the only solution to the Boko Haram terrorism in the North East Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin is the economic development of the region.

    Matthew Rycroft, the leader of a UN Security Council delegation, said  this while speaking with newsmen shortly after a visit to Maiduguri.

    “We are convinced that the long term solutions is not military, it is not even humanitarian, it is development.

    “It has to do with thinking about long term investments, in job creation, in education among others,” Rycroft, who is  also the UK Permanent Representative to the UN and the Security Council’s President for the month of March, said.

    He added:” It is thinking about the protection of civilians, thinking about protection of human rights, of women and girls rights in particular.

    “All of us have to come together and we stand with the governor of Borno, the government of Nigeria in tackling all of these problems in the Lake Chad Basin region”.

    Rycroft explained that the visit was aimed at getting first hand information on the crisis.

    “We came here because we are very worried about the crisis which is affecting the North East Nigeria which is the crisis of terrorism caused by Boko Haram.

    “We are also here because of the humanitarian crisis which is being exacerbated by the terrorists,” he said.

    Rycroft said that the team had been able get sufficient information from some victims of the crisis.

    “We have had meetings with displaced persons in one of the IDP camps interacting with women and men who had been victims of Boko Haram.

    “They are now victims of humanitarian crisis, the number is shocking in terms of Displaced Persons, half a million children are malnourished,” he said.

    Rycroft said that the UN Security Council was determined to stepped up assistance to the victims.

    “We are determined that the international Community, the donor nations and the UN coordinating units stepped up response before it is too late,” he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 14-man UN Security Council delegation visited the Theater Commander Operation Lafiya Dole as part of the visit.

  • How insurgency affect international peace

    How insurgency affect international peace

    • The Security Council recalls its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security

    The Security Council has reaffirmed Member States’ determination to continue to do all they can to resolve conflict and to deny terrorist groups the ability to put down roots and establish safe havens to address better the growing threat posed by terrorism.

    The Council stresses that terrorism can only be defeated by a sustained and comprehensive approach involving the active participation and collaboration of all States and international, regional and sub-regional organizations to counter the terrorist threat.

    According to the council, terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security, and that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whosoever committed.

    Thus, the council expresses its concern at the continued threat posed to international peace and security by Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati Wal-Jihad (also known as “Boko Haram” and hereinafter referred to as such) and all other individuals, groups, undertakings and entities associated with A1-Qaida, reaffirms its resolve to address all aspects of that threat, and reaffirms that terrorism, including the actions of the Boko Haram terrorist group, cannot and should not be associated with any religion, nationality, or civilization.

    The Security Council reiterates its strong condemnation of all the terrorist attacks, abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law by Boko Haram in the Lake Chad Basin region.

    The council also recognized that women and girls are particularly targeted by Boko Haram, expresses its deep sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims as well as to the peoples and Governments of Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon and Chad and wishes a speedy recovery to those injured.

    The Security Council recalls that those responsible for abuses and violations of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law must be held accountable and brought to justice.

    The Security Council takes note of the Communiques of the African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) of 25 November, 2014 on the threat posed by Boko Haram and the efforts of the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC) Member States (Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria) and Benin to combat Boko Haram.

    It further takes note of the Letter sent by the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC) to the United Nations Secretary-General on 6 March 2015, forwarding the Communiques adopted by the AUPSC on 29 January and 3 March 2015, as well as the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) Strategic Concept of Operations (CONOPS) to fight against Boko Haram.

    The Council, while acknowledging the progress made on the ground following joint regional military efforts in recent months, condemns strongly the continued deadly attacks perpetrated by the Boko Haram terrorist group, particularly against civilians and encourages increased regional cooperation.

    The Security Council encourages all actors involved in the response to support recovery programmes and the provision of the necessary protection measures for civilians, and to pay particular attention to the release and reintegration of children abducted by Boko Haram or formerly associated with this terrorist group.

    It recalls that Boko Haram has been designated as associated with Al-Qaida by the Committee established, pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011) and in this regard, expresses its readiness to consider listing individuals, groups, undertakings and entities providing support to Boko Haram, including those who are financing, arming, planning or recruiting for Boko Haram and all other individuals, groups, undertakings and entities associated with Al-Qaida through information and communications technologies including the Internet and social media or through any other means.

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  • UN Security Council

    UN Security Council

    Nigeria should tackle the basics at home before seeking grand distractions abroad

    President Goodluck Jonathan’s call for a non-permanent seat, in the 2014-2015 session of United Nations Security Council is legitimate and fair. But before the country can lead a credible campaign for the democratisation of that body – that principle is infallible – it must settle the basics at home. This is one area where foreign aspirations must help propel better governance at home, if the whole exercise were not to turn a grand distraction.

    In making a demand for the non-permanent seat, President Jonathan did a brilliant presentation. Addressing other world leaders and delegates at the opening of the 68th Session of the UN General Assembly, in New York, United States on September 24, the president announced that both the African bloc, through the African Union (AU), and the West African bloc, through the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have endorsed Nigeria’s aspiration. Therefore, support from other blocs in the global body should come as routine. That was well pitched.

    But beyond regional support, Nigeria’s perennial support to the United Nations, in terms of global and regional peace-keeping missions, is another strong recommendation. If the Security Council drives these peace missions on behalf of the General Assembly, and Nigeria had always contributed contingents to keep and enforce peace in trouble spots all over, then it makes eminent sense for Nigeria to seek election into the Security Council.

    This is a legitimate request that the president has well articulated. What must follow is effective diplomatic lobby to make the aspiration a reality.

    But the much more difficult campaign is the democratisation of the UN Security Council. “Democratisation” is euphemism for either total equality of the 15 members without any member wielding veto powers as it is now; or Nigeria landing one of the permanent member seats, for the African Region too to hold some veto in the Council’s affairs and decisions.

    To be sure, the principle of democratising decision-making in the Council is fair and just. It is an ideal that should be pursued, no matter how long it takes. Of all the 15 members, the Big Five including Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States hold the veto. So, no matter how reasonable or equitable or urgent a matter is, it suffers a fatal kiss should any of the five wield its veto.

    Often, the veto has led to some balance of terror, resulting in delayed or even scuttling of actions, particularly when the Big Five members have ideological differences. But at times too, it has led to a conspiracy of the strong against the weak, which often buys poisoned peace, all too soon coming back to haunt the global community.

    But even with the Big Five having veto power to cancel out themselves, it is always a roiling point that they are only one-third minority, dictating tunes to the two-third majority. The Big Five insist it is equitable, since they bear the brunt of any action the Council might decide to take – a not unreasonable argument.

    But the “Weak” 10, on behalf of other members of the United Nations, counter it is patently undemocratic, for always being lorded over. There is, therefore, the difference between the pragmatic and the ideal.

    For Nigeria to lead the campaign for such democratisation therefore, it must equip itself. It must build its economy. It must develop its people. It must earn enough international economic clout, prestige and respect to command global attention in the matter.

    Ironically, the place of attaining such lofty goals is at home, not abroad. If the Big Five have literally muscled the global community into accepting the Council’s veto system, they base the “equitability” of the apparently unjust action on the likelihood of losing more than the non-permanent members, in case of any adverse consequences. That is no illegitimate argument, except of course the majority members in the Council can build themselves and effectively counteract the argument. They obviously can’t – at least, for now.

    For Nigeria to make a bid for a permanent seat in the Council, therefore, and to angle for veto as the rest, it must fix the basics at home. The sad fact is that among the three contestants for the post in Africa, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa, Nigeria, on the basis of socio-economic development indices, appears the least placed. Yet, it is not only the best centrally placed (virtually right at the heart of the continent), it is also the most populous – both in Africa and in the entire Black universe.

    But neither the accident of geography nor the boom of population is enough. What is needed is birthing a country that functions well, meets the developmental needs of its citizens, forge its own economic niche, deliver local productivity and prosperity and earn respect among the comity of nations.

    With such a profile, when Nigeria speaks, the world will listen. With renewed economic power, Nigeria can then challenge the “equitability” theory of the Permanent Five. It too can claim that it deserves more from the international system, since it has much to lose if it goes awry.

    So, there is nothing wrong with Nigeria aspiring to a permanent seat in the UN Security Council. But it must take the first steps by putting right the home front. Otherwise, such foreign aspiration would be nothing but grand distraction.