United Nations Security Council Resolution 1216 – Guinea-Bissau
Resolution 1216 (1998)
The Security Council,
Reaffirming the statements of its President of 6 November 1998(S/PRST/1998/31) and 30 November 1998 (S/PRST/1998/35),
Gravely concerned by the crisis facing Guinea-Bissau and the serious humanitarian situation affecting the civilian population in Guinea-Bissau,
Expressing its firm commitment to preserve the unity, sovereignty,political independence and territorial integrity of Guinea-Bissau,
- Welcomes the agreements between the Government of Guinea-Bissau andthe Self-Proclaimed Military Junta signed in Praia on 26 August 1998(S/1998/825), and in Abuja on 1 November 1998 (S/1998/1028, annex) and theAdditional Protocol signed in Lomé on 15 December 1998 (S/1998/1178, annex);
2. Calls upon the Government and the Self-Proclaimed Military Junta toimplement fully all the provisions of the agreements, including with regard torespect for the ceasefire, the urgent establishment of a government of nationalunity, the holding of general and presidential elections no later than the endof March 1999, and the immediate opening of the airport and seaport in Bissau,and, in cooperation with all concerned, the withdrawal of all foreign troops inGuinea-Bissau and the simultaneous deployment of the interposition force of theMilitary Observer Group (ECOMOG) of the Economic Community of West AfricanStates (ECOWAS);
3. Commends the Member States of the Community of Portuguese-SpeakingCountries and ECOWAS on the key role they are playing to restore peace andsecurity throughout Guinea-Bissau, and on their intention to participate withothers in the observation of the forthcoming general and presidential electionsand welcomes the role of ECOMOG in the implementation of the Abuja Agreement,aimed at guaranteeing security along the Guinea-Bissau/Senegal border, keepingapart the parties in conflict and guaranteeing free access to humanitarian organizations and agencies to reach the affected civilian populations, to becarried out in accordance, inter alia, with paragraph 6 below;
4. Approves the implementation by the ECOMOG interposition force of itsmandate referred to in paragraph 3 above in a neutral and impartial way and inconformity with United Nations peacekeeping standards to achieve its objectiveto facilitate the return to peace and security by monitoring the implementationof the Abuja Agreement;
5. Calls upon all concerned, including the Government and the Self-Proclaimed Military Junta, to respect strictly relevant provisions ofinternational law, including humanitarian and human rights law, and to ensuresafe and unimpeded access by international humanitarian organizations to personsin need of assistance as a result of the conflict;
6. Affirms that the ECOMOG interposition force may be required to takeaction to ensure the security and freedom of movement of its personnel in thedischarge of its mandate;
7. Requests ECOMOG to provide periodic reports at least every monththrough the Secretary-General, the first report to be made one month afterdeployment of its troops;
8. Requests also the Secretary-General to make recommendations to theCouncil on a possible role of the United Nations in the process of peace andreconciliation in Guinea-Bissau, including the early establishment ofarrangements for liaison between the United Nations and ECOMOG;
9. Reiterates its appeal to States and organizations concerned to provideurgent humanitarian assistance to displaced persons and refugees;
10. Reiterates also its call on States to provide voluntarily financial,technical and logistical support to assist ECOMOG to carry out its peacekeepingrole in Guinea-Bissau;
11. Requests the Secretary-General to take the necessary steps toestablish a Trust Fund for Guinea-Bissau which would assist in supporting theECOMOG interposition force in providing logistical support to them andencourages Member States to contribute to the Fund;
12. Requests further the Secretary-General to keep the Security Councilregularly informed of the situation in Guinea-Bissau and to submit a report toit by 17 March 1999 on the implementation of the Abuja Agreement including theimplementation by the ECOMOG interposition force of its mandate;
13. Decides to review the situation, including the implementation of thepresent resolution, before the end of March 1999, on the basis of the report ofthe Secretary-General referred to in paragraph 12 above;
14. Decides to remain seized of the matter.
Adopted by the Security Council at its 3958th meeting,on 21 December 1998.
