United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan on Thursday sought deployment of 350 UN law enforcement personnel to Côte d’Ivoire.
The recommendation to deploy the police, lawyers and prison conditions experts was part of a report to the Security Council in response to requests for the creation of a peacekeeping force of slightly more than 6 000 persons, which Annan proposed in January.
The mission, requested by Côte d’Ivoire, France and several African nations has been held up by the United States.
At the moment, France has 4 000 troops in the West African country alongside forces from other African nations monitoring a ceasefire between government forces and rebels who launched an uprising in September 2002.
Although the guns have been mostly silent since a ceasefire was signed in July and former rebels have joined the government, Côte d’Ivoire remains divided between the rebel-held north and west and the south, which is controlled by loyalists to President Laurent Gbagbo.
The Security Council is to take up the matter by February 27 at the latest, the day the UN Mission to Côte d’Ivoire (MINUCI) expires as well as those of French and West African contingents.
Annan said the UN civilian police ”would advise the government on the restructuring of the gendarmerie and national police … observe their operation with a view to deterring excesses and abuses and strengthening the professionalism of the national police and the gendarmerie.
”In the north and the zone of confidence, it would offer advice to the government on the restioration of an effective police presence in that part of the country.”
”The judicial component would follow legislative, judicial and administrative developments … including issues of judicial administration and national indentification.”
The penitentiary unit he said, ”working in cooperation with national and international partners, would provide support and advice concerning the reestablishment of the security system, reduce human right abuses … (and) enhance the security system to provice safe, secure and humane conditions for detainees.” – Sapa-AFP