WORRIED by the crisis arising from the November 2010 controversial election in Cote d’Ivoire, the United Nations (UN) Security Council has warned the country’s leaders that there would be consequences to any acts of violence committed as a result of the feud. Also, Nigeria will be presiding again over the  Council in October, according to a statement yesterday from the world body.

A statement from the Council after it was briefed on the situation in Côte d’Ivoire by the Under-Secretary-General of the UN’s Department of Peacekeeping, DPKO, Alain Le Roy, commended “the efforts by the African Union (AU) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in seeking a peaceful resolution of the crisis in Côte d’Ivoire.”

Expressing deep concern over violent acts in the country, the members of the Security Council, including Nigeria “condemned attacks against peacekeepers and civilians,” warning that, “those responsible for crimes against UN personnel and civilians must be held accountable.”

The UN Security Council said it was still committed to respecting the outcome of the presidential election in Cote d’Ivoire and was still seeking a peaceful resolution.

As a current non-permanent member of the Council, Nigeria has a two-year tenure, which expires this year December and within its tenure has the opportunity to lead the council as president.

Last July Nigeria’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative, Prof. Joy Ogwu, chaired the council as President and a new schedule released for the new year by the UN shows that based on the alphabetical arrangement, Nigeria will again preside over the council in October this year.

During its presidency, Nigeria advanced the issue of Preventive Diplomacy holding a summit that was presided over by the Foreign Affairs Minister, Henry Odein Ajumogobia. It was also during Nigeria’s presidency of the Council that the Queen of England visited the UN and was received at the Council by Nigeria’s Ambassador, Prof. Ogwu.

Currently for the first month of the year Bosnia & Herzegovina is presiding over the council, which issued another warning yesterday on Cote d’Ivoire.

Posted by admin on Jan 11 2011. Filed under Africa & World Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry