Timeline

 On 5 November 2009, the Security Council adopted a Presidential Statement (S/PRST/2009/29) reiterating the " importance of consolidating democracy, security, the rule of law, national reconciliation and the fight against impuntiy to ensure sustainable peace in Guinea-Bissau”. The Council also urged the Government of Guinea-Bissau “to take the necessary actions in the framework of the Guinea-Bissau anti-narcotics operational Plan and the ECOWAS Plan of action against drug trafficking and organised crime in West Africa”.

 On 5 March 2010, the Security Council met to discuss the situation in Guinea-Bissau. It praised the efforts of the Government of Guinea-Bissau but reiterated the importance of respect for constitutional order and the rule of law. The Council expressed its support to the work of the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNIOGBIS). It also reaffirmed the importance of a security-sector reform in the country.

 On 22 July 2010, the Security Council adopted a Presidential Declaration in which it "expresses serious concern about the continued growth in drug trafficking, as well as organized crime, which threatens peace and security in Guinea-Bissau and in the subregion." It "calls upon the government of Guinea-Bissau to release immediately all those detained in the events of 1 April 2010 or prosecute them with full respect for due process."

 Following the events on 1 April 2010 in Guinea-Bissau, the Security Council met on 5 April 2010 to express its concerns and to ask all parties to respect the rule of law. The Security Council also called on parties to promote dialogue and to maintain their efforts to consolidate peace and security in the country.

 On 23 November 2010, the Security Council adopted Resolution 1949(2010) renewing the UNIOGBIS mandate until 31 December 2011.

 On 28 June 2011, following the report of the Secretary-General on developments in Guinea-Bissau and on the activities of the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in that country (17 June 2011), the Special Representative of the Secretary General, Mr. Joseph Mutatoba, presented to the Security Council recent improvements in the political and security environment in Guinea-Bissau. Regarding the political dialogue and Security Sector Reform, Mr. Mutatoba stressed the need for consolidation of the positive results and called for improved relations between civil authorities and members of military institutions. In a press statement (28 June 2011), members of the Security Council welcomed "the progress made by the Government of Guinea-Bissau towards the maintenance of stability and the important steps taken in achieving economic reform". They also noted "the work of the National Assembly in taking forward national political dialogue among all parties as a way of enhancing efforts to promote national reconciliation."

 On 3 November 2011, the Security Council heard the report of Mr. Mutaboba, Special Representative of Secretary-General in Guinea-Bissau, on the lastest developments in the country, as well as the permanent representatives of Guinea Bissau, Brazil, who chairs the sanction mechanim comittee for Guinea-Bissau, and Angola, on behalf of the Community of Portuguese Language countries (CPLP).
During the following closed consultations, Mr. Mutaboba highlighted the need for the implementation of a credible Security Sector Reform program, key to the normalization of the political life and the socio-economic development.

 On 21 December 2011, the Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 2030 extending the UNIOGBIS mandate until 28 February 2013.

 On 28 March 2012, the Security Council heard a report by Mr. Joseph Mutaboba, Special representative of the Secretary General in Guinea Bissau, on the situation in the country, followed by statements by Ms. Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti, Chair of the Guinea-Bissau Configuration of the Peacebuilding Commission and Mr. João Soares da Gama, Permanent representative of the country.

Mr. Mutaboba noted that the first round of the early presidential elections of 18 March, organized following the death of President Malam Bacai Sanha, had been conducted without any major incident and was deemed transparent by the observers on the ground. However, the political transition process was hindered by the fight against drug trafficking, the urgent need for a security sector reform and the shortcomings of the judicial system.

In closed consultations, the French representative commended the successful and transparent electoral process, expressing however his concerns over the security situation following the assassination of a High Commander of the Military Intelligence, Colonel Samba Djalo.

 On 30 March 2012, the Security Council issued a press statement calling upon Bissau-Guinean political leaders to exercise restraint and to refrain from any action that might hamper the electoral process.

 On 13 April, 2012, following the military coup that occurred the day before in Guinea-Bissau, the Security Council met in consultations to discuss the situation in the country. It issued a press statement in which it strongly condemned the military seizure and demanded the immediate restoration of constitutional order.

 On 19 April 2012, the Security Council heard statements from Mr. Joseph Mutaboba Special Representative of Secretary-General in Guinea-Bissau, Mr. Saliu Mamadu Djalo Pires, Foreign Minister of Guinea-Bissau, and Mr. Youssoufou Bamba, Permanent representative of Côte d’Ivoire, speaking on behalf of the Chairman of ECOWAS.

The authors of the coup claimed they had been acting in "self defense" in order to thwart attempts to "annihilate" the armed forces. Their immediate objectives were the continuation of the security sector reform, the fight against drug trafficking, a further democratization of the State and ending impunity. Following the consultations gathering the political parties, an agreement was reached on 18 April between the armed forces and some political leaders for a two-year transition, the dissolution of the Parliament, the deposition of the government, and a continued military leadership. The attempts at protest had been violently suppressed. Mr. Paulo Portas, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Portugal, stood in favor of the implementation of restrictive measures and the creation of a stabilization mission mandated by the United Nations. The same wish was expressed by Mr. Djalo Pires.

In closed consultations, the representative of France condemned the coup and called for a peaceful resumption of the constitutional order. He urged the African Union, ECOWAS and the CPLP to join forces in a single initiative.

 On 21 April 2012, the Security Council adopted a presidential statement reiterating its condemnation of the coup, demanding the immediate restoration of the constitutional order and threatening the perpetrators and supporters of the coup of targeted sanctions, should the situation remain unsolved.

 On 7 May 2012, the Security Council heard a report by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Guinea-Bissau, Mr. Joseph Mutaboba, in the presence of Ms. Hussaini Suleiman Garba, Commissioner for Political Affairs of ECOWAS, the Permanent Representative of Angola on behalf of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) and the Foreign Minister of Guinea-Bissau, Mr. Saliu Mamadu Djalo Pires

The plan to end the crisis proposed by ECOWAS, which includes a 12-month transition process led by a president elected by the National Assembly as well as a prime minister chosen by consensus, was rejected by the Foreign Minister of Guinea-Bissau. However, he did not oppose the deployment in the country of a joint stabilization force by ECOWAS, the CPLP and the African Union under the Security Council’s mandate.

In closed consultations, the French representative commended the efforts of ECOWAS, which enabled the release of the interim president and the prime minister, while calling for greater cooperation with other stakeholders to initiate a joint and credible process to end the crisis.

 On 18 May 2012, the Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 2048 imposing targeted sanctions against the perpetrators of the coup in Guinea-Bissau. It also stresses the importance of mediation to find a solution to the crisis affecting the country and calls for coordination between the international partners.

 On 5 June 2012, the Security Council held closed consultations to examine with the Secretariat the progress in the implementation of resolution 2048 calling for the restoration of the democratic process in Guinea Bissau.

The representative of France welcomed the joint action of key actors such as ECOWAS, the CPLP and the African Union with the Bissau Guinean authorities in the process of return to constitutional order. He reiterated that the establishment of structural reforms such as the demobilization of military personnel responsible for the instability and the fight against drug trafficking had to remain central to the ECOWAS mission mandate and insisted on the necessary coordination of all regional organizations concerned.

 On 26 July 2012, the Special Representative of the Secretary General in Guinea Bissau presented to the Security Council the report of the SG on this country and the activities of UNIOGBIS. The political situation was still blocked after the coup d’état of April 12, notably because of the division of the partners of Guinea Bissau on the political transition.

During closed consultations, the representative of France recalled that the return to the constitutional order required an effort of dialogue and compromise between the national and international parties, on the basis of resolution 2048. Some positive signals were noted: on the one hand, the PAIGC seemed to accept the principle of political transition; on the other hand, the President of the transition gave some indications on the electoral calendar. However, because the progress were still insufficient, the United Nations had to make some proposal to end the deadlock and should play a role of harmonization between the CEDEAO, the CPLP, the African Union and the Guinea-Bissau stakeholders, and keep working on major issues: the demobilization process as planned in the reform of the security sector, the fight against impunity and the fight against drugs trafficking.

 On 18 September 2012, Mr Feltman, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, briefed the Security Council on the situation in Guinea-Bissau, in closed consultations.

The representative of France deplored the lack of consensus among national and international stakeholders on how to restore the constitutional order. In this context, the Security Council should continue to call for dialogue between parties and to maintain a firm policy against the putschist.

 On 5 February 2013, Mr. Tayé-Brook Zerihoun, Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs, presented the report of the Secretary-General on the situation in Guinea-Bissau and UNOGBIS activities to the Security Council. Ten months after the coup d’état, the security situation in the country remained worrying. In particular, torture cases as well as extra-judiciary arrests were reported.

During the following closed consultations, the French representative condemned the violations against human rights and called for an immediate end to the impunity of their perpetrators. The international community had also to remain vigilant so that the electoral process will not be postponed.

 On 22 February 2013, the Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 2092 renewing for 3 months the mandate of UNOGBIS.

 On 6 March 2013, the Security Council met in closed consultations to hear Mr Tayé-Brook Zerihoun, Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs, about Guinea-Bissau. Nothing had changed, the constitutional order in the country was still not restored.

The French Representative welcomed the decision of ECOWAS to ask the authorities of Guinea-Bissau to hold elections before the end of 2013. He also stressed that it was the duty of the Security Council to ensure very carefully the proper conduct of these elections.

 On 9 May 2013, the Security Council heard the first briefing of Mr José Ramos-Horta as new Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Guinea-Bissau. Presenting the Secretary-General report on UNOGBIS activities, he recommended a two-phase approach to create peacebuilding conditions in the country. After the restoration of the constitutional order and the convening of general elections, the second step of the transition plan was to strengthen State bodies.

During the following consultations, the representative of France welcomed the exit plan which had to go along with the action of UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to fight drug trafficking.

 On 22 May 2013, the Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 2103, extending for one year UNOGBIS mandate.