Timeline

 On 12 September 2011, the Security Council held a debate during which Mr. Michael von der Schulenburg, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Sierra Leone, presented the seventh Report of the Secretary-General on the activities of the Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Sierra Leone (UNIPSIL). He noted many advances made in the peace consolidation process in this country.

 On 14 September 2011, the Security Council adopted resolution 2005 renewing the mandate of the UN mission in Sierra Leone for 12 months. The resolution also provides for a three years transition plan which aims at strengthening the transparency of the electoral process and reinforcing good governance practices.

 On 22 March 2012, the Security Council heard a report by Mr. Michael von der Schulenburg, Special representative of the Secretary-General for Sierra Leone, followed by statements by Mr. Guillermo E. Rishchynski, Chair of the Sierra Leone configuration of the Peacebuilding Commission and Permanent representative of Canada and by Mr. Joseph Banabla Dauda, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sierra Leone.

Mr. von der Schulenburg reported progress in the process of national reconciliation. However, he expressed concern over the increasing circulation of weapons intended to a paramilitary police force which he called the government to give up on. The government and the opposition had to work together to strengthen the electoral bodies and ensure peaceful and transparent presidential and legislative elections in November 2012.

In closed consultations, the representative of France commended the work of the Electoral Commission and the positive economic perspectives. However, he deplored the continued incidents between the government and the opposition.

 On 11 April 2012, the Security Council adopted a presidential statement on the situation in Sierra Leone. In this statement, the Council called on all the concerned parties to redouble their efforts to create a climate conducive to peaceful, transparent, free and fair elections. It also stressed the important role that the relevant regional organizations should play to help the country consolidate peace, security and achieve its objectives of long-term development.

 On 11 September 2012, the Security Council examined the situation in Sierra Leone in presence of Mr Toyberg Frandzen, Executive Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Sierra Leone, and Mr Rishchynski, Chair of the Sierra Leone configuration of the Peacebuilding Commission.

The run-up for the elections in November 2012 went peacefully, but Mr Toyberg Frandzen underlined the risk of growing tensions in the months preceding this electoral deadline. On the economic level, the Sierra Leonean authorities had to pursue their efforts, in order to reduce the unemployment of the youth and ensure a better redistribution of wealth.

In closed consultations, the Representative of France recalled the necessity to think about the implementation of a transition of the UN mission after the elections.

 On 12 September 2012, the Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 2065 renewing the mandate of the UNIPSIL until March 31, 2012.

  On 9 October 2012, the Security Council had an open briefing to assert the work of the Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL), which is currently completing the final phase of its mandate. The Security Council reaffirmed in a presidential statement its support to the Tribunal.

The Representative of France reiterated the French support for the SCSL and praised the progress it has achieved in the country’s justice, and for its role in the overall international justice system.

 On 28 November 2012, a few days after the running of presidential, parliamentary and local elections in Sierra Leone, the Security Council met in closed consultations to hear Mr. Toyberg Frandzen, Executive Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Sierra Leone.
The Representative of France praised the successes of the transition process in Sierra Leone, ten years after the end of the civil war. The priority was now to close the UNIPSIL, while upholding the transition process gains for the consolidation of peace.

After this session, the Security Council adopted on 30 November a presidential statement commending Sierra Leone on the holding of successful presidential, parliamentary and local elections, and calling upon all political parties and candidates to accept the results.

 On 13 February 2013, the Security Council met to hear reports of Mr. Jens Toyberg-Frandzen, Executive Representative of the Secretary General of the UN in Sierra Leone and Mr. Rishchynski, President of the Sierra Leone Commission of peacebuilding, in the presence of Dr. Samura Kamara, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sierra Leone. All three welcomed the significant progress in the country while noting that the transition from UNIPSIL to the country team should take place gradually.

During the closed consultations that followed, the Representative of France welcomed the political stabilization gained in Sierra Leone, noting that it was time to start the transfer of the political mission to the country team of the United Nations. However, he stressed the importance for the international community to monitor closely this transition phase.

 On 26 March 2013, the Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 2097 extending for one final year the mandate of UNIPSIL and preparing its draw-down by 31 March 2014.