UN Security Council resolution 1721

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The resolution 1721 of the UN Security Council is a resolution that the United Nations Security Council has adopted unanimously at its 5561st meeting, on 1 November of 2006. The resolution dealt with the situation in Ivory Coast and confirmed the decision of the Council for Peace and Security of the African Union to grant the mandate of the President of the Ivory Coast, Laurent Gbagbo and the Prime Minister Charles Konan Banny for a maximum period of up to October 31, 2007 extend. The African Union decided to take this step at its meeting in Addis Ababa on October 17th.

The decision is based on the fact that the term of office of President Laurent Gbagbo ended on October 30, 2005 and the parliamentary term of the National Assembly ended on December 16, 2005. The Security Council is responding to the fact that it was not possible to hold both presidential and parliamentary elections on the planned date and before the end of the transition period laid down in the Linas-Marcoussis Agreement of January 24, 2003. With Resolution 1633 , the mandate of the Head of State and the Prime Minister was initially extended until 31 October of 2006.

In his tenth report on the work of the United Nations Operation in Cote d'Ivoire (ONUCI), the Secretary General stated that there had been hope for the peace process to continue before the mandate was extended, as progress was being made in disarming and disbanding the militias and identification of nationals had been achieved for the purpose of preparing for elections, but setbacks had prevented elections from being held during the second extension of the transition period.

Resolution 1721 is a resolution under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations . The African Union and the West African Economic Community (ECOWAS) requested to continue to monitor the situation and to report to the UN Security Council before October 31, 2007, and to submit new proposals if necessary. In addition, the mandate of the special envoy for the elections set out in resolution 1603 will be extended for the same period and ONUCI will be mandated to protect United Nations personnel in accordance with resolution 1609 .

The resolution requires the Ivorian parties to refrain from disruptive street protests, to behave non-violently towards civilians and foreigners, to guarantee the freedom of movement and security of all Ivorians on national territory and to cooperate fully with ONUCI and the supporting troops of France . The neighboring states of the Ivory Coast are called on to prevent arms and combatants from crossing the border. The Security Council also stresses that it will take action, in accordance with Resolutions 1572 and 1643, against individuals who obstruct the peace process, attacking UNOCI and the troops of France, the special envoy for the elections or staff of the International Working Group, inciting public hatred and weapons violate an embargo .

The resolution also prohibits the prime minister from running for the presidential election in preparation and, citing UN Security Council resolution 1325 , the parties are required to respect women's rights.

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