UN Security Council encourages Guniea-Bissau to preserve stability during transition; UNSC calls for support to peacekeeping mission in Somalia; India makes a strong pitch for African membership in UNSC; UNSC calls for reconciliation between warring commu
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    • According to reports, The Government, political parties and people of Guinea-Bissau were encouraged by the UN Security Council to respect the country’s legal institutions and pursue political dialogue to preserve stability and promote national reconciliation during the transition following the death of President Malam Bacai Sanha and ensure peaceful, timely and fair presidential elections. Meanwhile, UNSC also reiterated the need for the armed forces to respect civilian rule and urged the authorities to intensify efforts to create an enabling environment for enhanced civilian control over the security forces and to combat impunity. 1

    In another development, the Security Council called for predictable, timely and reliable resources to support the African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia to strengthen its capability in helping the country’s transitional government. The Council also reaffirmed its full support for the Djibouti Agreement as the basis for the resolution of conflict in Somalia and the Kampala Accord and the Roadmap to end the transition in Somalia by August this year. 2

    Meanwhile, reports noted that India made a strong pitch for the expansion of permanent membership of the UN Security Council and called for representation in the body from developing countries including Africa. India’s representative to the UNSC argued that as much as two-third of the active items on the Council’s agenda concerned Africa and three-fourth of the Council’s time was spent on African issues. On the issue of UN-AU partnership, India said it was necessary that the Council not adopt a selective approach to this cooperation. 3

    In other developments, according to reports, UNSC called on warring ethnic communities in South Sudan’s Jonglei state, the Lou Nuer and the Murle to engage in reconciliation and the ‘cycle of conflict’ which has claimed a number of casualties. 4

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