S/PV.8656 Security Council

As this is the first public meeting of the Security Council for the month of November, I should like to take this opportunity to pay tribute, on behalf of the Council, to His Excellency Mr. Jerry Matjila, Permanent Representative of South Africa, for his service as President of the Council for the month of October. I am sure I speak for all members of the Council in expressing deep appreciation to Ambassador Matjila and his team for the great diplomatic skill with which they conducted the Council’s business last month. Adoption of the agenda

The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. After consultations among members of the Security Council, I have been authorized to make the following statement on behalf of the Council. “The Security Council held private consultations on 31 October 2019 on the latest political developments in Guinea-Bissau. “Expressing full support to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and African Union communiqués issued on 29 and 30 October 2019, respectively, on the said developments, the Security Council expresses deep concern over the social and political situation and calls on President José Mário Vaz and the Government led by Prime Minister Aristides Gomes, in charge of conducting the electoral process, to resolve their differences in the spirit of respect and cooperation. “The Security Council calls on all actors in Guinea-Bissau to fully respect the ECOWAS Heads of State decision of 29 June 2019. “The Security Council condemns the recent violence that resulted in the death of one civilian and several injured. It welcomes the decision by the Government to launch an independent investigation into the matter and looks forward to its outcome. “The Security Council urges the political actors of Guinea-Bissau to show the utmost restraint, to refrain from all forms of violence or incitement to hatred and to resort to dialogue as the only means of resolving their differences and preserving peace and stability in the country. “The Security Council encourages the political actors in Guinea-Bissau to take all appropriate measures to ensure the smooth functioning and stability of State institutions, in accordance with the Constitution and the principles of good governance, and to refrain from taking any actions that could provoke a relapse into a political and institutional crisis. “The Security Council seizes the opportunity to draw the attention of political actors in Guinea- Bissau to the urgent need to hold the presidential elections on 24 November 2019, as agreed, in order to conclude the electoral cycle to allow for a peaceful transition of power to an elected President. “While recognizing the efforts deployed by all stakeholders so far towards the peaceful conduct of the presidential election, the Security Council encourages political actors in Guinea-Bissau to work together to preserve the gains of the political and electoral process in order to strengthen the prevailing peace and stability. “The Security Council welcomes that the defence and security forces of Guinea-Bissau are maintaining strict neutrality and avoiding interference in the political arena and urges them to continue doing so throughout and beyond the electoral and political process. “The Security Council also reminds all actors that the Council’s possible reconsideration of the existing sanctions regime will depend on their orderly conduct as well as that of other political actors. It also reminds all stakeholders that it will consider taking appropriate measures against those who undermine stability in Guinea-Bissau, in accordance with Security Council resolutions on Guinea-Bissau. “The Security Council reiterates its strong support and commitment to the process of consolidating peace and stability, as well as the development of Guinea-Bissau, in collaboration with regional actors and international partners, including the Group of Five, comprising the African Union, ECOWAS, the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries, the European Union and the United Nations.” This statement will be issued as a document of the Security Council under the symbol S/PRST/2019/13.