The United nations Security Council (UNSC) has imposed a travel ban on five military officers who seized power from the civilian government in Guinea-Bissau last month, and urged member states to ensure that the sanctioned individuals do not enter or transit through their territories.
The travel ban imposed by the UNSC resolution adopted Friday affects coup leaders General Antonio Injai, Major-General Mamadu Ture, General Estevao Na Mena, Brigadier-General Ibraima Camara, and Lieutenant-Colonel Daba Naualna.
In the resolution, the Council also demanded that the Guinea-Bissau military leadership take immediate steps to restore and respect constitutional order by holding democratic elections as well as ensuring that all soldiers returned to their barracks and members of the "military command" relinquished their positions of authority to a civilian government.
The Army seized power in Guinea-Bissau on April 12, arresting interim President Raimundo Pereira as well as Prime Minister Carlos Gomes Junior, dissolving the parliament and establishing a National Transitional Council. The coup, which came during elections in which Gomes was widely expected to be re-elected, was apparently prompted by a plan by Gomes to reduce the size of the Army.
The Army, led by Chief of Staff Gen. Antonio Injai, has so far refused to heed to international calls for returning the country to civilian rule and restoring constitutional order. Incidentally, Guinea-Bissau is a West African country with a history of coups, misrule and political instability since it gained independence from Portugal in 1974.
The UNSC members indicated Friday that they may review the measures contained in the adopted resolution, including strengthening it through additional measures like an embargo on arms and financial measures, if the Army fails to relinquish power in the West African nation as demanded.
They stressed the need for all national stakeholders and Guinea-Bissau's international and bilateral partners to remain committed to the restoration of constitutional order. The Council members also encouraged the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to continue its mediation efforts, in coordination with the United Nations, the African Union and the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (known by the Portuguese acronym CPLP).
The UNSC also expressed concerns over reports of looting of state assets as well as human rights violations, including arbitrary detentions, ill treatment of detainees, repression of peaceful demonstrations and restrictions on the freedom of movement, and stressed that those responsible for such actions must be held accountable.
In addition, the Council requested UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to remain actively engaged in the mediation process, and to coordinate the respective positions of international bilateral and multilateral partners.
Earlier, Ban's spokesperson had announced Thursday that the UN chief's Special Representative for West Africa, Said Djinnit, will participate in the ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council on Mali and Guinea-Bissau - scheduled to held in the Ivory Coast on 19 May - as part of the UN's ongoing efforts to ensure the full restoration of constitutional rule in the two countries.
The European Union has already imposed sanctions on Guinea-Bissau coup leaders. Also, the ECOWAS is in the process of dispatching between 500 and 600 troops to the West African nation to provide security as the ruling military junta transfers power to a civilian government. Further, the African Union has suspended Guinea-Bissau's membership over the coup.
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