3 November 2011 - Security Council examines today the Secretary-General report on developments in Guinea-Bissau and on the activities of the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in that country. UNIOGBIS mandate expires on 31 December 2011.

In his report, Ban Ki-moon states that, "following recent consultations with the Government, I recommend that the mandate be renewed for another year, until 31 December 2012, to allow the mission to continue to implement its integrated peacebuilding agenda, in support of national efforts to achieve long-term stability".

The Secretary-General further says that, if its mandate is extended, UNIOGBIS will, in the coming year, continue to work in close cooperation with national authorities and with the other international partners of Guinea-Bissau, with a particular focus on accelerating the implementation of the reforms in the defence, security and justice sectors, strengthening the rule of law and human rights, and fighting drug trafficking, organized crime and impunity, as well as promoting national dialogue. Peacebuilding efforts will focus on young people and women, social and political participation and employment.

On the Security Sector Reform, the Secretary-General welcomes the steps taken by national authorities to finalize preparations for the demobilization and reintegration of military and police personnel earmarked for retirement, stating that "the allocation by the Government of Guinea-Bissau of $200,000 as an initial contribution to the pension fund account, and its commitment to increasing its contribution by the end of 2011, are signs of the country's readiness to rapidly jump-start the security sector reform implementation process aimed at rejuvenating and professionalizing the military and security sectors." "As the national authorities strive to stay the course on these courageous reforms, I call on Guinea-Bissau's regional and international partners to continue to be supportive by providing the necessary financial and material resources. In particular, the disbursement of pledges made to support the security sector reform programme".

On opportunities and challenges ahead, the Secretary-General stressed that he remains concerned at the fact that conditions do not appear to be in place to ensure the impartiality and credibility of the process of the investigations into the 2009 political assassinations in Guinea-Bissau and "call on the Guinea-Bissau authorities to reinforce their efforts to carry out and conclude a thorough and credible judicial process with respect to the 2009 killings and to implement the commitments that the Government has made to introduce judicial reforms overall".

Additionally, the Secretary-General says that the forthcoming national conference offers a timely and historic opportunity for the people of Guinea-Bissau to turn a new page and embark on an irreversible process that seeks to close the door to the death, destruction and divisions of the past and to open the way towards a brighter future based on genuine national reconciliation and unity. Ban Ki-moon further stresses that "it is time to focus on what unites, not what divides the people and their society, because only by working together will the people of Guinea-Bissau attain long-term stability, which is indispensable for sustainable development and the urgent improvement of living conditions for the population".

On the combat against drug trafficking and organized crime, Ban Ki-moon encourages national authorities to continue to step up their efforts to fight the scourge and "appeal to the international community to provide increased support to the Government in this particularly challenging sector, especially to help strengthen national logistical capacities in order to confront this threat more effectively."