Security Reforms
Crucial For Guinea - UN
The United Nations says security sector reform remains the most
crucial element to ensuring stability in Guinea-Bissau.
A report released in New York on Wednesday highlighted latest
developments in Guinea-Bissau and other activities of the UN
Integrated Peace Building Office, (UNIOGBIS).
Canvassing the international community's support for the West
African country, UN Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki-Moon described
security sector reform as the ‘centrepiece’ of priority
stabilisation goals in Guinea Bissau.
’’I urge national authorities and international partners not
to lose sight of the holistic nature of security sector reform
and to ensure that international assistance addresses not only
defence sector needs but also the needs of the security and
justice sectors,’’ Ban said in the report.
He expressed delight that the national authorities were taking
measures to pave the way for creating a legal framework for
reforms.
’’In these times of global financial crisis and competing
priorities, I reiterate my earnest appeal to the international
community to generously support the efforts of Guinea-Bissau…To
restructure and ensure the creation of a comprehensive security
sector that is effective, financially sustainable and capable of
meeting present and future challenges, including the fight
against organized crime and drug trafficking,” the UN chief
said.
Guinea-Bissau is one of four countries currently on the agenda
of the Peace building Commission. The others are Burundi, Sierra
Leone and the Central African Republic (CAR).
The Commission was established in 2005 to help countries
emerging from conflict make an irreversible transition from war
to sustainable peace.
NAN/Yinka
