UN chief says ‘democratic leadership transition must be respected’ in report to Security Council

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14 Sep 2014

UN chief says ‘democratic leadership transition must be respected’ in report to Security Council

NEW YORK - “I salute the courage and determination of the millions of Afghan women and men who participated in the two rounds of polling as voters, candidates, campaign and electoral workers, and observers. Their wish to achieve a peaceful, democratic leadership transition must be respected.”

So stated United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in his latest report on Afghanistan to the Security Council, released at the end of last week and focusing heavily on the country’s election process.

The quarterly reports to the Council provide an update on the activities of the UN in Afghanistan, including significant humanitarian, development and human rights efforts, as well as a summary of key political and security developments and regional and international events related to Afghanistan.

In addition to focusing on a broad spectrum of developments during the intervening months since the last update, issued on 18 June 2014, the new report highlights the world body’s contributions to the 14 June second-round presidential election run-off between Dr. Abdullah Abdullah and Dr. Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai.

“The determination displayed by millions of Afghans to cast their ballots for a second time in three months and the performance of the Afghan security forces we welcomed both inside the country and internationally,” the UN chief noted in the report. “However, in the weeks after the vote, political tensions over allegations of massive fraud and the related activities of the electoral commissions came to the fore, leading to a serious political impasse with grave destabilizing consequences for the political, security, economic and social environment of the country.”

On 12 July, the two presidential candidates reached an agreement, which broke an impasse that emerged after the announcement of preliminary results on 7 July.

This agreement called for a complete audit of the results of the run-off, with both candidates committing to participate and accept the results of the comprehensive audit, while also agreeing to form a government of national unity. The agreement also called for the audit to be carried out by the Independent Election Commission (IEC), in conformity with the Afghan constitution and laws, and with the United Nations providing advice and supervision throughout the process.

The report reiterates recent comments made by the Secretary-General regarding the willingness of both presidential candidates to agree to participate in and accede to the outcome of the audit, as well as establish a government of national unity.

It also outlines how audit setbacks have diverted attention for all stakeholders and undermined national peace.

“Insurgent groups, international terrorists and associated networks took advantage of the protracted political and electoral crisis and uncertainty to mount major assaults around the country,” Mr. Ban said in the report.

Despite setbacks and a volatile security situation, Afghanistan continued to engage its neighbours in the promotion of regional cooperation, the report notes, in the context of tensions continuing along the frontier between Pakistan and Afghanistan, with reciprocal allegations of support and sanctuary for insurgent groups linked to attacks on each other’s territory.

On the issue of the world body’s support to Afghanistan, the report details how the United Nations has continued to provide the Government with technical assistance on several key fronts, including through humanitarian and political engagements. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), in particular, continued to align resources to best carry out its mandate in the current uncertain political, security and financial environment, the report indicates.

“The reporting period has been an extremely trying one for Afghanistan, with the prolonged and contested electoral process exacerbating economic uncertainty, emboldening spoilers and increasing popular disenchantment,” the UN chief observed, noting that with the impact felt in every sphere of life, there is palpable anxiety among a people who remember all too well that when governance arrangements failed previously, there was descent into civil war.

The 15-member Council is due to meet on Afghanistan on Thursday, 18 September.

Click here for full report of the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Afghanistan to the Security Council