International brief ~ Security Council to vote on Cote d’Ivoire sanctions News
International brief ~ Security Council to vote on Cote d’Ivoire sanctions

[JURIST] The UN Security Council meets Monday to consider a draft French resolution proposing sanctions against Cote d'Ivoire. The proposed sanctions include an arms embargo, travel restrictions on those actively violating the cease-fire, and the freezing of governmental assets. The region has been highly unstable in the last 10 days, following the death of 9 French peacekeepers in a Cote d'Ivoire government bombing run. In retaliation, the French destroyed the entirety of the nation's small air force. The rebel faction in Cote d'Ivoire has been fighting back following the alleged violation of the 2003 cease-fire agreement by the government. Cote d'Ivoire President Laurent Gbagbo (BBC profile; cached version of unavailable official website here) accused France of siding with the rebels and declared that France's military actions were acts of war against his nation. JURIST's Paper Chase has background. See the UN webcast of the meeting at 3:30 PM ET here. BBC News has more…. Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni declared a cease-fire Sunday between government forces and the rebel forces of the Lord's Resistance Army (profile here). The truce suspends military operations for one week in order to allow rebel leaders a chance to meet with governmental representatives in hopes of ending the civil war. Museveni also promised a further 10 day suspension of military activity if the rebels clearly signal their intent to agree to a permanent cease-fire. The 18 year insurgency in Uganda has recently garnered international attention, and was labeled as the 'most neglected humanitarian crisis' by officials at the UN. JURIST's Paper Chase has background. The Sudan Tribune has more…. The UK Commission for Africa began talks Monday with Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), African businesses, and the general public of Africa to create a series of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) aimed at halving Africa's poverty level by 2015. One of the early proposals included a suggestion that developed nations double their aid to Africa. The MDGs were set out by UK Prime Minister Tony Blair as he prepares for the UK's assumption of the leadership of both the EU Presidency and the G-8 next year. The Commission for Africa will release its recommendations sometime in early 2005. JURIST's Paper Chase has background on the Commission. South Africa's Independent Online has more…. Japan's Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi announced Monday that he was dissatisfied with North Korean explanations about the remains of missing Japanese citizens abducted in the past for the purposes of gathering intelligence. The statement followed the end of talks that were aimed at uncovering the truth about the possible remaining survivors of the systematic program of kidnapping that North Korea admitted to two years ago. Koizumi said that he wanted to see talks continue, as he believed there was some effort on the part of the North Korean government, but that there were key issues on which Japan could not accept the official position of North Korea. JURIST's Paper Chase has background on the talks. Kyodo has more.