September 2012 Monthly Forecast

• Overview

  Germany will preside over the Council in September. A high-level meeting on the Council’s cooperation with the League of Arab States and ways to strengthen this relationship is planned to coincide with the start of the general debate of the General Assembly. In addition to German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle, who will preside, several other high level participants are expected.   Read more

• Notable Dates

  Notable Dates for September 2012 Read more

• Status Update

  Status Update of Security Council activity in August 2012. Read more

• Peace and Security in the Middle East

  On 26 September, German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle will preside over a high-level meeting of the Security Council on peace and security in the Middle East. The meeting will have a particular focus on the institutional relationship between the Security Council and the League of Arab States, with the UN and Arab League Secretaries-General expected to address the Council. Read more

• Syria

  In the aftermath of the 19 August expiration of the mandate of the UN Supervision Mission in Syria (UNSMIS), at press time there was no Syria-related activity scheduled for the Security Council in September. However, it is highly probable that the Council will continue to follow the situation in Syria closely. Read more

• Yemen

  In September, the Council is expecting to hold consultations on the situation in Yemen and to receive a briefing by the Secretary-General’s Special Adviser and UN Envoy Jamal Benomar. Read more

• Somalia

  The transition to permanent federal government institutions in Somalia that was underway at press time will be of primary concern for the Council in September, as Council members will be watching closely to see how events on the ground continue to develop. It is possible that the Council will request a briefing on the political situation in Somalia. Read more

• Sudan and South Sudan

  In September, the Council expects to meet twice on Sudan and South Sudan, in accordance with resolution 2046, which asks the Secretary-General to inform the Council every two weeks about the status of compliance with the resolution. During one of these meetings the Council is likely to review the Secretary-General’s report, as requested by resolution 2046, which is expected to focus on the status of negotiations between Sudan and South Sudan. Haile Menkerios, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Sudan and South Sudan, is expected to brief in these meetings. Read more

• Libya

  In September, the Council expects a briefing on developments in Libya and the upcoming report of the Secretary-General providing the six-month review of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), requested by resolution 2040. Read more

• Mali

  In September, the Council will likely be briefed in consultations by Jeffrey Feltman, the head of the Department for Political Affairs, on an integrated strategy for the Sahel region encompassing security, governance, development, human rights and humanitarian issues, as requested in resolution 2056. (On 26 September, at the margins of the General Assembly, the Secretary-General will host a high-level meeting on developments in the Sahel, including Mali.) Read more

• Guinea-Bissau

  In September, the Council will likely be briefed in consultations by Jeffrey D. Feltman, the head of the Department for Political Affairs, on the latest Secretary-General’s report (S/2012/554) on the UN Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNIOGBIS).   Read more

• Sierra Leone

  The Council is expected to renew the mandate of the UN Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Sierra Leone (UNIPSIL), which expires on 15 September. Jens Anders Toyberg-Frandzen (Denmark), the Executive Representative of the Secretary-General in Sierra Leone and head of UNIPSIL, as well as Ambassador Guillermo Rishchynski (Canada), the chair of the Peacebuilding Commission’s configuration for Sierra Leone, will likely brief the Council. Joseph B. Dauda, Sierra Leone’s Foreign Minister, is also expected to make a statement. Read more

• Liberia

  In September, the Council will consider the Secretary-General’s latest report on the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) and likely renew the mission’s mandate. Karin Landgren, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative in Liberia and head of UNMIL, and Ambassador Staffan Tillander (Sweden), Chair of the PBC country-specific configuration for Liberia, are expected to brief, to be followed by consultations. Read more

• Afghanistan

  The Council is scheduled to hold its quarterly debate on the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) in September. Jan Kubiš, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of UNAMA, is expected to brief. Read more

• Iran

  In September, the Council is due to receive a quarterly briefing from Ambassador Néstor Osorio (Colombia), the chair of the Iran Sanctions Committee (1737 Committee), on its work since the last briefing (12 June). Read more

• Children and Armed Conflict

  In September the Council is expected to hold an open debate on children and armed conflict. (Germany, the Council president for September, is also the chair of the Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict.) The new Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, Leila Zerrougui, and Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Hervé Ladsous are expected to brief. It is also possible that a representative from civil society may speak. Read more