Status Update
Mali
On 3 October, Council members issued a press statement condemning an attack on MINUSMA in which nine Nigerien peacekeepers were killed (SC/11587) and on 7 October, another press statement condemned an attack in Kidal which killed one Senegalese peacekeeper (SC/11591). On 8 October, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Hervé Ladsous presented the most recent Mali report (S/2014/692) and reported that MINUSMA is no longer operating in a peacekeeping environment. The Foreign Minister of Mali, Abdoulaye Diop, also addressed the Council during the public session (S/PV.7274). On 17 October, the Council welcomed the scheduled resumption on 19 October of the inter-Malian negotiation process in Algiers (SC/11604).
Ukraine
On 3 October, Council members issued a press statement condemning the killing of an ICRC staff member in Ukraine (SC/11588). On 24 October, the Council was briefed by Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Oscar Fernandez-Taranco and Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights, Ivan Šimonović on the political and human rights situation in Ukraine, respectively (S/PV.7287).
Sudan-South Sudan
On 7 October, Assistant-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Edmond Mulet briefed Council members in consultations on the latest UNISFA report (S/2014/709). Mulet said unilateral actions by the parties have not been helpful and referred to the Ngok-Dinka’s decision to establish a committee to lobby for international support for October 2013 referendum, which was not recognised by Sudan, but during which the Ngok-Dinka voted overwhelmingly to join South Sudan. Additionally, he mentioned the instability that could be caused by Sudan’s intention to include Abyei among the areas that will participate in the country’s 2015 national elections. The Council met again on 14 October to adopt resolution 2179 extending UNISFA’s mandate until 28 February 2015. During the meeting, Ambassador Francis Deng of South Sudan and Ambassador Rahamtalla Mohamed Osman Elnor of Sudan addressed the Council (S/PV.7276). Deng called for the report of the AU Investigation Committee on the assassination of the Ngok-Dinka paramount chief in May 2013 to be released. Elnor argued that Abyei remains part of Sudan until a final settlement is reached.
Peacekeeping
On 9 October, the Council was briefed by Military Advisor Lieutenant General Maqsood Ahmed from the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and force commanders Lieutenant General Carlos Alberto dos Santos Cruz (Brazil) of MONUSCO in the DRC, Major General Jean Bosco Kazura (Rwanda) of MINUSMA in Mali and Lieutenant General Iqbal Singh Singha (India) of UNDOF in the Golan Heights. They presented, respectively, on the concept and implications of the protection of civilians, expectations from military contingents in a changed security environment and accomplishment of traditional mandates in a changed politico-military environment (S/PV.7275).
Yemen
Council members issued a press statement on 10 October condemning a bomb attack in Sana’a that killed at least 47 people, as well as condemning attacks against Yemeni security forces on 8 and 9 October (SC/11595). On 13 October, Special Adviser Jamal Benomar briefed Council members in consultations. Afterwards, in elements to the press, Council members expressed their determination to address increasing terrorist attacks by Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, urged implementation of the national peace and partnership agreement, welcomed Khalid Bahah’s nomination as prime minister and agreed to consider urgently evidence to possibly sanction spoilers.
Central African Republic
On 10 October, Council members issued a press statement (SC/11596), condemning an attack against a MINUSCA convoy in Bangui, in which one peacekeeper was killed and several others injured. Council members expressed concern about the upsurge of violence and strongly condemned all attacks against civilians and acts of violence between communities. The statement supported the transitional authority’s call for all armed groups to implement the 23 July agreement to cease hostilities and violence. On 21 October, the Council adopted resolution 2181, extending the mandate of the EU operation in the CAR until 15 March 2015. The next day, Council members were briefed under “any other business” on recent events in CAR by Special Representative Babacar Gaye via video-teleconference.
Haiti
On 14 October, the Security Council adopted resolution 2180 extending the mandate of the MINUSTAH until 15 October 2015. It authorized a reduction in the mission’s military component from 5,021 personnel to 2,370 while keeping the police contingent unchanged at 2,601 as recommended by the Secretary-General in his August report to the Council (S/2014/617). While the resolution was adopted by consensus, Argentina and Chile gave an explanation of vote, expressing regret that they had not been in a position to co-sponsor the resolution as their concerns about the recommended accelerated drawdown had not been fully taken into account. Guatemala and Ecuador also took the floor as countries contributing troops to MINUSTAH to express similar concerns, emphasising that decisions about peacekeeping operations must take the opinions of troop contributing countries into account (S/PV.7277).
Ebola
On 14 October, the Council was briefed on the Ebola epidemic in West Africa by Special Representative Anthony Banbury, the head of the UN Mission for Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER), Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Hervé Ladsous and Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Tayé-Brook Zerihoun (S/PV.7279). The next day, Council members issued a press statement reiterating the Council’s determination that the Ebola outbreak constituted a threat to international peace and security and requested that UN peacekeeping operations and political missions in West Africa closely collaborate with UNMEER (SC/11602).
Golan Heights (UNDOF)
On 20 October, Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Edmond Mulet briefed Council members in consultations, following-up a 19 September presidential statement (S/PRST/2014/19) that requested an update on the steps necessary to maintain UNDOF’s ability to carry out its mandate while adjusting the mission’s posture to minimise risk to personnel. Discussions included the possible use of new technologies, such as unmanned, unarmed aerial vehicles or satellite imagery, to carry out monitoring tasks without exposing personnel to risk. Mulet said that both Israel and Syria were reluctant to grant authorisation for the use of such new technologies.
Israel/Palestine
The Council met for its quarterly debate on the Middle East on 21 October (S/PV.7281). Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon briefed following a trip to the region, which included his first visit to Gaza since this summer’s conflict and his participation in a Gaza reconstruction conference held in Cairo on 12 October. He addressed the reconstruction efforts and the immediate need for humanitarian relief in Gaza. He urged urging an end to the nearly 50-year occupation of the enclave, the full lifting of the blockade against it and for a solution to Israel’s legitimate security concerns. Council members also met informally at expert-level on 15 October to discuss a draft resolution circulated on 30 September by Arab Group representative Jordan, which calls for a comprehensive solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the full withdrawal of Israel from all of the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967 by November 2016, for an independent Palestinian state, a resolution of the status of Jerusalem as the capital of two states and a resolution of the problem of the Palestine refugees. On 29 October, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman briefed the Council at an urgent public meeting on rising tensions in East Jerusalem and continuing Israeli settlement expansion, held at the request of Jordan (S/PV.7291).
Annual Report of the Security Council
The annual report of the Security Council was unanimously adopted on 22 October (S/2014/750). The report covered the period 1 August 2013 to 31 July 2014 and summarized the Council’s 238 formal meetings and subsequent outcomes, including 55 resolutions.
Working Methods
On 23 October, the Security Council held its fifth annual open debate on working methods (S/PV.7285). Ambassador María Cristina Perceval (Argentina), the chair of the Informal Working Group on Documentation and Other Procedural Questions, opened the debate. In line with the open debate’s concept paper (S/2014/725), the Ombudsperson for the 1267/1989 Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee, Kimberly Prost, and the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Fatou Bensouda, briefed with participation by 40 member states.
Egypt
Council members issued a press statement on 24 October that condemned the terrorist attacks in the Sinai Peninsula that killed and injured dozens of Egyptian soldiers (SC/11615).
Democratic Republic of the Congo
On 27 October, the Council was briefed (S/PV.7288) by Special Representative Martin Kobler on the latest MONUSCO report (S/2014/698). The newly appointed Special Envoy to the Great Lakes Region, Said Djinnit, also briefed on the latest report on implementation of the Peace and Security Framework Agreement (S/2014/697). Earlier in the month, on 3 October, Council members issued a press statement (SC/11586) noting with concern the lack of progress on the voluntary surrender of the members of the rebel group Forces démocratiques de libération du Rwanda (FDLR). Council members also reiterated their call on the DRC government, to undertake, in coordination with MONUSCO, military action against those leaders and members of the FDLR who do not engage in the demobilisation process or who continue to carry out human rights abuses.
Western Sahara
Council members met in consultations on the situation in Western Sahara on 27 October. Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Hervé Ladsous briefed on the current situation concerning the new Special Representative and head of MINURSO, Kim Bolduc (Canada), who was to assume her position on 1 August, but has not yet travelled to her post due to opposition from Morocco. Bolduc still briefed Council members in consultations on the situation in the territory along with Christopher Ross, the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for Western Sahara.
Women, Peace and Security
On 28 October, the Security Council held its annual open debate on women, peace and security (S/PV.7289) to consider the Secretary-General’s latest report on the issue (S/2014/693). As president of the Council for October, Argentina circulated a concept note on the effects of displacement on women, including both refugees and internally displaced persons, to guide discussion (S/2014/731). The head of UN Women, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, briefed and delivered a statement from the Secretary-General, who was travelling in Africa. Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of IDPs Dr. Chaloka Beyani and Suaad Allami, an Iraqi lawyer and the Founder and Director of Sadr City Women’s Center and Legal Clinic, also participated. The Council adopted a presidential statement that addressed the particular needs of displaced women, highlighted the impact of violent extremism on women and welcomed the Secretary-General’s commissioning of a global study in preparation for the 2015 High-Level Review of the implementation of resolution 1325 (S/PRST/2014/21).
Côte d’Ivoire
On 29 October, the Council was briefed by Ambassador Cristian Barros (Chile), chair of the 1572 Côte d’Ivoire Sanctions Committee (S/PV.7292). Barros reported on the work of the Committee since the last briefing (in consultations) held on 24 April and a modification of the sanctions regime through adoption of resolution 2153 on 29 April. Barros will also discuss the findings of the mid-term report of the Group of Experts (S/2014/729). Permanent Representative of Côte d’Ivoire Youssoufou Bamba also participated.
