Overview
Poland will hold the presidency of the Council in May. An open debate on the Council’s role in upholding international law is planned, to be chaired by the country’s President Andrzej Duda, with Secretary-General António Guterres expected to brief. A ministerial-level open debate on the protection of civilians in armed conflict is also expected, with Polish Minister for Foreign Affairs Jacek Czaputowicz presiding and briefers including Guterres and Director-General of the ICRC Yves Daccord.
The Council is due to renew the mandate of UNISFA in Abyei and AMISOM in Somalia, as well as renew the 2206 South Sudan sanctions regime and the mandate of the 2206 South Sudan Sanctions Committee’s Panel of Experts.
Other African issues that will be considered include:
- Burundi, with a focus on the political situation;
- Guinea-Bissau, an update on the work of UNIOGBIS;
- Libya, briefings by ICC Prosecutor, by the chair of the 1970 Libya Sanctions Committee, and on UNSMIL by its head;
- Somalia, a briefing on UNSOM;
- South Sudan, with a briefing on UNMISS and on the work of the 2206 South Sudan Sanctions Committee;
- Sudan, a briefing on UNAMID; and
- Sahel, a briefing on the activities of the joint force of the Group of Five for the Sahel.
The annual briefing by force commanders will be by commanders of three peacekeeping operations in Africa: MINUSMA, UNAMID and UNMISS.
The Council will continue to follow closely the events in Syria and will receive the three monthly briefings on political and humanitarian developments and the use of chemical weapons. Also with regards to the Middle East, in addition to the monthly briefing and consultations on Israel/Palestine, the Council will hear briefings on Lebanon and on the work of UNAMI in Iraq.
Two European issues will be considered in May: Kosovo, through the quarterly briefing, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, through the biannual debate.
Also in May, the Council will hold an informal meeting with the EU Political and Security Committee.
On Asia, the Council will receive a briefing on its visiting mission to Bangladesh and Myanmar and will be briefed in consultations on the work of the 1718 DPRK Sanctions Committee.
The annual briefing by the chairs of the three counter-terrorism subsidiary bodies is also expected.
There will also likely be two Arria-formula meetings: on children and armed conflict and on the 2000 Arusha Accord on Burundi.
