April 2026 Monthly Forecast

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• Overview

  In April, Bahrain will hold the presidency of the Security Council. Read more

• In Hindsight: Living with the Veto

  Since the founding of the United Nations over 80 years ago, few issues have generated as much controversy among the world body’s membership, or so affected the Security Council’s work, as the veto accorded to the Council’s five permanent members (P5). In recent years, P5 divisions have hindered meaningful engagement on situations such as Myanmar, Sudan, “The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question”, and Ukraine. The exercise of the veto has continued to increase. The seven vetoed draft resolutions in 2024 were the most since 1986. A total of eight vetoes were cast on these failed drafts: four by Russia, three by the US, and one by China. They were on a range of issues, evidence of the divisiveness that currently pervades much of the Council’s work in an era of elevated tension among the major powers. In 2025, there were four vetoes: two by the US on a draft resolution on the war in Gaza, and two by Russia on amendments to a draft resolution on Ukraine. Significant attention continues to be focused on the adverse effects of the veto, which has been the subject of considerable academic research and a recent documentary film. Read more

• Status Update since our March Forecast

  This is the Status Update since our March Forecast. Read more

• UN-GCC Cooperation

  In April, the Security Council is expected to hold a high-level briefing on the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), under the agenda item “Cooperation between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations”. The briefing will be one of the signature events of Bahrain’s April Security Council presidency and marks the first Council meeting focused on cooperation between the UN and the GCC. Bahraini Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani is expected to chair the meeting. The anticipated briefers are the GCC Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Al-Budaiwi and Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations (DPPA-DPO) Mohamed Khaled Khiari. Read more

• UN-LAS Cooperation

  In April, the Security Council is expected to hold a high-level briefing on cooperation between the UN and the League of Arab States (LAS). Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani is expected to chair the meeting. UN Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations (DPPA-DPO) Mohamed Khaled Khiari and Secretary-General of the League of Arab States Ahmed Aboul Gheit are the anticipated briefers. Read more

• Protection of Humanitarian and UN Personnel 

  In April, the Security Council will hold its second annual briefing on the protection of humanitarian and UN personnel, in accordance with resolution 2730 of 24 May 2024. Representatives of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) are expected to brief.  Read more

• Kosovo

  In April, the Security Council is expected to hold its first briefing this year on the situation in Kosovo. Special Representative and Head of the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) Peter Due will brief on recent developments and the Secretary-General’s latest report. Read more

• EU-UN Cooperation

  In April, the Security Council will hold its annual meeting on strengthening European Union (EU)-UN cooperation under the agenda item “Cooperation between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations in maintaining international peace and security”. Kaja Kallas, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, is expected to brief. Read more

• Libya

  In April, the Security Council is expected to renew the authorisation of measures contained in resolution 2146 of 19 March 2014 related to the illicit export of petroleum from Libya. It is also expected to extend the mandate of the Panel of Experts (PoE) assisting the 1970 Libya Sanctions Committee. Through resolution 2769 of 16 January 2025, the Council renewed the authorisation of petroleum-related measures until 1 May 2026 and extended the PoE’s mandate until 15 May, to be reviewed by 15 April. Read more

• Syria

  In April, the Security Council is expected to hold its monthly meeting on political and humanitarian developments in Syria. Deputy Special Envoy for Syria Claudio Cordone, a representative from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), and a civil society representative are expected to brief. Read more

• Great Lakes Region (DRC)

  In April, the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region, Huang Xia, is expected to provide the biannual briefing to the Council on the implementation of the 2013 Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework (PSC-F) for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the Great Lakes region. Read more

• UN Peacekeeping

  In April, the Security Council will receive its annual briefing from the heads of military components of UN peacekeeping operations. The anticipated briefers are Under-Secretary-General for UN Peacekeeping Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix and the heads of military components of two UN peacekeeping operations: Force Commander of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) Lieutenant General Humphrey Nyone and Major General Ganesh Kumar Shrestha, Acting Head of Mission and Force Commander for the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA). Read more

• South Sudan

  In April, the Security Council will hold a briefing, followed by consultations, on the situation in South Sudan. Council members are expected to receive the Secretary-General’s 90-day report on South Sudan by 13 April. The Council is also expected to vote on a resolution renewing the mandate of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) prior to its expiration on 30 April. Read more

• Colombia

  In April, the Security Council is expected to hold its quarterly meeting on Colombia. Special Representative and Head of the UN Verification Mission in Colombia Miroslav Jenča will brief on recent developments and the Secretary-General’s latest 90-day report on the mission (S/2026/229), which was circulated to Council members on 26 March and covers the period from 27 December 2025. The verification mission’s mandate expires on 31 October. Read more

• Yemen

  In April, the Security Council will hold a briefing, followed by closed consultations, on Yemen. UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg and an official from the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) are expected to brief on political, security, and humanitarian developments in the country.  Read more

• Haiti

  In April, the Security Council is expected to hold its 90-day briefing on the situation in Haiti. Special Representative and Head of the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) Carlos Ruiz Massieu is expected to brief the Council on recent developments in the country and on the Secretary-General’s latest report on BINUH. Closed consultations are expected to follow. Read more

• Western Sahara

  In April, Security Council members are expected to receive a briefing in closed consultations on the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO). The Special Representative for Western Sahara and Head of MINURSO Alexander Ivanko and the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General Staffan de Mistura are the anticipated briefers. In line with resolution 2797 of 31 October 2025, which extended MINURSO’s mandate for another year, the Secretary-General is expected to submit a strategic review regarding MINURSO’s future mandate in April. Read more

• Maritime Security

  In April, the Security Council will hold an open debate on maritime security under the agenda item “Maintenance of international peace and security”. This will be one of the signature events of Bahrain’s presidency. Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani is expected to chair the meeting. Read more

• The Middle East, including the Palestinian Question

  In April, the Security Council will hold its quarterly open debate on “The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question” (MEPQ). Bahrain—the Council president for April—intends to convene the debate as a high-level signature event. Read more