December 2025 Monthly Forecast

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• Overview      

  In December, Slovenia will hold the presidency of the Security Council. Read more

• In Hindsight: The Search for the Next UN Secretary-General Begins

  On 25 November, the presidents of the General Assembly and the Security Council issued a joint letter marking the start of the selection and appointment process of the next UN Secretary-General. The joint letter invites member states to present their candidates for the position while also setting out the modalities for submitting and considering nominations. Ten years ago, the selection process was transformed from an opaque, somewhat mysterious process, controlled by the five permanent members, to a more open, transparent one with active involvement of civil society and the General Assembly. Drawing on Security Council Report’s coverage of the last selection and appointment process and our close monitoring of developments on this issue, this month’s In Hindsight provides a guide to the main steps of the process and the potential issues that may arise. Read more

• Status Update since our November Forecast

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

• Leadership for Peace

  In December, Slovenia plans to convene an open debate on “Leadership for Peace” under the “Maintenance of international peace and security” agenda item. Former UN Secretary-General and member of The Elders, Ban Ki-moon, is expected to brief. A woman civil society representative may also brief. The open debate will be the signature event of Slovenia’s December presidency. Read more

• Iraq

  In December, the Security Council will hold a briefing and consultations on the situation in Iraq. Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), Mohamed Al Hassan, will brief on recent political, security, and humanitarian developments in the country, as well as on progress in implementing resolution 2732 of 31 May 2024, which streamlined UNAMI’s mandate and decided to close the mission by 31 December 2025. Read more

• Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)

  In December, Finnish Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen, in her capacity as the current Chairperson-in-Office (CiO) of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), is expected to brief the Security Council on the organisation’s activities. Slovenian Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon is expected to chair the meeting. Read more

• Afghanistan

  Expected Council Action In December, the Security Council will convene for its quarterly open briefing on Afghanistan. Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General (Political) and Officer-in-Charge of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) Georgette Gagnon, a senior official from... Read more

• International Criminal Tribunals

  In December, the Security Council is scheduled to hold its semi-annual debate on the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT). The President of the IRMCT, Judge Graciela Gatti Santana and the Chief Prosecutor of the IRMCT, Serge Brammertz, are expected to brief during the debate and meet with the Informal Working Group on International Tribunals prior to that. Read more

• UNOCA (Central Africa) 

  In December, the Security Council will hold a briefing and consultations on the Secretary-General’s semi-annual report on the UN Regional Office for Central Africa (UNOCA) and the implementation of the UN’s regional strategy to combat the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). Special Representative and Head of UNOCA Abdou Abarry is expected to brief. The mandate of UNOCA expires on 31 August 2027. Read more

• Democratic Republic of the Congo

  In December, the Security Council will hold a briefing and consultations on the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Read more

• Somalia

  In December, the Security Council is expected to reauthorise the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), whose mandate expires by the end of the month. Read more

• UNDOF (Golan)

  In December, Council members will hold the quarterly consultations on the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in the Golan. An official from the Department of Peace Operations (DPO) is expected to brief on the Secretary-General’s latest 90-day report on UNDOF and the most recent developments. Council members are expected to renew UNDOF’s mandate, which is set to expire on 31 December. Read more

• Yemen

  In December, the Security Council is expected to hold its monthly 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

• Briefing by the Outgoing Chairs of the Security Council’s Subsidiary Bodies 

  As is customary in December, the outgoing chairs of the Council’s subsidiary bodies are expected to provide a briefing on their experiences. Read more

• Syria

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

• West Africa and the Sahel

  In December, the Security Council will hold an open briefing, followed by closed consultations, on West Africa and the Sahel. The Special Representative and Head of the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), Leonardo Santos Simão, is expected to brief. A civil society representative may also brief. Read more

• Libya

  In December, the Security Council will hold its 60-day briefing on the situation in Libya. Special Representative and Head of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) Hanna Serwaa Tetteh will brief the Council on recent political, security, and humanitarian developments in the country. Read more

• Counter-Terrorism

  In December, the Security Council is expected to vote on a draft resolution extending the mandate of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED). Read more