April 2024 Monthly Forecast

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• Overview

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

• In Hindsight: The Escalating Conflict in Eastern DRC and UN Support of Regional Forces

  In June, the Secretary-General is expected to submit a report and recommendations on possible UN support to regional forces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) pursuant to resolution 2717 of 19 December 2023. Security Council members may consider a product in response. But there are indications that the DRC may want the Council to act sooner. The AUPSC recently endorsed the December 2023 deployment to the DRC of a Southern African Development Community (SADC) force, known as SAMIDRC. Read more

• Status Update since our March Forecast

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

• Children and Armed Conflict

  In April, Malta will convene a briefing on children and armed conflict titled “Addressing the consequences of the denial of humanitarian access for children”. Malta, which chairs the Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict, is organising the meeting as one of the signature events of its Council presidency. The expected briefers are Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict Virginia Gamba, UNICEF Deputy Executive Director for Humanitarian Action and Supply Operations Ted Chaiban, and a civil society representative. Read more

• The Middle East, including the Palestinian Question

  In April, the Security Council expects to hold its quarterly open debate on “The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question”. Maltese Foreign Minister Ian Borg is expected to chair the meeting, which is one of the signature events of Malta’s April presidency. Secretary-General António Guterres is the anticipated briefer. During the month of April, the Security Council also expects to receive a briefing from Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator (SHRC) for Gaza Sigrid Kaag. Council members may convene additional meetings during the month depending on developments. Read more

• Women, Peace and Security

  In April, the Security Council is scheduled to hold its annual open debate on conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV). Maltese Deputy Prime Minister Christopher Fearne will chair the meeting, which is expected to focus on preventing CRSV through demilitarisation and gender-responsive arms control. Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict Pramila Patten and a civil society representative are the anticipated briefers. Read more

• Colombia

  In April, the Security Council is expected to receive a briefing from Special Representative and Head of the UN Verification Mission in Colombia Carlos Ruiz Massieu on recent developments and the Secretary-General’s latest 90-day report on the mission, which was circulated to Council members on 26 March. A civil society representative may also brief. Read more

• Yemen

  In April, the Security Council is expected to hold a briefing, followed by closed consultations, on Yemen. UN Special Envoy Hans Grundberg and a representative of OCHA are expected to brief. There may also be a civil society briefer. The head of the UN Mission to Support the Hodeidah Agreement (UNMHA), Major General Michael Beary, is expected to brief during consultations. Read more

• Libya

  In April, the Security Council will hold its bimonthly briefing on the situation in Libya. Special Representative and head of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) Abdoulaye Bathily will brief the Council on recent political, security, and humanitarian developments in the country and the Secretary-General’s latest report on UNSMIL. The chair of the 1970 Libya Sanctions Committee, Ambassador Yamazaki Kazuyuki (Japan), will also brief on the committee’s activities.   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.   Read more

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

  In April, Malta’s Minister for Foreign, Trade and European Affairs, Ian Borg, in his 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. 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) Caroline Ziadeh will brief on recent developments and the Secretary-General’s latest report. Read more

• Haiti

  In April, the Council will hold its 90-day briefing on the situation in Haiti. Special Representative and Head of the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) María Isabel Salvador will brief the Council on recent political, security, and humanitarian developments in the country and on the Secretary-General’s latest report on BINUH. In addition, UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell is expected to brief in her capacity as designated Principal Advocate on Haiti for the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC). Read more

• Great Lakes Region (DRC)

  The Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region, Huang Xia, is expected to provide the biannual briefing to the Council in April 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

• Syria

  In April, the Security Council will hold a meeting on the political process and the humanitarian situation in Syria.   Read more

• South Sudan

  In April, the Council is expected to renew the mandate of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) before its expiration on 30 April. Read more