In Hindsights
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On 24 February, the Security Council adopted resolution 2774, a short US-authored text calling for a swift end to the Russia-Ukraine war and urging a lasting peace between the countries. Marking the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion, it was the first substantive resolution on Ukraine passed by the Council since the war began in February 2022. The resolution underscored a major shift in the geopolitical landscape, highlighting Washington’s evolving approach to the war and exposing fractures among the P3 (France, the UK, and the US). Earlier in the day, the General Assembly voted on competing resolutions—one authored by European Union (EU) member states and another by the US—after the US unexpectedly introduced its own text, omitting references to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, triggering a diplomatic standoff with Kyiv and its European allies. The divisions that emerged during the votes in both the Security Council and the General Assembly could signal a broader realignment in global diplomacy—one that could potentially reshape transatlantic relations, Council dynamics, and the future of international engagement on Ukraine.
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At the end of January, member states began the formal phase of the UN Peacebuilding Architecture Review (PBAR), a process undertaken every five years to strengthen and refine UN peacebuilding efforts worldwide. To kick-start its engagement in this phase, the Security Council, at Algeria’s initiative, adopted a presidential statement on 27 January, reaffirming its commitment to the process.
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In 2024, the Security Council was confronted with a world beset by multiple crises, including continuing wars in Ukraine and Gaza, severe deterioration in the situation in Sudan, and a sudden shift in the political situation in Syria. Differing strategic interests and irreconcilable world views among the major powers restricted the Council’s ability to fully address these crises. The tensions among the major powers were frequently in evidence in the Council chamber, where members clashed on a range of issues.
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The 21 December marks one year since the adoption of resolution 2719, through which the Council authorised support for African Union-led peace support operations (AUPSOs) from UN assessed contributions on a case-by-case basis. The adoption of this landmark resolution is widely regarded as a significant milestone in UN-AU cooperation. Discussions within the Council on this issue have gained momentum, particularly regarding potential test cases to be considered under resolution 2719. This In Hindsight examines the prospects and challenges in this regard and anticipates what lies ahead.
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October was a significant month for UN-AU cooperation. This month’s In Hindsight examines the progress and challenges in UN-AU cooperation and offers ideas for charting the way forward.
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The six years I’ve spent as Security Council Report’s (SCR) Executive Director have been eventful. SCR has observed and documented the Council’s actions on dramatically changing situations including the COVID-19 pandemic, Ukraine, and Gaza, and on major policy shifts, such as the UN financing of AU peace support operations. Day in and day out, SCR has interacted with Council members, other member states, regional bodies, the UN Secretariat, academia, and civil society in order to produce impartial, nuanced and fact-checked reports on issues before the Security Council. I feel privileged to have held this position, in which I have learned a great deal. Stepping down, I offer some reflections on the Security Council’s impact on international peace and security.
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The contours of the relationship between the UN Security Council and “regional arrangements and agencies” have long been the subject of debate.This debate has assumed renewed significance following the publication of A New Agenda for Peace, a July 2023 policy brief that sets out UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ vision for an effective multilateral security system. The brief argues that robust regional frameworks and organisations that have strong partnerships with the UN are necessary for managing growing competition among member states and the increasingly transnational threats facing the international community.
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On 12 August, the Geneva Conventions turn 75. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has described these foundational treaties in international humanitarian law (IHL) as “one of humanity’s most important accomplishments of the last century.” In recent years, blatant disregard for IHL has been a feature of conflicts around the world, including several on the Council’s agenda. For the Security Council, the anniversary offers a time for sombre and sober reflection.
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The Military Staff Committee (MSC) is the oldest subsidiary body of the Security Council, with its role explicitly mentioned in the UN Charter. It is to advise and assist the Security Council on all military requirements for maintaining international peace and security. However, for most of its life, the MSC has been dormant and unable to fulfill this responsibility.
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On 6 June, the 78th session of the UN General Assembly is scheduled to hold elections for membership of the Security Council. The five seats available for election in 2024, according to the regular distribution among regions, will be as follows: one seat for the African Group (currently held by Mozambique); one seat for the Asia-Pacific Group (currently held by Japan); one seat for the Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC, currently held by Ecuador); and two seats for the Western European and Others Group (WEOG, currently held by Malta and Switzerland). The five new members elected this year will take up their seats on 1 January 2025 and will serve until 31 December 2026.
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On 18 April, the US vetoed a draft Security Council resolution that would have recommended that “the State of Palestine be admitted to membership in the United Nations”. Twelve Council members voted in favour of the draft resolution, while two abstained (Switzerland and the UK).
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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.
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Conflict prevention is at the core of the UN Charter. As Secretary-General António Guterres remarked during his swearing-in ceremony on 12 December 2016, “prevention is not a novel concept—it is what the founders of the UN asked us to do”.
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Introduction On 21 December 2023, the Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 2719 on the financing of AU-led peace support operations (AUPSOs).[1] In a 22 December statement[2], Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed the Council’s decision and expressed his commitment to working with...
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The Security Council has been severely tested by a multilateral environment in turmoil. In 2023, it faced the continuing effects of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the precipitous escalation of conflict in the Middle East, and pushback against UN peacekeeping in Africa as well as UN sanctions. The shifting global balance of power, the contrasting narratives about global priorities that emerged after the invasion of Ukraine, and the allegations of Western double standards over Israel’s actions in Gaza, have severely strained relations and deepened the atmosphere of distrust. The Council continued to come under public attack for its inability to address violations of the UN Charter.
