Overview

Rwanda will preside over the Security Council in April. 

Two open debates are planned: on sexual violence in conflict and the quarterly debate on the Middle East. The former will be held under the agenda item Women, Peace and Security and will include a briefing from Zainab Hawa Bangura, the Special Representative on sexual violence in conflict. Rwanda’s Foreign Affairs Minister Louise Mushikiwabo will preside. The Middle East open debate will be preceded by a briefing from the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Jeffrey Feltman.

A ministerial level briefing on conflict prevention in Africa and its root causes, by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and possibly also the Chairperson of the AU, Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn of Ethiopia, is planned with Rwanda’s Foreign Minister Mushikiwabo presiding.  

Other briefings expected in April will focus on:

• the annual report of the Peacebuilding Commission by its current chair, Ambassador Ranko Vilović (Croatia) and the chair during the previous PBC session, Ambassador Abulkalam Abdul Momen (Bangladesh); and
• cooperation between the UN and the OSCE, by its Chairperson-in-Office Leonid Kozhara (Ukraine).

Also possible is a briefing by the Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region, Mary Robinson, following her first visit to the region.

Briefings, followed by consultations, are likely on:

• developments in Mali  and the Secretary-General’s report on recommendations regarding size, mandate and composition of a new peacekeeping operation, by DPKO;
• developments in Somalia and  the findings of the Secretary-General’s technical assessment mission for a new UN special political mission that will replace the current UN presence in Somalia, most likely by Feltman;
• developments in Côte d’Ivoire and the Secretary-General’s special report requested by resolution 2062 on possible adjustments in the structure and strength of UNOCI, most likely by DPKO’s Assistant Secretary-General, Edmond Mulet; and
• the Secretary-General’s quarterly report on the AU-UN Hybrid Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), most likely by DPKO.

Briefings in consultations are expected on:

• Sudan-South Sudan issues, in line with resolution 2046 two briefings are expected, respectively by DPKO head Hervé Ladsous and Special Envoy Haile Menkerios;

• the first stage of the National Dialogue Conference in Yemen by Jamal Benomar, Special Adviser on Yemen;
• developments in the Central African Republic and the latest Secretary-General’s report on BINUCA by Margaret Vogt, the Special Representative and head of mission;
• the Secretary-General’s most recent report on the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), by Ladsous;
• Western Sahara by Wolfgang Weisbrod-Weber, the Special Representative and head of MINURSO and possibly also by the Personal Envoy for Western Sahara, Christopher Ross; and
• the work of the 1572 Côte d’Ivoire Sanctions Committee and the final report of its Group of Experts, by Committee chair, Ambassador Gert Rosenthal (Guatemala).

Formal sessions will be held to adopt resolutions renewing:

• the Côte d’Ivoire sanctions regime and the mandate of the Group of Experts that assists the 1572 Sanctions Committee; and
• the mandate of MINURSO. 

In the third week of April, the Council will hold its annual retreat with the Secretary-General. Throughout the month, Council members will be following closely developments in Syria and a meeting on this issue may be scheduled.