Status Update
Afghanistan
On 5 April, the Council issued a press statement welcoming the holding of presidential and provincial council elections in Afghanistan (SC/11347).
Central African Republic
On 8 April, High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay briefed Council members in consultations on several situations, including the CAR. On 10 April, the Council adopted resolution 2149 that established the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) with an initial deployment of up to 10,000 military and 1,800 police personnel (S/PV.7153). MINUSCA is to take over from the AU troops currently deployed in the country by 15 September. Its tasks include protecting civilians; facilitating the delivery of humanitarian assistance; protecting human rights; supporting the rule of law; and ensuring the disarmament, demobilisation, reintegration and repatriation of former combatants.
Ukraine
The Council met three times in April at a time of intensified political unrest in Ukraine. On 13 April, upon the request of Russia (S/2014/264), the Council held a public meeting and was briefed by Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Oscar Fernández-Taranco on the latest developments in eastern Ukraine (S/PV.7154). On 16 April, Lithuania requested a meeting on the human rights situation there and the Council was briefed by Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Ivan Šimonović who shared findings from his two visits in March to Ukraine (S/PV.7157). On 29 April, following a request by the UK, the Council was briefed by Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman on developments (S/PV.7165).
Counter-Terrorism
On 14 April, Council members issued a press statement condemning the multiple terrorist attacks committed by Boko Haram in Nigeria on 13 and 14 April, causing numerous deaths and injuries (SC/11352). On 24 April, Council members also condemned a 19 April terrorist attack in Tizi Ouzou, Algeria (SC/11364).
Prevention and Fight against Genocide
On 16 April, the Council heard a briefing on the prevention and fight against genocide to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the genocide in Rwanda (S/PV.7155). The briefers were Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson and former Permanent Representative of New Zealand Colin Keating, who served as Council president in April 1994 when the genocide started. The Council adopted resolution 2150, calling on all states to prevent and fight against genocide, and other serious crimes under international law, reaffirms the principle of the responsibility to protect populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity, and underscores the importance of taking into account lessons learned from the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, during which Hutu and others who opposed the genocide were also killed.
Western Sahara
On 16 April, the Council held a closed meeting with the troop- and police-contributing countries to MINURSO. On 17 April, the head of MINURSO, Special Representative Wolfgang Weisbrod-Weber briefed Council members in consultations along with Personal Envoy Christopher Ross on MINURSO’s activities and developments in the Secretary-General’s latest report (S/2014/258). On 29 April, the Council adopted resolution 2152 and extended the mandate of MINURSO for a year (S/PV.7162). The resolution supports the Secretary-General’s request for an additional 15 military observers, within existing resources. It also encourages the parties to continue their efforts to enhance the promotion and protection of human rights in Western Sahara and the Tindouf refugee camps in Algeria, including the freedoms of expression and association, and welcomes the initiatives taken by Morocco, including the planned visit of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in 2014.
Myanmar
On 17 April, at the request of the UK, the Special Adviser on Myanmar, Vijay Nambiar, briefed Council members in informal consultations under “any other business”. (His previous such briefing was on 16 April 2013.) The briefing focused on the situation in Rakhine, in particular the recent rise in inter-communal tensions there, the disruption of humanitarian aid and the controversy surrounding the census. Nambiar also spoke about the peace process and the prospects for constitutional reform. On 25 April, some Council members (Australia, the Republic of Korea and the P5) also participated in the first meeting of the Partnership Group on Myanmar, which featured a briefing by the Secretary-General. This forum was created as a result of a decision last September to reconfigure the Group of Friends on Myanmar. The minister of immigration and population affairs of Mynamar, U Khin Yi, attended the meeting. (By contrast, Myanmar did not attend the regular meetings of the Group of Friends.)
Mali
On 23 April, the Council was briefed (S/PV.7158) by the head of MINUSMA, Special Representative Albert Gerard Koenders, who presented the Secretary-General’s most recent report (S/2014/229). The Minister for Foreign Affairs, African Integration and International Cooperation of Mali, Abdoulaye Diop, also participated. After meeting in consultations, Council members issued a press statement expressing concern over the lack of progress on the peace talks (SC/11361).
Yemen
On 24 April, Council members received a briefing in consultations by Special Adviser Jamal Benomar on the steps taken by Yemen to implement the recommendations of the 21 January final document of the National Dialogue Conference.
Côte d’Ivoire
On 24 April, Council members were briefed in consultations by Ambassador Cristián Barros (Chile), the chair of the 1572 Côte d’Ivoire Sanctions Committee, on the final report of the Group of Experts (S/2014/266). On 29 April, the Council adopted resolution 2153, lifting the diamond embargo and partially lifting the arms embargo (S/PV.7163). It renewed for a year the financial and travel measures on targeted individuals as well as the sanctions on arms and lethal material, and it renewed for thirteen months the mandate of the Group of Experts assisting the 1572 Sanctions Committee.
Women, Peace and Security
On 25 April, the Security Council held an open debate on conflict-related sexual violence with participation by more than 60 member states (S/PV.7160). The Secretary-General and Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict Zainab Bangura briefed on the Secretary-General’s latest report on conflict-related sexual violence (S/2014/181). Rhoda Misaka, a civil society representative from South Sudan, participated on behalf of the NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security. In addition, a statement was delivered on behalf of the newly appointed AU Special Envoy for Women, Peace and Security, Bineta Diop.
Security Sector Reform
On 28 April, the Security Council held an open debate on security sector reform (SSR) which included a briefing by the Secretary-General on his latest report on this matter (S/2013/480). The meeting was chaired by the Foreign Minister of Nigeria, Aminu Wali, and the Council adopted resolution 2151, the first-ever stand-alone resolution on SSR (S/PV.7161).
Israel/Palestine
On 29 April, Special Coordinator Robert Serry briefed the Council during its quarterly open debate on the Middle East (S/PV.7164). His comments focused on recent developments related to the nine-month long US-brokered peace talks between Israel and Palestine that had collapsed and ended without a comprehensive agreement or any agreement to continue talks.
Iraq
On 30 April, Council members issued a press statement welcoming parliamentary elections in Iraq (SC/11376).
