Status Update
Burundi
On 1 April, the Council adopted resolution 2279 requesting the Secretary-General to provide options for a police component to increase UN presence in Burundi (S/PV.7664). The options were submitted on 15 April (S/2016/352), and discussed by Council members under “any other business” on 27 April.
Mali
On 5 April, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Hervé Ladsous briefed the Council (S/PV.7665) on the latest MINUSMA report (S/2016/281). Mali’s Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop briefed as well.
Western Sahara
Council members held two meetings on Western Sahara under “any other business” on 7 and 13 April, at the request of Uruguay and Venezuela. Peacekeeping head Hervé Ladsous briefed at both meetings on the situation concerning MINURSO following the withdrawal of dozens of mission staff as demanded by Morocco. On 26 April, Angola convened an Arria-formula meeting on Western Sahara to allow Special Envoy of the Chairperson of the AU Commission Joaquim Chissano to brief Council members on the efforts he is undertaking in the discharge of his mandate. Also on 26 April, a meeting of MINURSO troop-contributing countries was held ahead of 27 April consultations when Council members were briefed by Special Envoy Christopher Ross and Special Representative Kim Bolduc who presented the latest MINURSO report (S/2016/355). At press time, the Council was scheduled to adopt a resolution on 29 April to renew the MINURSO mandate.
Côte d’Ivoire
On 12 April, peacekeeping head Hervé Ladsous briefed (S/PV.7669) the Council on the strategic review of UNOCI (S/2016/297) that commended the progress made by the Ivorian government since the post-election crisis in 2011 and recommended the further drawdown and near-term exit of the UN mission. The Council was also briefed by Ambassador Elbio Rosselli (Uruguay), chair of the 1572 Côte d’Ivoire Sanctions Committee, who presented the final report of the Committee’s Group of Experts (S/2016/254). On 28 April, the Council adopted resolution 2283 that terminated the sanctions regime in Côte d’Ivoire. The same day, the Council also adopted resolution 2284 which extended the mandate of UNOCI for a final period until 30 June 2017, after which the mission would be terminated.
Counter-Terrorism
On 14 April, the Secretary-General briefed the Council during an open debate on efforts to strengthen international counter-terrorism cooperation and coordination (S/PV.7670 and Resumption 1). China circulated a concept note ahead of the debate (S/2016/306). Also on 14 April, a joint open briefing was organised by the 1373 Counter-Terrorism Committee and the 1267/1989/2253 Al-Qaida and ISIL Sanctions Committee on countering the financing of terrorism. The 1267/1989/2253 Committee met again on 20 April to consider two comprehensive reports on delisting requests prepared by the Ombudsperson, as well as an oral briefing by the Monitoring Team on global implementation of resolutions 2178 and 2199 (SC/12323). Also on 20 April, the 1267/1989/2253 Committee added five entries to its sanctions list (SC/12332).
Central African Republic
On 15 April, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Hervé Ladsous briefed the Council (S/PV.7671) on the latest MINUSCA report (S/2016/305). The chair of the Burundi configuration of the Peacebuilding Commission, Abdeslam Jaidi (Morocco) also briefed. On 26 April, the Council adopted resolution 2281 that extended MINUSCA’s mandate until 31 July, and requested the Secretary-General to conduct a strategic review of its mandate by 22 June. Council members issued a press statement on 18 April condemning the killing of a MINUSCA peacekeeper (SC/12329). At press time, the 2127 CAR Sanctions Committee was scheduled to hold a meeting on 29 April, with representatives of the EU regarding the activities the European External Action Service and the planned EU training mission in the CAR.
Yemen
On 15 April, Special Envoy Ismael Ould Cheikh Ahmed, and deputy head of OCHA, Kyung-wha Kang, briefed the Council (S/PV.7672). On 25 April, the Council adopted a presidential statement (S/PRST/2016/5) to support peace talks that had started on 21 April in Kuwait (S/PV.7676). The presidential statement called for Yemeni parties to develop a roadmap for the implementation of interim security arrangements, withdrawals, handover of heavy weapons and the restoration of state institutions and resumption of political dialogue. It further requested a plan from the Secretary-General within 30 days on how the Special Envoy’s office can support the parties, in particular regarding the roadmap. Also on 25 April, the 2140 Yemen Sanctions Committee met with the new members of its Panel of Experts.
Israel/Palestine
On 18 April, the Council held its quarterly debate on the Middle East, with Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon briefing on his trip to the region in late March (S/PV.7673 and Resumption 1). Ban said that the demolition of Palestinian homes and businesses in the West Bank were continuing at an alarming rate and plans for more illegal Jewish settlements cast doubt on Israel’s commitment to a two-state solution. He also reported on the six-month surge in deadly violence in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, triggered by individual attacks perpetrated by Palestinians, which he condemned. He also reported that the Middle East Quartet was moving forward on a report that would review the situation and threats to a two-state solution, and provide recommendations on how to move forward.
Afghanistan
On 19 April, Council members issued a press statement condemning a terrorist attack in Kabul by the Taliban that claimed at least 28 lives and injured more than 300 people (SC/12331). The 1988 Sanctions Committee met on 20 April that focused on counter-narcotics efforts. Afghanistan’s Deputy Minister of the Interior Baz Mohammed Ahmadi briefed, as did the Committee’s Monitoring Team, which discussed the efforts of the Combined Maritime Force to track narcotic flows from Afghanistan.
Water, Peace and Security
On 22 April, Senegalese President Macky Sall chaired an Arria-formula meeting on the interlinkages between water, peace and security; best practices in water cooperation; and cooperation between UN and regional organisations in water resources management. Kabiné Komara, the former prime minister of Guinea and High Commissioner of the International Basin Organization of the Senegal River, Assistant-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Miroslav Jenĉa and Caritas International representative Joseph Donnelly briefed.
Gulf of Guinea
On 25 April, the Council held an open debate on piracy in the Gulf of Guinea (S/PV.7675). Angola, China and Senegal organised the meeting together, previously circulating a concept note (S/2016/321). At the meeting, Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Tayé-Brook Zerihoun briefed. The Council also adopted a presidential statement on the issue, which encouraged regional states, regional organisations and international partners to make fully operational the Gulf of Guinea counter-piracy mechanisms as soon as possible (S/PRST/2016/4). It further urged the international community to continue assisting Gulf of Guinea states with funds and other forms of capacity-building support.
Golan Heights
On 26 April, Council members were briefed under “any other business” by Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Taye Brook Zerihoun on the Golan Heights. The briefing was requested by Egypt, on behalf of the Arab League, following remarks by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the Golan Heights will remain forever under Israeli sovereignty. The Golan Heights were captured in the 1967 Six-Day War and were illegally annexed by Israel; under international law it is considered occupied territory. In elements to the press, Council members stressed the status of the Golan Heights remains unchanged.
Peacebuilding
On 27 April, the Security Council adopted a concurrent resolution with the General Assembly on the review of the UN peacebuilding architecture (S/RES/2282). Among its key elements, the resolution expanded the notion of peacebuilding as a process occurring before, during and after conflict situations, and requested a Secretary-General’s report that includes options, including through assessed and voluntary contributions, for increased funding for peacebuilding efforts.
Ukraine
On 28 April, the Council held a meeting (S/PV.7683) on the situation in Ukraine with briefings from Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson and Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission Ertugrul Apakan (via video teleconference). Martin Sajdik, the Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group also briefed. The discussion focused on the implementation of the Minsk Agreements and overall security situation in eastern Ukraine.
