Status Update
Mali
On 1 June, Council members issued a press statement condemning a terrorist attack against a MINUSMA camp in Gao during which a peacekeeper from China was killed (SC/12384). On 16 June, Special Representative Mahamat Saleh Annadif briefed the Council (S/PV.7719) on the Secretary-General’s latest MINUSMA report (S/2016/498). The meeting was followed by an informal interactive dialogue of Council members with Malian Prime Minister Modibo Keita. On 29 June, the Council adopted resolution 2295 renewing MINUSMA’s mandate for a year.
DPRK (North Korea)
In a 1 June press statement (SC/12385), Council members condemned the DPRK’s failed missile launches conducted on 27 and 28 April and 31 May which were in grave violation of relevant Council resolutions. They called on all member states to redouble their efforts to implement fully the measures against the DPRK, in particular those contained in resolution 2270, and report on these efforts to the Council as soon as possible, while also welcoming efforts to facilitate a peaceful and comprehensive solution through dialogue. The 1718 DPRK Sanctions Committee met on 15 June to discuss implementation of resolution 2270. On 22 June, at the request of the US and Japan, Council members held consultations and were briefed by Assistant-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Miroslav Jenča on the medium-range missile launches conducted by the DPRK on 21 June. In a 23 June press statement (SC/12418), members strongly condemned the launches and reiterated the main elements of the 1 June press statement.
Women, Peace and Security
On 2 June, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict Zainab Bangura briefed (S/PV.7704) the Council prior to its open debate on the annual report on conflict-related sexual violence (S/2016/361). France circulated a concept note ahead of the open debate (S/2016/496). On 15 June, the Council adopted a presidential statement on the role of women in conflict prevention and resolution in Africa (S/PRST/2016/9).
EU-UN Cooperation
On 6 June, Federica Mogherini, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, briefed the Council at its annual meeting on cooperation between the EU and the UN (S/PV.7705). Among issues discussed were the Middle East peace process, the situation in Syria, Libya, and the ongoing crisis in eastern Ukraine. Mogherini also updated the Council on EU-UN cooperation in various peacekeeping operations in Africa, on the Iranian nuclear issue and counter-terrorism.
Yemen
On 6 June, following publication of the annual report on Children and Armed Conflict (S/2016/360), the Secretary-General removed the Saudi Arabia-led coalition from the listing in Annex 1 of the report, where it had been included for the first time. The removal came after strong pressure from Saudi Arabia and other member states and is considered “pending” until the conclusion of a joint review of the report’s findings with coalition members. On 21 June, Special Envoy Ismael Ould Cheikh Ahmed reported to the Council that he had presented to the parties in Kuwait a roadmap that provides for the implementation of resolution 2216 and the establishment of a national unity government, but that the sides were divided over the “sequencing” of the steps in the roadmap (S/PV.7721). Council members issued press elements urging the parties to show flexibility to secure an agreement.
Libya
On 6 June, Special Representative Martin Kobler briefed the Council on the latest UNSMIL report (S/2016/452) and recent political developments (S/PV.7706). The chair of the 1970 Libya Sanctions Committee, Ambassador Ramlan Ibrahim (Malaysia), briefed as well. On 13 June, the Council adopted resolution 2291 renewing the UNSMIL mandate until 15 December. During this period, the mission is expected to continue to support the establishment of the Government of National Accord. On 14 June, the Council adopted resolution 2292 providing a one year authorisation for member states, acting nationally or through regional organisations, to inspect, in the high seas off the coast of Libya, vessels bound to or from Libya which they have reasonable grounds to believe are violating the arms embargo. The resolution further authorises member states to seize and dispose of arms and ammunition found during the inspection of these vessels.
International Criminal Tribunals
On 8 June, the Council held its semi-annual debate on the ICTY and the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals at which the respective presidents and prosecutors briefed (S/PV.7707). The meeting focused on the assessment reports of the ICTY (S/2016/454) and the Residual Mechanism (S/2016/453) as well as the Office of Internal Oversight Services’ evaluation report on the ICTY (S/2016/441).
Counter-Terrorism
On 8 June, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman briefed the Council on UN counter-terrorism efforts against ISIL (S/PV.7708) and presented the latest report by the Secretary-General on this issue (S/2016/501). On 13 June, Council members issued a press statement condemning a terrorist attack in Orlando, Florida, which targeted persons as a result of their sexual orientation (SC/12399). On 17 June, the 1267/1989/2253 ISIL/Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee was briefed by the Secretariat regarding administrative arrangements of the Office of the Ombudsperson and how these may be improved to ensure the independence and effectiveness of the Office as per resolution 2253. On 27 June, the 1373 Counter-Terrorism Committee met to discuss countering terrorism in South East Asia.
Sudan (Darfur)
On 9 June, the Council received a briefing by the ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda on the Court’s work on Darfur (S/PV.7710). Bensouda reiterated her concern regarding the Council’s inaction with respect to Sudan’s non-compliance with the Court. On 14 June, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Hervé Ladsous briefed the Council (S/PV.7716) on the special report of the UN Secretary-General and the AU Commission Chairperson on UNAMID (S/2016/510). On 29 June, the Council adopted resolution 2296 renewing UNAMID’s mandate for one year.
Peacekeeping
On 10 June, the Council held a ministerial-level open debate on the protection of civilians in the context of peacekeeping operations. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, President Faustin-Archange Touadéra of the Central African Republic, and ICRC President Peter Maurer briefed the Council (S/PV.7711). France prepared a concept note ahead of the debate (S/2016/503) and the annual report on protection of civilians was also viewed as relevant to the debate (S/2016/447). On 24 June, the Working Group on Peacekeeping Operations held a meeting on the potential for complementarity between counter-terrorism bodies and peacekeeping operations. Renata Dwan, chief of the Policy and Best Practices Service of the Departments of Peacekeeping Operations and Field Support, and Weixong Chen, Deputy Executive Director of CTED, briefed Council members.
Guinea-Bissau
On 14 June, Special Representative and head of UNIOGBIS, Modibo Touré, briefed the Council along with AU Special Representative Ovidio Pequeno on Guinea-Bissau’s ongoing political crisis (S/PV.7714). Also addressing the Council were Ambassador Fode Seck (Senegal) on behalf of ECOWAS, Ambassador João Soares Da Gama (Guinea-Bissau), and Ambassador Maria Helena Pires (Timor-Leste) on behalf of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries. The next day, Council members issued a press statement encouraging national actors to abide by the constitution and the rule of law, and commended security forces for their non-interference in the political crisis. The statement expressed support of the decisions taken at the 4 June ECOWAS summit and expressed members’ readiness to take necessary measures to respond if the situation worsened (SC/12405).
UNRCCA (Central Asia)
On 15 June, Special Representative Petko Draganov briefed Council members in consultations on the work of UNRCCA. In keeping with established Council practice, Russia proposed a press statement to welcome the briefing. Russia withdrew the text, however, after other Council members put forward amendments that it deemed unacceptable relating to the situation in Afghanistan and cooperation with regional organisations. It was the third consecutive time that Council members failed to reach agreement on a press statement on the UNRCCA. The last press statement was issued on 23 January 2015.
UNOCA (Central Africa)
On 15 June, Abdoulaye Bathily, Special Representative and head of UNOCA, briefed the Council (S/PV.7718) on the latest UNOCA report (S/2016/482). Ahmad Allam-Mi, the Secretary-General of ECOWAS, also addressed the Council.
Non-Proliferation
From 20 to 22 June, the 1540 Committee held formal open consultations on the comprehensive review of resolution 1540, which aims to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction to non-state actors. 60 member states, some 20 international organisations, and 15 NGOs spoke at the meeting. The 1540 Committee is due to submit its report to the Council on the comprehensive review by 30 November this year.
Afghanistan
On 21 June, the Council held its quarterly debate on Afghanistan (S/PV.7722) which focused on the most recent UNAMA report (S/2016/532). Exiting Special Representative Nicholas Haysom briefed the Council for the last time. On the same day, Council members issued a press statement, condemning the 20 June terrorist attacks in Kabul and Badakhshan Province (SC/12413). The 1988 Afghanistan Sanctions Committee held informal consultations on 1 June to meet with a representative of the Collective Security Treaty Organization about counter-narcotic efforts.
Colombia
On 23 June, Council members welcomed the historic agreements reached in Havana between the Government of Colombia and the FARC-EP (SC/12419).
Security Council Elections
On 28 June, the General Assembly held elections for five non-permanent members to serve on the Security Council for the 2017-2018 term: Bolivia (GRULAC), Ethiopia (African group), Kazakhstan (Asia/Pacific group), and Sweden (WEOG) secured seats. After five inconclusive rounds of balloting,
Italy and the Netherlands had proposed a split 2017-18 term. On 29 June, WEOG agreed that Italy is to serve in 2017 and the Netherlands in 2018. On 30 June, the General Assembly elected Italy for the remaining non-permanent seat allocated for the WEOG Regional Group.
Golan Heights (UNDOF)
On 29 June, the Council adopted resolution 2294 renewing UNDOF for six months after considering the Secretary-General’s latest report (S/2016/520) on the observer mission during 22 June consultations. Both the report and the resolution noted the UN’s plan for the phased redeployment of UNDOF to vacated positions, security conditions permitting.
