Overview
The US will have the presidency in April and has planned a briefing on UN peacekeeping where the Secretary-General is expected to be the main speaker. Members are likely to focus on whether current peacekeeping operations are able to meet the needs on the ground and the Council’s political objectives, or if changes are needed. It seems that the US is also interested in holding a debate on human rights and maintenance of international peace and security, which at press time, had yet to be agreed on. This would be the first ever Security Council thematic debate on human rights.
The mandates of the UN missions in Haiti (MINUSTAH) and in Western Sahara (MINURSO) will be renewed in April. Ahead of the renewal of MINUSTAH, the Council is expected to convene a meeting with troop-contributing countries (TCCs) and hold a debate. There will also be a TCC meeting and consultations ahead of the renewal of MINURSO at the end of the month.
There are a number of Sudan/South Sudan issues on the programme of work. The Council will discuss developments in relation to UNAMID in Darfur, UNMISS in South Sudan, and UNISFA in Abyei, and will receive the quarterly briefing from the chair of the 1591 Sudan Sanctions Committee.
Other African issues the Council will consider in April include:
- Great Lakes Region, a briefing on the implementation of the DRC’s Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework Agreement;
- Mali, the activities of MINUSMA; and
- Somalia/Eritrea, discussion of the 751/1907 Sanctions Committee on Somalia and Eritrea.
Regarding Middle East issues, members are expecting briefings on the humanitarian and political situations in Syria, as well as on chemical weapons.
There will also be the regular quarterly open debate on the Middle East, with a focus on Israel/Palestine.
An update on developments in Colombia is expected in early April.
Finally, Council members will be watching developments in Iraq, and meetings may be scheduled if the situation in Mosul deteriorates further.
