September 2018 Monthly Forecast

Posted 31 August 2018
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Overview

The US has the presidency in September. At press time, the intention appears to be to hold all Council meetings in public, with consultations only scheduled for the adoption of the programme of work for the month. Although no meetings are currently foreseen for the last week of September, the US could still choose the presence of the world’s top officials in New York to schedule a high-level meeting in the Council.

The US has two signature events: on peacekeeping, and on corruption and conflict. The meeting on corruption will include a briefing by Secretary-General António Guterres and a representative from civil society.  The Council will also receive the first comprehensive annual briefing on the reform of UN peacekeeping, requested by resolution 2378 in September 2017.

There are a number of Latin American issues on the programme this month. The Council is expected to renew the mandate of the UN Verification Mission in Colombia. There will be a briefing on the situation in Haiti following the second report on the implementation of resolution 2410 that extended the mandate of MINUJUSTH in Haiti. It seems the US is also interested in holding a meeting on the current unrest in Nicaragua, but some members may oppose having this issue discussed by the Council.

Early in the month Council members expect to receive briefings on Libya by Special Representative and head of UNSMIL Ghassan Salamé and the chair of the 1970 Libya Sanctions Committee, Ambassador Olof Skoog (Sweden). An adoption to renew UNSMIL is scheduled for mid-September.

Other African issues this month include:

  • Somalia, on the activities of UNSOM;
  • Sudan,  on the activities of UNISFA in Abyei; and
  • South Sudan, on the activities of UNMISS.

Regarding Middle East issues, Council members expect to receive the regular briefing on chemical weapons and a combined briefing on political and humanitarian developments in Syria. There will also be the regular monthly briefing on Israel/Palestine.

Regarding Asian issues, the Council will hold its quarterly debate on UNAMA in Afghanistan with Special Representative and head of UNAMA Tadamichi Yamamoto expected to brief.

 

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