Overview
Indonesia will hold the presidency in May. An open debate on peacekeeping focused on better training to improve the safety and security and performance of UN peacekeepers is planned. Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi will chair the meeting. Secretary-General António Guterres; the force commander of the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lieutenant General Elias Rodrigues Martins Filho; and the director of the secretariat of the International Forum for the Challenges of Peace Operations, Björn Holmberg, are expected to brief.
The other open debate in May is on protection of civilians in conflict with a focus on community engagement as a means of enhancing the protection of civilians.
There are several mandate renewals related to African issues: UNISFA in Abyei and AMISOM in Somalia, as well as for the 2206 South Sudan Sanctions Committee and its Panel of Experts.
Other African issues include:
- Burundi, on the political situation;
- Libya, briefings by the ICC Prosecutor, the chair of the 1970 Libya Sanctions Committee, and by the head of UNSMIL;
- Somalia, a briefing on UNSOM; and
- Sahel, a briefing on the activities of the joint force of the Group of Five for the Sahel.
A briefing and consultations on the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq is scheduled ahead of its mandate renewal. In addition, the following Middle East issues will be considered:
- Lebanon, on the implementation of resolution 1559;
- Syria, the monthly briefings on the humanitarian situation, the political process and the use of chemical weapons; and
- Yemen, an update on the implementation of resolution 2452, which established the UN Mission to support the Hodeidah Agreement.
Regarding Europe, Council members are expecting to discuss the Secretary-General’s report on the negotiations on Cyprus. There will also be the biannual debate on Bosnia and Herzegovina.
On Asia, the Council will be briefed in consultations on the work of the 1718 DPRK Sanctions Committee.
The annual briefing by the chairs of the three counter-terrorism subsidiary bodies is also expected.
The Council may meet to discuss the transition of the UN Mission for Justice Support in Haiti (MINUJUSTH) as the Secretary-General is scheduled to submit details for a follow-up mission this month.
It is likely that there will be two Arria-formula meetings: on Palestine and on peacebuilding.
