Overview
In January 2024, France will hold the presidency of the Security Council.
The quarterly open debate on “The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question” is expected to be elevated to ministerial level this month. French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna is expected to chair the meeting. Secretary-General António Guterres may brief. Other meetings on this issue may be convened depending on developments in Israel and Gaza.
Additional Middle Eastern issues anticipated in January include:
European issues on the programme of work in January include:
- Ukraine, a briefing on recent developments; and
- Cyprus, a meeting with UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) troop-contributing countries, the semi-annual consultations on UNFICYP, and the renewal of UNFICYP’s mandate.
African issues that the Council is scheduled to address this month include:
- West Africa, the semi-annual meeting on the work of the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS); and
- Sudan, the semi-annual briefing of ICC Prosecutor Karim Asad Ahmad Khan on the ICC’s Darfur-related activities.
Issues on the Americas that will be featured in January’s programme of work are:
- Colombia, the quarterly briefing on the work of the UN Verification Mission in Colombia and recent developments; and
- Haiti, the quarterly briefing on the work of the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) and recent developments in the country.
The one Asian issue on the programme of work in January is the semi-annual meeting on the work of the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA).
Additional meetings on these and other issues may be scheduled during the month.
A wrap-up session is also planned for the end of January.
