Overview
In January 2025, Algeria will hold the presidency of the Security Council.
Algeria intends to organise three signature events. The first one is the quarterly open debate on “The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question”, which will be elevated to ministerial level this month. Algerian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmed Attaf is expected to chair the meeting. Secretary-General António Guterres may brief. Other meetings on this file may be convened depending on developments in Israel and Gaza.
The second signature event is a meeting on countering terrorism in Africa under the “Maintenance of international peace and security” agenda item. The meeting, which Attaf is expected to chair, is likely to focus on terrorism and its impact on sustainable development. Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed, African Union (AU) Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security Bankole Adeoye, and a civil society representative are the anticipated briefers.
Algeria’s third signature event is the annual briefing on cooperation between the UN and the League of Arab States (LAS). A senior UN official and LAS Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit are the anticipated briefers. Attaf is expected to chair the meeting. A presidential statement is a possible outcome of the meeting.
Additional Middle Eastern issues anticipated in January include:
- Yemen, the monthly meeting; and
- Syria, a meeting on the political and humanitarian situations and possible additional meetings depending on developments in the country.
African issues that are expected to be discussed this month include:
- Libya, renewal of the authorisation of measures contained in resolution 2146 of 19 March 2014 related to the illicit export of petroleum from Libya as well as renewal of the mandate of the Panel of Experts assisting the 1970 Libya Sanctions Committee; and
- Sudan, the semi-annual briefing of ICC Prosecutor Karim Asad Ahmad Khan on the ICC’s Darfur-related activities.
Issues in the Americas that are included 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 only European issue on the programme of work in January is Cyprus, with the semi-annual consultations on the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), a meeting with UNFICYP troop-contributing countries, and renewal of UNFICYP’s mandate.
Additional meetings on these and other issues, including Ukraine and Sudan, may be scheduled during the month.
