Overview
In February, China will hold the presidency of the Security Council.
China is expected to organise one signature event, an open debate on “Practicing Multilateralism, Reforming and Improving Global Governance” under the agenda item “Maintenance of international peace and security”. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will chair the meeting. UN Secretary-General António Guterres is expected to brief.
In February, the Council is scheduled to hold a briefing on the Secretary-General’s biannual strategic-level report on the threat posed by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da’esh).
The annual briefing by UN Police Commissioners is also expected to take place during the month.
Middle Eastern issues on the programme include:
- Syria, monthly meeting on the political and humanitarian situations and possible additional meetings depending on developments in the country;
- Yemen, the monthly meeting on the situation in the country; and
- “The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian Question”, the monthly meeting, with the possibility of additional meetings depending on developments in Gaza and Israel.
African issues that will be discussed in February are:
- Somalia, renewal of the 2713 Al-Shabaab Sanctions regime and the mandate of the Panel of Experts assisting the 2713 Al-Shabaab Sanctions Committee;
- Libya, meeting on the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) and briefing by the chair of the 1970 Libya Sanctions Committee;
- Central African Republic (CAR), meeting on the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA);
- South Sudan, briefing and consultations on the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS); and
- Sudan, briefing and consultations on the situation in the country pursuant to resolution 2715 of 1 December 2023 and renewal of the mandate of the Panel of Experts assisting the 1591 Sudan Sanctions Committee.
Regarding Asian issues, Council members will hold their semi-annual consultations on the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA). They will also receive a briefing on the work of the 1718 Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) Sanctions Committee.
February marks the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The Council is likely to have one or more meetings on the country during the month.
Other issues could be raised in February depending on developments, including on the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.