Status Update since our February Forecast
The Middle East, including the Palestinian Question
On 25 February, the Security Council held its regular monthly briefing and closed consultations on “The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question” (MEPQ) (S/PV.9868). Sigrid Kaag briefed in her capacity as Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process ad interim. Two civil society representatives also briefed: Daniel Levy, President of the US/Middle East Project—a non-profit policy institute focusing on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict—and Noa Argamani, a former Israeli hostage who had been held in Gaza.
South Sudan
On 5 February, the Security Council held a briefing, followed by consultations, to discuss the situation in South Sudan (S/PV.9855) based on the Secretary-General’s latest report (S/2025/54) published on 24 January. Special Representative of the Secretary-General for South Sudan and Head of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), Nicholas Haysom; Major General Charles Tai Gituai, Interim Chairperson of the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission; and Mr. Edmund Yakani, Executive Director, Community Empowerment for Progress Organization briefed.
UNRCCA (Central Asia)
On 6 February, Council members received a briefing in consultations on the work of the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA) from Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of UNRCCA Kaha Imnadze.
Counter-Terrorism
On 10 February, the Security Council held a briefing on the Secretary-General’s 20th biannual strategic-level report (S/2025/72) on the threat posed by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da’esh) (S/PV.9856). Under-Secretary-General for Counter-Terrorism and Head of the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) Vladimir Voronkov and Executive Director of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) Natalia Gherman briefed.
Ukraine
On 17 February, the Security Council convened for a briefing on Ukraine under the “Threats to international peace and security” agenda item (S/PV.9859). Russia requested the meeting to mark the tenth anniversary of the Security Council’s adoption of resolution 2202 of 17 February 2015, which endorsed the “Package of Measures for the Implementation of the Minsk Agreements”, also known as the Minsk II agreement, signed on 12 February 2015. The briefers were Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia and the Americas Miroslav Jenča and musician and Pink Floyd co-founder Roger Waters. Germany and Ukraine participated under rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure.
On 24 February, the Council voted on a draft resolution on Ukraine authored by the US (S/PV.9866). Prior to the vote, Council members Denmark, France, Greece, and the UK requested closed consultations to discuss the text. Following the consultations, France, on behalf of these three other members, then proposed a procedural vote to postpone the session until the following afternoon (25 February), citing rule 33 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure. The motion was not adopted because it did not garner the requisite votes—receiving six votes in favour (China, Denmark, France, Greece, Slovenia, and the UK), three against (Panama, Somalia, and the US), and six abstentions (Algeria, Guyana, Pakistan, the Republic of Korea, Russia, and Sierra Leone).
The US-authored draft text, which was adopted as resolution 2774, urges a lasting peace between Russia and Ukraine and implores a swift end to the conflict between the two countries. The resolution received ten votes in favour and five abstentions (Denmark, France, Greece, Slovenia, and the UK). Prior to this vote, the Council considered five draft amendments to the text: three proposed by the European Council members (E5)—Denmark, France, Greece, Slovenia, and the UK—and two proposed by Russia. None of these were adopted.
On 24 February, the Council also convened for a high-level briefing on Ukraine (S/PV.9867). The meeting was requested by Ukraine—supported by Denmark, France, Greece, Panama, the Republic of Korea, Slovenia, the UK, and the US—to mark the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022. Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo briefed the Council. Ukraine and several regional countries (Czechia, Finland, Latvia, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, and Spain) participated under rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure.
“Practicing Multilateralism, Reforming and Improving Global Governance”
On 18 and 20 February, the Security Council held a ministerial-level open debate on “Practicing Multilateralism, Reforming and Improving Global Governance” under the “Maintenance of international peace and security” agenda item (S/PV.9861 and Resumption I and II). Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi chaired the meeting, which was the signature event of China’s Council presidency. UN Secretary-General António Guterres briefed.
Libya
On 19 February, the Security Council held an open briefing on Libya (S/PV.9862). Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo briefed on the latest political, security, and humanitarian developments in the country. Pending the finalisation of the discussion on the allocation of chairs of subsidiary bodies, China, in its capacity as Security Council president in February and in line with the understanding reached among Council members, briefed on the work of the 1970 Libya Sanctions Committee. Libya participated in the meeting under rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure.
Central African Republic
On 20 February, the Security Council held a briefing on the situation in the Central African Republic (CAR) (S/PV.9864). Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the CAR and Head of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) Valentine Rugwabiza briefed on the Secretary-General’s report on MINUSCA, which was published on 14 February (S/2025/97).
DPRK (North Korea)
On 26 February, Council members met in closed consultations to discuss the 90-day report on the work of the 1718 Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) Sanctions Committee. Ordinarily, the Chair of the Committee briefs Council members on the report. However, since the Chair had not yet been appointed, China delivered the report as the president of the Security Council in February.
Peace Operations
On 27 February, the Security Council received its annual briefing from the heads of police components of UN peace operations (S/PV.9870). Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix; UN Police Adviser Commissioner Faisal Shahkar; General Christophe Kabango Bizimungu, the Police Commissioner for the UN Multidimensional Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA); and Chief Superintendent Mingzhu Xu, Senior Police Advisor for the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), briefed.
Somalia
On 28 February, the Council adopted resolution 2775, constituting a technical rollover until 3 March of the sanctions measures and other relevant provisions under the 2713 Al-Shabaab sanctions regime before their expiration on that date. This rollover was agreed upon pending the finalisation of Council negotiations on the extension of the sanctions regime and the mandate renewal of the Panel of Experts assisting the 2713 Al-Shabaab Sanctions Committee.
