Status Update since our May Forecast
India/Pakistan
On 5 May, Council members held closed consultations on “The India-Pakistan question” at the request of Pakistan to discuss the rising tensions between India and Pakistan following the 22 April terrorist attack in Pahalgam, a town in Indian-administered Kashmir, that claimed the lives of 26 people (including 25 Indian nationals and one Nepali national). Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific Mohamed Khaled Khiari briefed. He gave an overview of developments in Kashmir and the state of India-Pakistan relations following the 22 April attack. Condemning the attack, Khiari called for restraint and dialogue to help resolve the crisis.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
The Security Council held its semi-annual debate on Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) on 6 May (S/PV.9911). High Representative for BiH Christian Schmidt briefed on the most recent report of the Office of the High Representative (OHR), which covers the period from 16 October 2024 to 15 April (S/2025/272). Željka Cvijanović, the Serb member of the rotating tripartite inter-ethnic presidency of BiH and the incumbent chairperson of the presidency, participated under rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure.
Peacebuilding and Sustaining Peace
On 8 May, the General Assembly and the Security Council held an informal interactive dialogue with the Peacebuilding Commission as part of the 2025 Peacebuilding Architecture Review. Discussions emphasised the need to translate previous commitments into tangible outcomes that enhance UN peacebuilding efforts across contexts. The discussion is expected to inform ongoing negotiations toward the adoption of twin resolutions by the end of the year.
DPRK (North Korea)
On 29 May, Council members convened for a briefing in closed consultations on the work of the 1718 Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) Sanctions Committee.
South Sudan
On 8 May, the Security Council adopted resolution 2779, renewing the mandate of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) until 30 April 2026 (S/PV.9913). The resolution was adopted with 12 votes in favour and three abstentions (China, Pakistan, and Russia).
On 30 May, the Security Council adopted resolution 2781, renewing the South Sudan sanctions regime until 31 May 2026 and the mandate of the Panel of Experts of the 2206 South Sudan Sanctions Committee until 1 July 2026 (S/PV.9928). The resolution was adopted with a vote of nine in favour and six abstentions (Algeria, China, Pakistan, Russia, Somalia, and Sierra Leone).
Somalia
On 12 May, Security Council members convened for closed consultations on the African Union (AU) Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM). The consultations were requested by Somalia (which is currently an elected member of the Council) and the UK (the penholder on the file).
Resolution 2767 of 27 December 2024 requested the Secretary-General to implement the framework established under resolution 2719 of 21 December 2023—which concerns the financing of AU-led peace support operations (AUPSOs)—in a “hybrid” format to AUSSOM starting on 1 July. However, the resolution made the implementation of this framework contingent on the Council confirming its request through a decision by 15 May.
On 23 May, Council members agreed on the contents of a letter addressed to Secretary-General António Guterres, expressing regret over the lack of consensus regarding the implementation of the 2719 framework for AUSSOM, despite the broad support expressed by member states (S/2025/322). The Council requested the Secretary-General to continue working closely with the AU to support the implementation of resolution 2767 and provide advice and support, as requested by the AU, to strengthen resource mobilisation for AUSSOM, including through support for the urgent convening of a high-level donor meeting.
Middle East, including the Palestinian Question
On 13 May, the Security Council held a briefing under the agenda item “The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question” (MEPQ) (S/PV.9914). The meeting—which was requested by the Council’s European members (Denmark, France, Greece, Slovenia, and the UK) and supported by Algeria—focused on the humanitarian situation and the protection of aid workers in Gaza. Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) New York Liaison Office Director Angélica Jácome briefed. Israel, the Observer State of Palestine, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) participated in the meeting.
Protection of Civilians
On 22 and 23 May, the Security Council held its annual open debate on the protection of civilians (PoC) in armed conflict (S/PV.9921 and Resumption I and II). Greece, the Council president for May, convened the meeting as one of its signature events. It was chaired by the Greek Minister for Foreign Affairs George Gerapetritis. The briefers were Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher, UN Women Executive Director Sima Sami Bahous, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) President Mirjana Spoljaric Egger, and President and Chief Executive Officer of Save the Children US Janti Soeripto.
Maritime Security
On 20 May, the Security Council held a high-level open debate titled “Strengthening Maritime Security through International Cooperation for Global Stability” under the “Maintenance of international peace and security” agenda item (S/PV.9919). Greece, the Council president in May, convened the debate as one of its signature events. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis chaired the meeting. The briefers included: UN Secretary-General António Guterres, President of the Board of Directors of the Union of Greek Shipowners Melina Travlos, and Professor of International Relations at the University of Copenhagen and UN Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) Research Fellow Christian Bueger.
“Protecting Water in Armed Conflict” Arria-formula Meeting
On 23 May, Slovenia (together with Algeria, Panama, and Sierra Leone) convened an Arria-formula meeting titled “Freshwater Resources and Related Infrastructure under Attack: Protecting Water in Armed Conflict—Protecting Civilian Lives”. Several non-Council members—Costa Rica, Hungary, Indonesia, Jordan, Mozambique, the Philippines, Senegal, Switzerland, and Viet Nam—supported the meeting. Melita Gabrič, Slovenia’s Deputy Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, chaired the meeting. The briefers were: International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) President Mirjana Spoljaric Egger, UNICEF Deputy Executive Director for Humanitarian Action and Supply Operations Ted Chaiban, and Regional Head of Programmes for Geneva Call in Africa Mehwash Ansari.
ICJ Elections
On 27 May, the Security Council and General Assembly held concurrent meetings to fill a vacancy following the resignation of the former President of the ICJ, Judge Nawaf Salam (Lebanon), effective 14 January (S/PV.9922). The Council and the General Assembly elected the sole candidate, Mahmoud Daifallah Hmoud (Jordan), to serve for the remainder of Judge Salam’s term of office, until 5 February 2027.
Haiti
On 28 May, the members of the Security Council held closed consultations on Haiti. Special Representative and Head of the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) María Isabel Salvador and Under-Secretary-General for Operational Support Atul Khare briefed. The meeting was requested by the ten elected members to receive an update on the situation in the country and to discuss a Council response to the Secretary-General’s 24 February letter containing recommendations on options for UN support for Haiti (S/2025/122).
Ukraine
On 29 May, the Council held a briefing on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine at the request of Denmark, France, Greece, Slovenia, and the UK (S/PV.9924). Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo and Director of the Humanitarian Financing and Resource Mobilization Division at the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Lisa Doughten briefed. Ukraine and several regional states participated in the meeting under rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, while Stavros Lambrinidis, Head of the EU Delegation to the UN, participated under rule 39.
On 30 May, at Russia’s request, the Council held a briefing under the “Threats to international peace and security” agenda item to discuss the actions of a number of European states that it claims are hindering efforts to achieve a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Ukraine (S/PV.9926).
Draft Report of the Security Council to the General Assembly
On 30 May, the Security Council adopted the draft of its annual report to the General Assembly, covering the period from 1 January to 31 December 2023 (S/PV.9927). Sierra Leone raised a point of order and said that it had broken silence on the full draft report and had drawn the Council’s attention to the section on Western Sahara and urged its revision due to inaccuracy. As a result, it dissociated itself from the “impugned paragraph.
