Status Update since our December Forecast
Iraq
On 2 December, the Security Council held an open briefing on the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) (S/PV.10055). Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of UNAMI, Mohamed Al Hassan, briefed the Council on the Secretary-General’s final reports on UNAMI (S/2025/757) and the issue of missing Kuwaiti and third-party nationals and missing Kuwaiti property (S/2025/756). Iraq and Kuwait participated in the meeting under rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure.
Visiting Mission to Lebanon and Syria
From 2 to 7 December 2025, the Security Council travelled to Syria and Lebanon on an official visiting mission.
The Council spent one day (4 December) in Damascus, Syria, marking the first time the Council visited the country. Permanent Representative of Slovenia to the UN, Samuel Žbogar, said that the Council’s objective during the visit to Damascus was to build trust. Council members met with multiple relevant interlocutors and stakeholders, including high-level government officials, UN country team officials, representatives from civil society and transitional justice and accountability mechanisms, and local and religious leaders.
In Beirut, the Council delegation held meetings with Lebanese authorities, including President Joseph Aoun, Speaker of the Parliament Nabih Berri, and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. The Council also met with the Commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), General Rodolphe Haykal, and the Chair of the Cessation of Hostilities Mechanism, US Lieutenant General Joseph Clearfield. In addition, the Council travelled to Naqoura, where it received a briefing by Head of Mission and Force Commander of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) Major General Diodato Abagnara and visited a nearby UNIFIL position. It seems that during their various engagements, Council members expressed support for the territorial integrity, sovereignty, and political independence of Lebanon, and for the full implementation of resolution 1701. Members also apparently expressed support for the November 2024 cessation-of-hostilities arrangement between Israel and Lebanon and discussed the Lebanese government’s commitment to ensuring a state monopoly over arms throughout the territory of Lebanon. It seems that Council members further emphasised the importance of respecting the safety and security of peacekeepers and discussed issues such as strengthening of the LAF, economic and institutional reforms, and the reconstruction of southern Lebanon.
On 18 December, the Council held a briefing on the visit, in which Žbogar delivered a statement on behalf of the co-leads of the mission, Algeria, Denmark and Slovenia (S/PV.10071).
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)
On 8 December, Finnish Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen, in her capacity as the current Chairperson-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), briefed the Security Council on the organisation’s activities (S/PV.10056). Slovenian Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon chaired the meeting.
Guinea-Bissau
On 8 December, Council members held closed consultations on Guinea-Bissau. Council member Sierra Leone requested the meeting, citing the recent unconstitutional change of government in the country and the suspension of the electoral process. The Assistant Secretary-General for Africa in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations (DPPA-DPO), Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee, briefed at the meeting. It seems that Denmark and Sierra Leone, the co-penholders on the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), proposed a draft press statement on the situation in Guinea-Bissau. Although several Council members supported the initiative, Russia apparently expressed reservations, arguing that at the time there was no reliable information about the situation and that the Council should not rush to judgment. Denmark and Sierra Leone then circulated press elements during the consultations, but agreement was not possible due to Russia’s position.
Ukraine
On 9 December, the Security Council held an open briefing on Ukraine (S/PV.10057). Council members Denmark, France, Greece, the Republic of Korea (ROK), Slovenia, and the UK requested the meeting, citing the rising numbers of civilian casualties in Ukraine, ongoing attacks on energy infrastructure in the country as winter is setting in, and the urgent need for a ceasefire. Slovenian Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon chaired the meeting. The briefers at the meeting were Kayoko Gotoh, the Officer-in-Charge for Europe, Central Asia and the Americas at the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations (DPPA-DPO); Joyce Msuya, the Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs; and Tomaž Lovrenčič, the Director of the non-profit organisation ITF Enhancing Human Security.
Youth, Peace and Security
On 9 December, Security Council members held an informal interactive dialogue (IID) on youth, peace and security (YPS) with members of the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC). Council member Slovenia organised the meeting, which featured a briefing by Awa Dabo, Director and Deputy Head of the Peacebuilding Support Office (PBSO). The PBC’s Chair, Ambassador Ricklef Beutin (Germany), and its vice chairs (Brazil, Japan, Morocco, and Poland) also participated in the meeting.
On 12 December, the Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 2807 on YPS. The resolution, which was authored by Guyana and Sierra Leone, aims to promote engagement by member states, the Security Council, and other UN entities on the YPS agenda. Among other things, it decides to continue the consideration of the YPS agenda in the Council’s work, including through open debates to discuss the Secretary-General’s biennial reports on YPS submitted pursuant to resolution 2535 of 14 July 2020.
Afghanistan
On 10 December 2025, the Security Council held an open briefing on Afghanistan (S/PV.10058). The briefers were: Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General (Political) and Officer-in-Charge of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) Georgette Gagnon; Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher; and Founder and Executive Director of the Window for Hope Network Negina Yari. Slovenian Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon chaired the meeting. Afghanistan, India, Iran, and Kazakhstan participated in the meeting under rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure. Closed consultations were held following the open briefing.
International Criminal Tribunals
On 10 December 2025, the Council held its semi-annual debate on the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT). The IRMCT’s president, Judge Graciela Gatti Santana, and its chief prosecutor, Serge Brammertz, briefed (S/PV.10059). They also met with the Informal Working Group on International Tribunals prior to the debate. Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Rwanda, and Serbia participated in the meeting under rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure.
UNOCA (Central Africa)
On 11 December, the Security Council held a briefing and consultations on the Secretary-General’s semi-annual report on the UN Regional Office for Central Africa (UNOCA) and the implementation of the UN’s regional strategy to combat the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) (S/PV.10060). Special Representative and Head of UNOCA Abdou Abarry and Regional Head of Advocacy for the Norwegian Refugee Council Christelle Hurè briefed.
Democratic Republic of the Congo
On 12 December, the Security Council held a briefing and consultations on the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), including the work of the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) (S/PV.10063). Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix and International President of Médecins Sans Frontières Javid Abdelmoneim briefed. Additionally, the Chair of the 1533 DRC Sanctions Committee, Ambassador Michael Imran Kanu (Sierra Leone), briefed on the Committee’s work. Burundi, the DRC, and Rwanda participated in the meeting under rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure.
On 19 December, the Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 2808 renewing MONUSCO’s mandate until 20 December 2026 (S/PV.10075).
Somalia
On 12 December, the Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 2806, renewing the mandate of the Panel of Experts (PoE) assisting the 2713 Al-Shabaab Sanctions Committee until 31 December 2026 and expressing its intention to review its mandate by 30 November 2026 (S/PV.10064). The resolution also renews until 30 November 2026 the authorisation for maritime interdiction to enforce the embargo on illicit arms imports, the charcoal exports ban, and the improvised explosive devices (IEDs) components ban.
On 23 December, the Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 2809, extending the authorisation of the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) for another year, until 31 December 2026 (S/PV.10078).
UNDOF (Golan)
Council members held consultations on the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) on 12 December. Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix briefed. On 29 December, the Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 2811 renewing the mandate of the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) for six months, until 30 June 2026.
Leadership for Peace
On 15 December 2025, the Security Council convened for an open debate on “Leadership for Peace” under the “Maintenance of international peace and security” agenda item (S/PV.10067). The briefers were former UN Secretary-General and member of The Elders, Ban Ki-moon, and Anjali K. Dayal, Associate Professor in International Politics at Fordham University. Ban underscored that UN leadership “must more confidently reassert its active political role in diplomacy for peace, including mediating and settling crises”, adding that member states need to support this role and avoid situations in which political settlements are dictated solely by powerful countries. He also argued that the next Secretary-General “should be empowered by a single seven-year term”, noting that two five-year terms risk making the office overly dependent on the Council’s permanent members for renewal. In her briefing, Dayal emphasised that the most important characteristic of a Secretary-General is the ability, by both “position and disposition”, to place greater value on “tomorrow” than on immediate advantages, in order to make the conference room more attractive than the battlefield.
Sudan
On 16 December, Security Council members held an informal interactive dialogue (IID) on the situation in Sudan. The UK, as penholder, and Denmark convened the meeting against the backdrop of the ongoing crisis in the country. Council members received briefings from several key regional and international actors during the IID. The briefers were the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for Sudan, Ramtane Lamamra; the Chairperson of the African Union (AU) High-Level Panel on Sudan Mohamed Ibn Chambas; the European Union (EU) Special Representative for the Horn of Africa, Annette Weber; and the Head of Sudan and Horn of Africa Affairs at the League of Arab States (LAS), Zeid Al Sabban. Cherinet Hariffo, the Permanent Observer of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) to the UN, also briefed, alongside a representative of the US, who spoke on behalf of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE)—collectively referred to as the “Quad” countries.
On 22 December, the Council held an open briefing to discuss the situation in Sudan (S/PV.10077). The briefers were Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations (DPPA-DPO) Mohamed Khaled Khiari, Director of the Crisis Response Division at the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Edem Wosornu, and Cameron Hudson, a political risk consultant. Sudan’s Transitional Prime Minister, Kamil Eltayeb Idris, participated under rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure.
Central African Republic
On 17 December, Ambassador Amar Bendjama (Algeria), the Chair of the 2745 Sanctions Committee concerning the Central African Republic (CAR), briefed the Security Council on the Committee’s work (S/PV.10069).
Briefing by the Outgoing Chairs of the Security Council’s Subsidiary Bodies
On 17 December 2025, the outgoing chairs of the Council’s subsidiary bodies held their customary briefing on their experiences (S/PV10070). The Council was briefed by the following representatives of the five members who completed their two-year terms on the Council at the end of 2025:
- Ambassador Amar Bendjama (Algeria) on the 2745 Central African Republic (CAR) Sanctions Committee and the 1373 Counter-Terrorism Committee.
- Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett (Guyana)on the 2653 Haiti Sanctions Committee and the 2048 Guinea-Bissau Sanctions Committee.
- Ambassador Sangjin Kim (Republic of Korea [ROK]) on the 2140 Yemen Sanctions Committee; the 1591 Sudan Sanctions Committee; and the Working Group on Peacekeeping Operations.
- Ambassador Michael Imran Kanu (Sierra Leone)on the 1533 Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Sanctions Committee; the 2206 South Sudan Sanctions Committee; and the Informal Working Group on International Tribunals.
- Ambassador Samuel Žbogar (Slovenia)on the 1518 Iraq Sanctions Committee.
West Africa and the Sahel
On 18 December, the Security Council held an open briefing on West Africa and the Sahel (S/PV.10073). Deputy Special Representative for West Africa and the Sahel, Barrie Freeman, briefed the Council on the Secretary-General’s latest report on the activities of the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), which was published on 28 November and covers developments from 1 August (S/2025/771). Closed consultations followed the open briefing.
Libya
On 19 December, the Council held its regular bi-monthly briefing on Libya (S/PV.10074). Special Representative and Head of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) Hanna Serwaa Tetteh briefed on recent political, security, and humanitarian developments in the country and on the latest Secretary-General’s report (S/2025/792). Ambassador Mohamed Rabi Yusuf (Somalia), Chair of the Libya Sanctions Committee, briefed on the Committee’s activities.
Myanmar
On 22 December, the Council convened for a private meeting on Myanmar. Special Envoy of the Secretary-General on Myanmar Julie Bishop and Special Envoy of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Chair on Myanmar Tan Sri Othman Hashim briefed. The Republic of Korea (ROK) and the UK, the penholder on the file, requested the meeting. Ahead of the meeting, Council members were negotiating a draft press statement regarding the 10 December airstrike that struck a hospital in Rakhine state, killing at least 34 people and injuring dozens more. It appears that the press statement was blocked by China and Russia.
Non-Proliferation
On 23 December 2025, the Security Council held a briefing under the “Non-Proliferation” agenda item to discuss the implementation of resolution 2231 of 20 July 2015, which endorsed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on Iran’s nuclear programme (S/PV.10079). The meeting was requested by Denmark, France, Greece, the Republic of Korea (ROK), Slovenia, the UK, and the US, with support from Panama. Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo briefed the Council on the Secretary-General’s latest report on the implementation of resolution 2231, which is dated 15 December 2025 and covers developments since the previous report of 19 June 2025.
Following the adoption of the agenda, China and Russia raised a point of order objecting to the agenda item under which the meeting was held, reiterating their argument that resolution 2231 has expired and that the Council has therefore concluded its consideration of the Iranian nuclear file. France and the UK took the floor to counter those claims, maintaining their position that most provisions of resolution 2231 remain in effect due to the invocation of its snapback mechanism.
Venezuela
On 23 December, the Security Council held an open briefing under the “Threats to international peace and security” agenda item to discuss recent developments relating to Venezuela (S/PV.10080). The meeting was requested by Venezuela in a 17 December letter, citing the escalating situation around the country. China and Russia supported the meeting request. The Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations (DPPA-DPO), Mohamed Khaled Khiari, briefed at the meeting.
Counter-Terrorism
On 29 December, the Council unanimously adopted resolution 2810, which extended the mandate of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) until 5 January 2029.
Emerging Threats
On 29 December, Council members participated in an Arria-formula meeting convened by Russia on “Risks and challenges emanating from uncontrolled use of low earth orbit satellites”. The briefers included Alexey Borodin, the Director-General of the Regional Commonwealth in the Field of Communications, and Victor Strelets, Expert of the National Research Centre for Telecommunication in Moscow.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
On 29 December, the Security Council adopted a presidential statement (S/PRST/2025/8) marking the 30th anniversary of the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), also known as the Dayton Peace Agreement. Slovenia authored the presidential statement, which acknowledges this milestone and the progress that BiH has achieved since the signing of the Agreement and its Annexes in 1995.
Israel’s Recognition of Somaliland
On 29 December, the Security Council held an open briefing under the “Threats to international peace and security” agenda item to discuss Israel’s 27 December 2025 decision to recognise Somaliland, a breakaway region in northern Somalia (S/PV.10084). The “A3 Plus” grouping (Algeria, Sierra Leone, Somalia, and Guyana) requested the meeting. China, Pakistan, and Russia supported the meeting request. The Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations (DPPA-DPO), Mohamed Khaled Khiari, briefed at the meeting.
