Status Update since our April Forecast
Cooperation between the UN and the GCC
On 2 April, the Security Council held a high-level briefing under the agenda item “Cooperation between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations in maintaining international peace and security”, with a focus on the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) (S/PV.10128). The briefing, which was one of the signature events of Bahrain’s April Council presidency, marked the first dedicated Council meeting on cooperation between the UN and the GCC. Bahraini Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani chaired the meeting, with briefings delivered by Mohamed Khaled Khiari, the UN Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations (DPPA-DPO), and GCC Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Al-Budaiwi.
In connection with the meeting, the Council adopted a presidential statement (S/PRST/2026/1), which emphasises the importance of strengthening institutional cooperation between the two organisations in promoting regional stability and maintaining international peace and security. Bahrain authored the presidential statement.
Cooperation between the UN and the LAS
On 2 April, the Security Council held a briefing on cooperation between the UN and the League of Arab States (LAS) (S/PV.10129). The meeting was a signature event of Bahrain’s April Council presidency and was chaired by Bahraini Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani. UN 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 and LAS Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit briefed. Egypt participated in the meeting under rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure.
At the meeting, Council members adopted a presidential statement noting that the UN and the LAS “share common objectives in promoting and facilitating the resolution of conflicts in the Arab region” (S/PRST/2026/2).
Middle East (Strait of Hormuz)
On 7 April, the Security Council voted on a draft resolution proposed by Bahrain in close coordination with other member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)—Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE)—as well as Jordan (S/2026/273) (S/PV.10130). Members had met in consultations on 1 April to discuss the draft. The draft strongly encouraged states interested in the use of commercial maritime routes in the Strait of Hormuz to coordinate efforts of a defensive nature to contribute to ensuring the safety and security of navigation across the Strait of Hormuz, including through the escort of merchant and commercial vessels. The draft was vetoed by China and Russia. Eleven members voted in favour, while two members (Colombia and Pakistan) abstained.
Kosovo
On 9 April, the Security Council held a briefing on the situation in Kosovo (S/PV.10132). Special Representative and Head of the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) Peter Due briefed on the latest Secretary-General’s report (S/2026/264). Marko Đurić, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Serbia, participated under rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, and Glauk Konjufca, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kosovo, participated under rule 39.
Cooperation between the UN and the EU
On 13 April, the Security Council held its annual briefing on cooperation between the UN and the European Union (EU) under the agenda item “Cooperation between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations in maintaining international peace and security” (S/PV.10133). 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 and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas briefed.
Yemen
On 14 April, the Security Council held a briefing, followed by closed consultations, on the situation in Yemen (S/PV.10135). UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg and Director of the Crisis Response Division at the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Edem Wosornu briefed. Yemen participated in the meeting under rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure.
Great Lakes Region
On 15 April, the Security Council held an open briefing on the Great Lakes Region (S/PV.10136). UN Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region Huang Xia briefed on the Secretary-General’s latest biannual report on the implementation of the 2013 Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework (PSC-F) for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the region, which was circulated to Council members on 31 March and covers the period between 16 September 2025 and 15 March (S/2026/256). UN Women Executive Director Sima Sami Bahous also briefed. Angola and Rwanda participated in the meeting under rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure. Closed consultations followed the open briefing.
Sudan
On 17 April, Security Council members convened for closed consultations on Sudan, at the request of Denmark and the UK (the penholder on the file). The Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for Sudan, Pekka Haavisto, briefed members for the first time since his appointment on 24 February. The UK proposed press elements following the meeting; however, Council members were unable to reach agreement due to divergences, including on language related to accountability.
Ukraine
On 20 April, the Security Council held an open briefing on Ukraine (S/PV.10140). The meeting was requested by Ukraine in a 14 April letter following large-scale Russian aerial attacks on the city of Dnipro and other cities across Ukraine on that day. Council members Denmark, France, Greece, Latvia, Liberia, and the UK supported the meeting request. 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 and Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Joyce Msuya briefed.
Colombia
On 21 April, the Security Council held an open briefing on Colombia (S/PV.10141). Special Representative and Head of the UN Verification Mission in Colombia Miroslav Jenča briefed on recent developments and the Secretary-General’s latest 90-day report on the mission (S/2026/229). The Council was also briefed by Olga Quintero, a social leader and co-founder of the Catatumbo Peasant Farmers Association.
Haiti
On 23 April, the Security Council held its quarterly open briefing on Haiti (S/PV.10144). Special Representative and Head of the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) Carlos Ruiz Massieu, and Special Representative for the Gang Suppression Force (GSF) Jack Christofides briefed. Closed consultations followed the open briefing. Assistant Secretary-General and Head of the UN Support Office in Haiti (UNSOH) Daniela Kroslak briefed Council members during the closed consultations.
Western Sahara
On 23 April, Council members convened for closed consultations on the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO). Personal Envoy for Western Sahara Staffan de Mistura and Special Representative for Western Sahara and Head of MINURSO Alexander Ivanko briefed. Asif Khan, the Director of the Policy and Mediation Division in the UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA), also briefed on the strategic review regarding MINURSO’s future pursuant to resolution 2797 of 31 October 2025.
The Middle East, including the Palestinian Question
On 28 April, the Security Council held its quarterly open debate on “The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question” (S/PV.10146 and Resumption I). Bahrain—the Council’s president in April—convened the meeting as a high-level signature event, which Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani chaired. A briefing was given by 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. Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide also briefed in his capacity as Chair of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee, which is a 15-member international committee established in 1993 following the Oslo I Accord to coordinate the delivery of international aid to Palestinians and to facilitate dialogue on economic, political, and security issues. Additionally, former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair briefed in his capacity as a member of the Executive Board of the Board of Peace (BoP), which the Council endorsed through resolution 2803 of 17 November 2025 as a “transitional governance administration” in Gaza. Over 70 UN member states and regional organisations delivered statements.
Peacekeeping
On 29 April, Security Council members held closed consultations on UN peacekeeping operations. Denmark and Pakistan, two Council members who have peacekeeping as a key priority, requested the meeting. Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix briefed on the contingency measures implemented by UN peacekeeping operations to address the UN’s liquidity crisis, resulting from member states’ failure to pay their assessed contributions to the peacekeeping budget in full and on time.
