Status Update since our May Forecast
Lebanon
On 5 May, Council members received a briefing in consultations on the Secretary-General’s report on the implementation of resolution 1559. (Adopted in 2004, the resolution called for the withdrawal of foreign forces from Lebanon, the disarmament of all militias, and the extension of government control over the whole of Lebanese territory.) Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo briefed.
Middle East Crisis
On 6 May, Security Council members held closed consultations under “The situation in the Middle East” agenda item. Bahrain requested the meeting following Iran’s 4 May attacks against the United Arab Emirates (UAE), describing them as serious threats to international peace and security, critical infrastructure, maritime security, and regional stability. Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo briefed.
Sudan/South Sudan
On 7 May, the Security Council convened a briefing on the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) (S/PV.10149). Assistant Secretary-General for Africa in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations (DPPA-DPO) Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee and Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for the Horn of Africa Guang Cong briefed. Closed consultations followed the open briefing.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
The Security Council held its semi-annual debate on Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) on 12 May (S/PV.10150). High Representative for BiH Christian Schmidt briefed. Denis Bećirović, the Bosniak 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. Croatia and Serbia also participated under rule 37, while the European Union took part under rule 39.
At the meeting, Schmidt said that he had taken the personal decision to conclude his mandate as High Representative for BiH and noted that he had already placed the question of identifying a successor on the agenda of the next meeting of the Steering Board of the Peace Implementation Council, adding that the process of appointing his successor had begun. Schmidt said that he planned to leave the post in June and indicated that this was most likely his final briefing to the Security Council in his capacity as High Representative.
Mali
On 15 May, Security Council members issued a press statement condemning in the strongest terms the terrorist attacks in several locations across Mali on 25 April and in the days that followed, including 6 May (SC/16360). They reaffirmed that “terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security” and underlined the need to hold perpetrators, organisers, financiers, and sponsors of these acts of terrorism accountable and bring them to justice. The press statement was drafted by Denmark and Liberia (the co-penholders on the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel) and the US (the penholder on counter-terrorism).
Ukraine
On 19 May, the Security Council held a briefing on Ukraine (S/PV.10152). The meeting was requested by Ukraine in a 13 May letter and supported by Council members Denmark, France, Greece, Latvia, and the UK. The briefers were: Director and Officer-in-charge for Europe, Central Asia and Americas at the UN Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations (DPPA-DPO) Kayoko Gotoh, and Director of the Crisis Response Division at the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Edem Wosornu. Estonia, Iceland, Poland, Romania, and Ukraine participated under rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, while Stavros Lambrinidis, Head of the European Union Delegation to the UN, participated under rule 39.
On 22 May, at Russia’s request, the Council held a briefing under the “Threats to international peace and security” agenda item to discuss what it alleged was a Ukrainian drone attack that hit a dormitory in Starobilsk in Ukraine’s eastern Luhansk region, which is currently controlled by Russia (S/PV.10158). The briefers were: Wosornu; Vanessa Frazier, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict; and Ted Chaiban, the Deputy Executive Director for Humanitarian Action and Supply Operations at UNICEF.
On 28 May, the Council convened another briefing on Ukraine (S/PV.10160). The meeting was requested by Ukraine in a 24 May letter and supported by the Council’s European members (Denmark, France, Greece, Latvia, and the UK). Secretary-General António Guterres delivered short remarks, after which Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Europe, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific Mohamed Khaled Khiari briefed. Ukraine and several countries from the region participated in the meeting under rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure.
Protection of Civilians
On 20 and 21 May, the Security Council held its annual open debate on the protection of civilians (PoC) in armed conflict (S/PV.10154, Resumption I and II). The briefers were Wosornu and International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) President Mirjana Spoljaric Egger. Over 85 member states and regional organisations participated in the debate.
Middle East, including the Palestinian Question
On 21 May, the Security Council held its regular monthly open briefing on “The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question” (MEPQ) (S/PV.10155). The briefers were Deputy Special Coordinator and Resident Coordinator at the Office of the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process (UNSCO) Ramiz Alakbarov, Board of Peace High Representative to Gaza Nickolay Mladenov, and Director of Humanitarian Projects in the Gaza Strip at the Palestinian Red Crescent Society Rami Hijjo.
Implementation of Note 507
On 21 May, Council members held closed consultations under the agenda item “Implementation of the note by the President of the Security Council (S/2024/507)” to discuss the allocation of subsidiary body chairs.
Adoption of the Security Council’s Annual Report to the General Assembly
On 22 May, the Security Council adopted its 2025 annual report to the General Assembly (S/PV.10156).
Libya
On 22 May, Deputy Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) Nazhat Shameem Khan briefed the Council on the Court’s work in Libya over the past six months (S/PV.10157).
Counter-Terrorism
On 26 May, Council members issued a press statement condemning the 24 May terrorist attack on a train in Quetta, Pakistan, which led to the deaths of 14 Pakistani nationals and injuries to dozens of additional people. The Balochistan Liberation Army claimed that the Majeed Brigade was responsible for the attack (SC/16371).
Upholding the UN Charter and Strengthening the UN-Centred International System
On 26 and 28 May, the Security Council held a high-level open debate on “Upholding the Purposes and Principles of the UN Charter and Strengthening the UN-Centred International System” under the “Maintenance of international peace and security agenda item”. Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi chaired the meeting. UN Secretary-General António Guterres briefed (S/PV.10159, Resumption I and II).
Attack on the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Nuclear Plant
On 26 May, Security Council members issued a press statement condemning in the strongest terms the drone attack on an electricity generator outside the inner perimeter of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in Al Dhafra region in the UAE (SC/16370). They underscored that the attack constituted a violation of international law with grave risks for civilian lives, infrastructure, and the environment. The members demanded the immediate and permanent cessation of all attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure in the UAE, including attacks and threats of attack against peaceful nuclear facilities. Members called on all states to adhere to the highest standards of nuclear safety, security, and safeguards and to refrain from any action that may endanger nuclear safety and security. The press statement was authored by Bahrain.
South Sudan
On 29 May, the Security Council adopted resolution 2821, renewing sanctions measures on South Sudan—including targeted sanctions (asset freezes and travel bans) and an arms embargo—until 31 May 2027 and the mandate of the Panel of Experts (PoE) assisting the 2206 South Sudan Sanctions Committee until 1 July 2027 (S/PV.10161). The resolution requested the Secretary-General, in close consultation with the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and the PoE, to conduct an assessment of progress achieved on the key benchmarks established pursuant to resolution 2577 of 28 May 2021, including recommendations on appropriate updates to the benchmarks and to submit them by 15 April 2027. The resolution was adopted with nine votes in favour and six abstentions (China, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Pakistan, Russia, and Somalia).
Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK)
On 29 May, Council members convened in closed consultations to receive the 90-day briefing on the work of the 1718 DPRK Sanctions Committee. Since Council members have not yet agreed on this year’s allocation of subsidiary body chairs, China briefed members in its capacity as Council president in May.
