Overview
In July, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) will hold the presidency of the Security Council.
The DRC plans to organise two signature events. One of these is a high-level open debate on “Natural resource governance: the foundation of peace, security and prosperity” under the “Maintenance of international peace and security” agenda item. DRC President Félix Tshisekedi is expected to chair the meeting. UN Secretary-General António Guterres is expected to brief.
The other signature event is an open debate on conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) under the theme “Honouring the promise of international law to survivors of conflict-related sexual violence”. The open debate will be chaired by DRC Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka. Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict Pramila Patten and one or more civil society representatives are the anticipated briefers.
The Security Council will also convene an open debate to discuss the Secretary-General’s report to be submitted pursuant to resolution 2788 of 22 July 2025, which was authored by Pakistan and focused on the peaceful settlement of disputes. The report is expected to provide concrete recommendations on strengthening the mechanisms for the peaceful settlement of disputes. Guterres is expected to brief.
In July, the Security Council will hold its quarterly open debate on “The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question” (MEPQ).
Other Middle Eastern issues on the programme include:
- Syria, monthly meeting on the political and humanitarian tracks;
- Yemen, renewal of the monthly reporting requirement on Houthi attacks on merchant and commercial vessels in the Red Sea, originally mandated by Security Council resolution 2722 of 10 January 2024; and
- Lebanon, consultations on the Secretary-General’s report on the implementation of resolution 1701. (Adopted in 2006, resolution 1701 called for a cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah.)
African issues on the programme of work in July are:
- Central African Republic (CAR), renewal of the CAR sanctions regime and the mandate of the Panel of Experts assisting the 2745 CAR Sanctions Committee;
- Sudan, the semi-annual briefing of the International Criminal Court (ICC) on the ICC’s Darfur-related activities; and
- West Africa and the Sahel, briefing and consultations on the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS).
Issues in the Americas on the programme include:
Regarding European issues, Council members are expected to hold consultations on the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP).
The only Asian issue anticipated this month is the biannual consultations on the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA).
Meetings could be convened on other issues—including Iran and Sudan—during the month, depending on developments.
In July, Council members will continue meeting with candidates for the position of UN Secretary-General. They are also expected to begin conducting “straw polls” to gauge support for the candidates.