March 2008 Monthly Forecast

• Notable Dates

  Notable dates for March 2008. Read more

• Aide Memoire

  Important matters pending for the Council include: The Council has yet to follow up on the Secretary-General’s recommendations on protection of civilians contained in his report of 28 October 2007. In a 21 November 2007 letter to the Secretary-General (S/2007/680),... Read more

• Status Update

  Status Update of Security Council Activity in February 2008. Read more

• Chad/CAR

  The Council is expected to pay very close attention to developments in Chad and the region as the political-security crisis unfolds. Consultations are possible, especially should the situation deteriorate, but at press time it seemed unlikely that proposals for Council action would emerge in March. Read more

• Guinea-Bissau

  The Council is expected to receive the Secretary-General’s quarterly report on the activities of the United Nations Peacebuilding Support Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNOGBIS), created in 1999 to help consolidate peace efforts in the country. Read more

• Lebanon

  The Council in March will hold consultations on the Secretary-General’s report, due in late February, on implementing resolution 1701 of August 2006, which ended the war between Hezbollah and Israel. Lebanon’s domestic political crisis has deepened, and this is likely to be on the minds of Council members as well. Read more

• Democratic Republic of the Congo

  The Council is expected to renew the sanctions regime on the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), as well as the mandate of the Group of Experts, which both expire on 31 March. The Council is also expected to receive the next regular report of the Secretary-General on the UN Organisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in late March. Read more

• Somalia

  The Council is awaiting a report from the Secretary-General on results of the Secretariat’s strategic assessment and fact-finding mission to Somalia. The results are expected to include options for future UN involvement, such as relocating the UN Political Office for Somalia to Mogadishu; progress with contingency planning for a UN peacekeeping mission; and proposals for UN assistance to the AU Mission in Somalia. Read more

• Sudan/Darfur

  The Council is expected to continue monitoring the difficulties faced by the UN-AU Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) and developments on Chad-Sudan relations. Consultations are likely, but it is unclear if proposals for Council action will emerge.At press time, the sanctions committee was expected to consider a request from Khartoum for sanctions against the rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM). Read more

• Afghanistan

  The Council is expected to extend the mandate of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), which expires on 23 March. An open debate on 12 March is likely. Unlike previous years when the mandate renewal was relatively straightforward, this time the vacancy of position of the Secretary-General’s Special Representative to Afghanistan as well as the rapidly deteriorating security situation raise the possibility of a technical rollover. Read more

• Liberia

  The Council is expected to receive the Secretary-General’s report on the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), which is due by late March. Resolution 1777 of September 2007 requested the Secretary-General to report on plans to draw down the level of peacekeepers. UNIMIL’s mandate expires on 30 September. Read more

• Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate

  The Council is expected to extend the mandate of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) before it expires on 31 March, and to approve its new organisational plan. Read more

• Kenya

  Members will follow developments in Kenya closely, but whether this will translate into Council action is unclear. Consultations seem likely if the situation deteriorates further or there is significant progress with political talks. Read more

• Overview

  Russia will hold the Council’s Presidency in March. Counter-terrorism will be an important thematic issue. The Council is due to renew the mandate of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) and to approve its new organisational plan. A debate is... Read more