April 2008 Monthly Forecast

• Nepal

  The Council is expected to consider the report on the UN Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) in April. (The report is likely to focus on the results of the constituent assembly elections scheduled for 10 April and to discuss the activities of UNMIN following the elections.) Read more

• Overview

   In April South Africa will have the Presidency of the Council. The combination of a large number of scheduled items for consideration and ongoing unresolved issues seems likely to make April an extremely busy month. An important open thematic debate... Read more

• Lebanon

  In April the Council will discuss a report from the UN International Independent Investigation Commission (UNIIIC) on the murder of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. The report is expected on 27 March. (The UNIIIC mandate expires in June.) Read more

• Chad/CAR

  Consultations on Chad and the Central African Republic (CAR) are expected in April. Members now expect by early April the Secretary-General’s progress report on the UN Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT). A statement is possible, particularly if the security situation deteriorates further. MINURCAT’s mandate expires on 25 September. Read more

• Small Arms

  A report from the Secretary-General on small arms is likely to be submitted to the Council in April. At press time, the incoming president, South Africa, was tentatively planning a debate on small arms on 25 April. It is possible that regional organisations will be invited to participate in addition to Council members. Read more

• Haiti

  In April, the Council is expected to hold consultations and discuss a report on the UN Stabilisation Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH). On 15 October 2007, resolution 1780 renewed the MINUSTAH mandate until October 2008, but requested the Secretary-General to submit interim reports. Read more

• Ethiopia/Eritrea

  In April, the Council is expected to focus on the future of the UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) following the mission’s recent evacuation from Eritrea. A report (due at press time) with options and recommendations is expected from the Secretary-General. UNMEE’s mandate expires on 31 July. Read more

• Côte d’Ivoire

  The Council will review the Secretary-General’s report, due 15 April, on preparations for the electoral process in Côte d’Ivoire. The sanctions’ Group of Experts is expected to submit its interim report to the Côte d’Ivoire Sanctions Committee. The Council will review the sanctions regime, particularly sanctions against individuals and diamond sanctions, by 30 April. (The mandate of the UN Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI) continues until 30 July). Read more

• Counter-Terrorism: Review of the 1540 Committee

  The mandates of both the 1540 Committee on terrorism and weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) and its Group of Experts expire on 27 April. A biennial report of the Committee is also due in April. All indications are that both mandates will be renewed when the issue comes before the Council in April. Read more

• Sudan

  The Council is expected to continue to closely monitor developments in Darfur, including the security situation, deployment of the UN-AU Mission (UNAMID) and political reconciliation. Consultations are likely on the Secretary-General’s expected monthly report. Darfur issues are also likely to emerge during the Council’s expected joint meeting with the AU Peace and Security Council in April. On the north-south issue, members are also expected to renew the UNMIS mandate which expires on 30 April. Read more

• UN Cooperation with Regional Organisations and Conflict Prevention

  On 17 April, the Council is expected to hold an open debate (possibly with high-level representation) combining two thematic issues on its agenda: UN cooperation with regional organisations; andconflict prevention. Read more

• Status Update

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

• Kosovo

  In April the Secretary-General’s Special Representative, Joachim Rücker, will brief the Council on the Secretary-General’s latest report on the UN Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), expected at the end of March. Read more

• DPRK (North Korea)

  The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is expected to be on the Council’s work programme in April. The Chairman of the Sanctions Committee, Ambassador Marcello Spatafora of Italy, will provide a briefing during Council consultations on the issue. The Committee has been largely inactive since early 2007 after deciding to await the outcome of the six-party talks on the DPRK’s nuclear programme. The briefing is unlikely to contain any new information leading to Council action. Read more

• Somalia

  Pressure on the Council to do something on Somalia is likely to continue in April. At press time, an Arria-style meeting with NGOs to discuss Somalia was scheduled for 31 March under UK chairmanship. Read more

• Sierra Leone

  In late April, the Council is expected to receive the Secretary-General’s report containing additional ideas on the drawdown of the UN Integrated Office in Sierra Leone (UNIOSIL) as well as the mandate, structure and strength of an envisaged follow-on integrated political office. Read more

• Iraq

  In April the Council is expecting a report on the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI). Staffan de Mistura, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative, is likely to brief the Council in a public session. The US is also likely to brief the Council on the Multi-National Force in Iraq (MNF-I). Read more

• Georgia

  The Council is expected to renew the mandate of the UN Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG) which expires on 15 April. The Council will discuss the Secretary-General’s report on the situation in Abkhazia in early April and is likely to be briefed by the Secretary-General’s Special Representative, Jean Arnault. Options to improve confidence-building efforts as well as possibilities for strengthening UNOMIG’s patrolling capacity are likely to be discussed. Read more

• Notable Dates

  Notable dates for April 2008. Read more

• Aide Memoire

  Important matters pending for the Council include: The Council has yet to take up 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), the... Read more