January 2009 Monthly Forecast

• Notable Dates

  Notable dates for January 2009. Read more

• Aide Memoire

  Important matters pending for the Council include: The Council is yet to take up the Secretary-General’s recommendations regarding protection of civilians, presented in his October 2007 report (S/2007/643). The 2005 World Summit requested that the Security Council consider reforms for... Read more

• West Africa Regional Issues (UNOWA)

  In January the Council is expecting the second semi-annual report of the Secretary-General on the UN Office for West Africa (UNOWA), which is due by 31 December. The mandate of UNOWA expires on 31 December 2010. Read more

• DPRK (North Korea)

  The Sanctions Committee on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) is expected to submit its annual report in January and brief the Council on recent activity. At press time it was not known who the new chairman of the Committee will be. (Italy, the current chair, leaves the Council on 31 December.) The Committee’s report is likely to be limited as there has been no Committee activity since July 2007. No Council action is expected. Read more

• Nepal

  In January the Council is expected to consider the future of the UN Mission in Nepal (UNMIN). Its mandate expires on 23 January. UNMIN was set up in January 2007, initially for one year. It has had two six-month extensions at the request of the Nepalese government. Read more

• Protection of Civilians

  In January the Council will hold an open debate (delayed from November) on protection of civilians in armed conflict. It will most likely be preceded by an Arria formula meeting. (It is Council practice to take up this issue twice a year; the last debate was held in May 2008.) Read more

• Democratic Republic of the Congo

  At the time of writing there was no scheduled action on the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) for January, but the Council will likely monitor developments closely. Read more

• Sudan (North/South)

  The Secretary-General’s quarterly report on the UN Mission in the Sudan (UNMIS) is expected by 23 January. It is expected to recommend a review of the size of the UNMIS police component. The report is likely to be discussed in early February, but preparations and thinking will already be underway between Council members in January. Read more

• High Commissioner for Refugees Briefing

  The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (High Commissioner), António Guterres, is expected to brief the Council on 8 January. He will highlight significant refugee issues and situations involving widespread displacement and underline links with threats to international peace and security. Read more

• Côte d’Ivoire

  The Secretary-General’s report on the UN Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI) is due by 9 January. (UNOCI’s mandate expires on 31 January.) The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Côte d’Ivoire, Choi Young-jin, is likely to brief the Council on recent developments. Read more

• Overview

  January 2009Overview In January France will have the presidency of the Council. The programme of work seems light relative to December due to the small number of mandates due to expire. However, the underlying workload in the Council remains very... Read more

• Status Update

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