February 2015 Monthly Forecast

• Overview

  China will have the Council’s presidency in February. Read more

• Notable Dates for February

  Notable dates for February Read more

• Status Update

  Recent developments on situations covered in this Forecast are in the relevant briefs. Interesting developments on other issues are included in this Status Update of Security Council activity in January 2015. Read more

• In Hindsight: Council Statistics in 2014: New Energy and Activity

  A mix of old and new complex crises required the Security Council’s attention in 2014 resulting in one of the busiest periods for the Council in several years. New situations like Ukraine competed with long-term conflicts like the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Somalia. Reversing the trend of decreasing decisions and meetings, the Council, often at the initiative of elected members, showed renewed energy in tackling both new and stagnant issues. Read more

• Chairs of Subsidiary Bodies and Penholders for 2015

  Every year, the Security Council revisits its allocation of chairmanships of its subsidiary bodies, a task entrusted to elected Council members. As this chart illustrates, there is scant correlation between the “penholders” for situation-specific agenda items and the chairs of the relevant subsidiary bodies. Read more

• Yemen

  During February, the Council is expected to adopt a resolution that renews the 2140 Yemen sanctions regime and the mandate of the Panel of Experts. Council members will also receive a briefing in consultations from the Special Adviser Jamal Benomar. Read more

• South Sudan (UNMISS)

  In February, the Council will be briefed on, and then consider in consultations, the Secretary-General’s report on the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), due by 17 February. The mandate of UNMISS expires on 30 May.  Read more

• Sudan (Darfur)

  In February, the chair of the 1591 Sudan Sanctions Committee, Ambassador Rafael Ramírez of Venezuela, is expected to provide the quarterly briefing on the Committee’s work to Council members in consultations. It is also expected that the Council will renew the mandate of the Panel of Experts, which expires on 13 March, during February.   Read more

• Sudan/South Sudan

  Council members are expected to hold consultations in February to consider the Secretary-General’s report on the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) due by 2 February and to renew UNISFA’s mandate, which expires on 28 February. Read more

• Iraq

  In mid-February, Special Representative Nickolay Mladenov will brief the Council on the Secretary-General’s reports on the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) and on Iraq’s compliance with resolution 1284 regarding the repatriation or return of Kuwaiti missing persons or property. UNAMI’s mandate expires on 31 July 2015. Read more

• Somalia

  In February, the Council will receive a briefing on the most recent UNSOM report and another briefing from the chair of the 751/1907 Somalia-Eritrea Sanctions Committee. Read more

• Syria

  In February, Council members expect to be briefed on the destruction of Syria’s chemical weapons early in the month and on the humanitarian situation in Syria towards the end of the month. Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura is expected to brief mid-month on the political track.  Read more

• DPRK (North Korea)

  In February, the chair of the 1718 DPRK Sanctions Committee, Ambassador Román Oyarzun (Spain), is due to brief Council members in consultations on the work of the Committee. Read more

• Guinea-Bissau

  In February, the Council is expected to adopt a resolution renewing the mandate of the UN Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNIOGBIS), which expires on 28 February. Prior to the renewal, Special Representative Miguel Trovoada is expected to brief on the Secretary-General’s UNIOGBIS report. Read more

• Kosovo

  In February the Council is expected to hold its quarterly debate on Kosovo. Farid Zarif, Special Representative and head of the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), is expected to brief (via video teleconference) on the latest Secretary-General’s report and recent developments. High-level representatives of both Serbia and Kosovo are likely to participate in the debate.  Read more