February 2018 Monthly Forecast

Posted 31 January 2018
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  • Overview

    Kuwait will have the presidency in February. Read more

  • Status Update

    Status Update since our January Forecast. Read more

  • In Hindsight: The Security Council in 2017

    In 2017, the Council held the highest ever number of public meetings since it was created. It was also a year that saw the most vetoes cast since 1988, but among the resolutions that were adopted, there was a drop in non-consensual decision making. There was a fall in the total number of decisions taken—resolutions and presidential statements.  Read more

  • Security Council Working Methods

    Kuwait, the 2018 chair of the Informal Working Group on Documentation and Other Procedural Questions, is planning an open debate on the Council’s working methods during its presidency in February. This will be the first such open debate since July 2016. No outcome is expected at this stage. Read more

  • Purposes and Principles of the UN Charter

    In February, there will be a ministerial-level briefing on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter in the maintenance of international peace and security. Secretary-General António Guterres is expected to brief. Read more

  • Syria

    In February, the Council expects to receive the monthly briefings on political and humanitarian developments in Syria and on chemical weapons. Read more

  • Kosovo

    In February, the Council is expected to hold its quarterly briefing on the situation in Kosovo. The Special Representative and head of the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), Zahir Tanin, will brief on recent developments and the latest report by the Secretary-General. As on several previous occasions, Serbia is likely to participate at a high level, while Kosovo will probably be represented by its ambassador to the US. Read more

  • South Sudan

    In February, the Council is expected to receive a briefing on the Secretary-General’s monthly assessment of the deployment and future requirements of the Regional Protection Force (RPF) and impediments to the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) in carrying out its mandate. The Council also expects to receive the recommendations of the Secretary-General on the strategic review of UNMISS. Read more

  • Counter-Terrorism

    In February, Under-Secretary-General Vladimir Voronkov, the head of the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism, will brief the Security Council on the Secretary-General’s strategic-level report on the threat emanating from the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant  (ISIL or Da’esh), followed by consultations. The Council will also discuss a report from the 1373 Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) on the implementation of resolution 2341 concerning critical infrastructure. Read more

  • Guinea-Bissau

    In February, the Council expects a briefing by the Special Representative and head of the UN Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNIOGBIS), Modibo Touré. Ambassador Mauro Vieira (Brazil), chair of the Guinea-Bissau configuration of the Peacebuilding Commission, is also likely to brief. The Council is expected to renew the mandate of UNIOGBIS, which expires on 28 February, for a further 12 months. Read more

  • Iraq

    In February, the Special Representative and head of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), Ján Kubiš, will brief the Council on the Secretary-General’s report on UNAMI and the most recent developments. Read more

  • Central African Republic

    In February, the Special Representative to the CAR and head of MINUSCA, Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, will brief the Council on the latest developments and the most recent MINUSCA report, due on 15 February. Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Bintou Keita is expected to participate in the consultations after the briefing.  Read more

  • Burundi

    In February, the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy, Michel Kafando, will brief the Council on the Secretary-General’s latest report and on the situation in Burundi. Read more

  • DPRK (North Korea)

    In February, the chair of the 1718 Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) Sanctions Committee, Ambassador Karel van Oosterom (Netherlands), is due to provide his first briefing in this capacity. The committee is expected to discuss the final report of the Panel of Experts in February, but the report is not expected to be formally presented to the Council until March. Read more

  • Yemen

    In February, the Council expects a briefing on Yemen by Special Envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed. Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Mark Lowcock is likely to brief on the humanitarian situation. The Council is also expected to adopt a resolution renewing the 2140 Yemen sanctions regime and the mandate of the supporting Panel of Experts. Current sanctions measures expire on 26 February, and the mandate of the panel expires on 27 March. Read more

  • Lead Roles within the Council in 2018: Penholders and Chairs of Subsidiary Bodies

    The charts in this Forecast provide an update on Security Council penholders and chairs of subsidiary bodies as of January 2018. The charts do not cover all the agenda items of which the Council is currently seized; rather, they focus on items with regular outcomes or those for which a subsidiary body has been established. For the full names of agenda items, please refer to the latest summary statement by the Secretary-General of matters of which the Security Council is seized (S/2018/10). The list of chairs of subsidiary bodies is contained in a 2 January note by the Council President (S/2018/2). Read more

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