February 2023 Monthly Forecast

• Overview 

  In February, Malta will hold the presidency of the Security Council.  Read more

• In Hindsight: The Security Council, One Year after Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine

  Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022 was a seismic event with devastating consequences for the people of Ukraine and far-reaching effects on the global economy. The invasion is widely regarded as a flagrant violation of a fundamental tenet of international law and of the UN Charter: namely, the commitment to refrain from the use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of a member state. It laid bare the Security Council’s inability to maintain international peace and security when one of its permanent members unilaterally decides to wage war. Read more

• Status Update since our January Forecast  

  This is the Status Update since our last Forecast. Read more

• Ukraine

  In February, the Security Council is expected to hold a high-level briefing on the situation in Ukraine to mark the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of the country. Additional meetings on Ukraine are possible, depending on developments on the ground. Read more

• Iraq

  In February, the Security Council is expected to receive a briefing from the Special Representative and head of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, on recent developments in the country and on the Secretary-General’s latest reports on UNAMI and the issue of missing Kuwaiti and third-party nationals and missing Kuwaiti property. A representative of civil society may also brief the Council. Read more

• Syria

  Expected Council Action In February, the Security Council will hold its monthly meetings on political and humanitarian developments in Syria and on the use of chemical weapons in the country. Key Recent Developments On 9 January, the Council unanimously adopted... Read more

• Sudan

  In February, the Security Council is expected to renew the mandate of the Panel of Experts assisting the 1591 Sudan Sanctions Committee, which is due to expire on 12 March. In accordance with resolution 2620 of 15 February 2022, the Council is supposed to review the Panel’s mandate and take appropriate action regarding its extension before 12 February. Read more

• Children and Armed Conflict

  As Council president in February, Malta will convene a briefing on children and armed conflict that will focus on prevention of grave violations against children. Read more

• Sea-Level Rise

  In February, the Security Council will convene a ministerial-level open debate on sea-level rise and its implications for international peace and security, one of the signature events of the Maltese Presidency. Malta’s Minister for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade Ian Borg is expected to chair the meeting. No formal outcome is anticipated.    Read more

• Yemen

  During February, the Council is expected to adopt a resolution renewing the Yemen financial and travel ban sanctions, which expire on 28 February, and the mandate of the Yemen Panel of Experts, which expires on 28 March. (The targeted arms embargo established by resolution 2216 in April 2015 on the Houthi rebel group is open-ended.) The Council will also hold its monthly meeting on Yemen in closed consultations, with UN Special Envoy Hans Grundberg and a representative of OCHA. The chair of the 2140 Yemen Sanctions Committee, Ambassador Ferit Hoxha (Albania), may also brief. The head of the UN Mission to Support the Hodeidah Agreement (UNMHA), Major General Michael Beary, is also expected to brief during consultations. Read more

• Central African Republic

  In February, the Security Council will discuss the Secretary-General’s latest report on the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA). Special Representative for the Central African Republic (CAR) and head of MINUSCA Valentine Rugwabiza is expected to brief. Read more

• Somalia

  In February, the Security Council will hold a briefing, followed by consultations, to discuss the situation in Somalia. Acting Special Representative for Somalia and head of the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) Kiki Gbeho, AU Special Representative and head of the AU Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) Souef Mohamed El-Amine, and a civil society representative are the anticipated briefers. Read more

• DPRK (North Korea)

  In February, the Chair of the 1718 Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) Sanctions Committee, Ambassador Pascale Baeriswyl (Switzerland) is scheduled to brief Council members in closed consultations on the 90-day report on the Committee’s work. Read more

• EU-UN Cooperation

  Expected Council Action In February, the Security Council will hold its annual meeting on strengthening EU-UN cooperation under the agenda item “Cooperation between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations in maintaining international peace and security”. Malta’s Minister for... Read more

• Libya

  In February, the Security Council will hold a briefing, followed by consultations, on the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL). Read more