March 2023 Monthly Forecast

Posted 28 February 2023
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  • Overview 

    In March, Mozambique will hold the presidency of the Security Council.   Read more

  • In Hindsight: The UN Security Council Returns to the Field

    In March, the Security Council is expected to conduct its 70th visiting mission since 1992. This trip to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) will be only the second Council visiting mission since October 2019, and the first since it travelled to Mali and Niger in October 2021. In the few years preceding the outbreak of COVID-19, the Council undertook multiple such missions every year: five trips each in 2016, 2017 and 2019, with three in 2018. Read more

  • Status Update since our February Forecast  

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

  • Afghanistan

    In March, the Council is expected to renew the mandate of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) before it expires on 17 March. The Council is also scheduled to receive a briefing on the situation in Afghanistan from Roza Otunbayeva, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of UNAMA. The briefing will be followed by closed consultations. Read more

  • Ukraine

    In March, the Security Council may hold one or more meetings on the situation in Ukraine, depending on developments on the ground. Read more

  • South Sudan

    In March, the Council is expected to renew the mandate of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) before its 15 March expiration. Prior to this, the Council is expected to hold a briefing, followed by consultations, on the Secretary-General’s 90-day UNMISS report, released on 22 February. Ambassador Michel Xavier Biang (Gabon), chair of the 2206 South Sudan Sanctions Committee, is expected to brief on the work of the committee. Read more

  • Syria

    In March, 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. Read more

  • Women, Peace and Security

    On 7 March, the Security Council will hold an open debate on the theme, “Women, Peace and Security: Towards the 25th Anniversary of Resolution 1325”. One of the signature events of Mozambique’s presidency, the meeting will be chaired by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Mozambique Verónica Nataniel Macamo Dlhovo. High-level representatives from UN Women, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and the African Union are the anticipated briefers. A civil society representative is also expected to brief. Read more

  • Security Sector Reform

    In March, Council President Mozambique is expected to convene an open briefing on security sector reform. Representatives from the UN Secretariat, African Union (AU), and civil society are expected to brief. There is no planned outcome from the meeting. Read more

  • Myanmar

    In March, the Security Council is expected to receive an oral briefing on the UN’s support for the implementation of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Five-Point Consensus on Myanmar from the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Myanmar Noeleen Heyzer. Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi may also brief. At the time of writing, the format of the meeting had not been confirmed. Read more

  • Yemen

    In March, the Council will hold its monthly briefing, followed by closed consultations, on Yemen 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 expected to brief during consultations. Read more

  • Lebanon

    In March, Council members expect to receive a briefing in consultations on the Secretary-General’s report on the implementation of resolution 1701. Adopted in 2006, resolution 1701 called for a cessation of hostilities between the Shi’a group Hezbollah and Israel. The report is due by 9 March. Special Coordinator for Lebanon Joanna Wronecka and Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix are the expected briefers. Read more

  • Sudan

    In March, the Security Council will hold a briefing followed by consultations on the Secretary-General’s 90-day report on the UN Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS), which members were expected to receive by 28 February. The chair of the 1591 Sudan Sanctions Committee, Ambassador Harold Adlai Agyeman (Ghana), is also expected to provide the quarterly briefing to the Security Council on the committee’s work. Read more

  • DPRK (North Korea)

    In March, the Security Council is expected to extend the mandate of the Panel of Experts assisting the 1718 Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) Sanctions Committee. The Panel’s mandate expires on 30 April. Read more

  • Non-proliferation (1540 Committee)

    In March, Ambassador Hernán Pérez Loose (Ecuador), the chair of the 1540 Committee, is expected to brief the Council. Read more

  • Counter-Terrorism

    In March, Mozambique is organising a high-level debate on “Countering terrorism and preventing violent extremism by strengthening cooperation between the UN and regional organisations and mechanisms”. The debate, which is expected to have a particular focus on cooperation between the UN and regional organisations and mechanisms in Africa, will be one of the signature events of Mozambique’s presidency. Read more

  • Democratic Republic of the Congo 

    In March, the Security Council will hold a briefing and consultations on the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Special Representative and head of the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) Bintou Keita is the anticipated briefer.   Council members are also scheduled to undertake a visiting mission to the DRC from 9 to 12 March.  Read more

  • Silencing the Guns in Africa

    In March, the Council is expected to hold an open debate on peace and security in Africa to discuss the nexus between the AU initiative “Silencing the Guns in Africa” and development. Briefings may be provided by Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed; Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security of the AU Commission Bankole Adeoye; and a civil society representative. Read more

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