August 2026 Monthly Forecast

• Overview

  In August, Denmark will hold the presidency of the Security Council. Read more

• In Hindsight: The Security Council in 2026: Mid-Year Scorecard and Looking Ahead

  In the first half of 2026, the Security Council continued to be hampered by divisions among its members at a time when there are more conflicts than at any point since the end of World War II. UN peace operations have been a significant focus of the Council’s attention in the first half of the year. Some missions are drawing down, one has closed, and an important resolution on accountability for crimes against peacekeepers was adopted in June. Sanctions committees and working groups have only been functioning at a minimal level so far this year, as members have been unable to agree on the allocation of subsidiary body chairs. The Council has also been laying the groundwork for its recommendation to the General Assembly on who will lead the UN when the current Secretary-General, António Guterres, finishes his term on 31 December 2026. Read more

• Status Update since our July Forecast

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

• South Sudan

  In August, the Security Council will hold a briefing, followed by consultations, on the situation in South Sudan. Special Representative and Head of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) Anita Kiki Gbeho is the anticipated briefer. The mandate of UNMISS expires on 30 April 2027. Read more

• Yemen

  In August, the Security Council will hold a briefing, followed by closed consultations, on Yemen. UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg, an official from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), and a civil society representative are the anticipated briefers. Read more

• Libya

  In August, the Security Council will hold its 60-day briefing on the situation in Libya. Special Representative and Head of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) Hanna Serwaa Tetteh will brief the Council on recent political, security, and humanitarian developments in the country and the Secretary-General’s latest report on UNSMIL. The Council is also expected to receive a briefing on the work of the 1970 Libya Sanctions Committee. The usual practice is for the chair of the Committee to brief Council members on the Committee’s activities. At the time of writing, however, the chair had not yet been appointed, as Council members continue to negotiate this year’s allocation of subsidiary body chairs. Consequently, Denmark is expected to brief on the report in its capacity as Council president in August. Ambassador Mohamed Rabi Yusuf (Somalia) served as the chair of the 1970 Libya Sanctions Committee last year. Read more

• Working Methods

  In August, the Security Council will hold its annual open debate on working methods. Shamala Kandiah Thompson, the Executive Director of Security Council Report, is expected to brief. Ahead of the open debate, Denmark and Pakistan, who were the co-chairs of the IWG in 2025, are expected to circulate a concept note. (The 2026 chairs of the subsidiary bodies have yet to be agreed.) The open debate will be held under the agenda item “Implementation of the note by the President of the Security Council (S/2024/507)”, referring to the most recent version of the comprehensive compendium of Council working methods. Read more

• DPRK (North Korea)

  In August, Council members are scheduled to discuss the 90-day report on the work of the 1718 Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) Sanctions Committee in closed consultations. Ordinarily, the chair of the 1718 DPRK Sanctions Committee briefs Council members on the report. At the time of writing, the chair had not been appointed, as Council members have not been able to agree on this year’s allocation of subsidiary bodies. If the chair is not appointed by the time the meeting is scheduled to take place, Denmark, as president of the Council in August, is likely to brief members on the report, consistent with recent practice. Greece served as chair of the 1718 DPRK Sanctions Committee last year, after the appointments were finalised in May 2025. Read more

• Conflict and Food Insecurity

  In August, the Security Council is expected to hold a high-level open debate on conflict-related food insecurity under the “Maintenance of international peace and security” agenda item. A signature event of Denmark’s Council presidency, the meeting will be chaired by Denmark’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Lars Løkke Rasmussen. The anticipated briefers are UN Secretary-General Antόnio Guterres, Acting Executive Director of the World Food Programme (WFP) Carl Skau, and a civil society briefer. Read more

• Syria

  In August, the Security Council is expected to hold its monthly meeting on political and humanitarian developments in Syria. Deputy Special Envoy for Syria Claudio Cordone, a representative from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), and a civil society representative are expected to brief. Read more