What's In Blue
Latest post: Mon 17 May 2021Insights on the work of the UN Security Council
G5 Sahel Joint Force: Briefing and Consultations via VTC
Tomorrow (18 May), Security Council members will hold a videoconference (VTC) briefing, followed by VTC consultations, on the Group of Five for the Sahel Joint Force (FC-G5S), which is comprised of forces from Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger. The expected briefers are Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix; Chadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Chérif Mahamat Zene, on behalf of the Group of Five for the Sahel (G5 Sahel); Force Commander of the FC-G5S, General Oumarou Namata Gazama of Niger; and Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) Chair, Ambassador Mohamed Fathi Ahmed Edrees (Egypt). Under-Secretary-General for Operational Support Atul Khare is expected to brief during the closed consultations.
Lacroix will present the Secretary-General’s latest report on the FC-G5S, dated 10 May. The security situation in the Sahel continues to deteriorate. The tri-border area of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger remains a hotspot for terrorist attacks, despite the pressure of counterterrorism operations in the area and amidst fighting between Al-Qaida affiliated Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM) and the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS). Niger’s western region in particular has seen a surge of attacks against civilians, with three major attacks since January killing over 300 people. A recent upsurge in violence in Burkina Faso, where there is a threat of famine which is linked to the insecurity, killed 45 and displaced 17,500 people over a ten-day period since late April 2021, according to UNHCR. The Secretary-General’s report warns about the threat of further destabilisation in the Sahel and the possible spread of insecurity to West African coastal states.
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On Sunday (16 May), the Security Council is expected to hold an open videoconference (VTC) debate to discuss the recent escalation of violence in Israel, Gaza and East Jerusalem. China, Norway and Tunisia called for the meeting. This will be...
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On Monday morning (17 May), there will be a virtual Arria-formula meeting entitled “The Impact of Emerging Technologies on International Peace and Security”. China is organising the meeting with Council members Kenya and Mexico, and in cooperation with Egypt, South...
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Tomorrow morning (12 May), Security Council members will hold closed videoconference (VTC) consultations on the recent escalation of violence in Jerusalem and Gaza. This will be the second meeting on “The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian Question”...
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Tomorrow (12 May) at 3 pm EST, members of the Security Council are expected to convene in person for an Arria-formula meeting entitled “Delivering Accountability through Innovation and Partnership: Harnessing Technology to deliver justice for war crimes, crimes against humanity...
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Tomorrow (12 May), Security Council members will hold their monthly briefing and consultations on Yemen via videoconference (VTC). Special Envoy for Yemen Martin Griffiths and Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Mark Lowcock are expected to brief. General Abhijit Guha, who heads...
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Tomorrow afternoon (11 May), the Security Council president (China) is expected to announce the results of the written voting procedure on a draft resolution expanding the mandate of the UN Verification Mission in Colombia to include monitoring compliance with the...
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Tomorrow (11 May), the Security Council is scheduled to hold an open videoconference (VTC) briefing, followed by closed VTC consultations, on the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI). The Special Representative and head of UNAMI, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, is expected to...
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On Monday morning (10 May), the Security Council is scheduled to hold an open videoconference (VTC) briefing, followed by closed VTC consultations, on the UN Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Da’esh/ISIL (UNITAD). The Special Adviser and...
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Tomorrow (7 May), an Arria-formula meeting will be held via videoconference on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on violations against children in situations of armed conflict. It is being organised by Council members Estonia, France, Ireland, Kenya, Niger, Norway,...
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Tomorrow (7 May) the Security Council will hold a high-level videoconference briefing on “Maintenance of international peace and security: Upholding multilateralism and the United Nations-centred international system”. This is one of the signature events of China’s presidency. Wang Yi, China’s...
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Tomorrow morning (5 May), Russia will host an Arria-formula meeting via videoconference on the situation in Ukraine entitled “Odessa seven years after: Neo-nazism and violent nationalism as drivers of conflict in Ukraine”. The expected briefers are Dmitry Fuchedzhi, former deputy...
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China is the president of the Security Council in May. The Council’s work will continue to be held virtually, although members may consider in-person meetings later in the month. China has chosen to convene three signature events in May. Early...
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This morning (30 April), the Security Council will hold a private meeting on Myanmar via videoconference (VTC). The expected briefers are Special Envoy for Myanmar Christine Schraner Burgener and Erywan bin Pehin Yusof, Second Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brunei...
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Tomorrow morning (29 April), members of the Security Council are expected to convene in person for an informal interactive dialogue on Libya. Initiated by the “A3 plus one” (Kenya, Niger, Tunisia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines), the meeting will...
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Tomorrow (28 April), Special Envoy Geir O. Pedersen and Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Mark Lowcock are scheduled to brief the Council on the political and humanitarian situations in Syria, respectively, in an open videoconference (VTC) meeting. A closed VTC is...
