The Security Council’s August Programme of Work
Traditionally the Council programme of work tends to be light in August as senior Council members are often away. There has been some attempt to keep to this practice in 2011 but evolving situations in Syria, South Kordofan, Somalia and Sudan may keep the Council busy through August. It is also unclear, following the Council interactive dialogue with IGAD members on 19 July, whether further action relating to Eritrea will follow.
In August, besides consultations on the programme of work and Syria today, briefings on Somalia by Special Representative Augustine Mahiga; on Yemen probably by Jamal Benomar, the UN envoy to Yemen; on the situation in South Kordofan; and on activities of the UN office in Central Africa are expected.
A private meeting with the UN mission in Lebanon (UNIFIL) troop contributors is also expected ahead of UNIFIL consultations on 23 August and the mandate renewal of UNIFIL on 30 August.
It is also possible, bearing in mind the sensitive situation following the violence last week, that if the Kosovo report comes out early, the debate on Kosovo may be moved up from 24 August to an earlier date.
The regular briefing and consultations on the Middle East and Libya as well as the monthly briefing from DPA on emerging issues will all take place after 22nd August.
Unlike last month when 9 resolutions were adopted – four of of them related to Sudan – it looks like the only resolution scheduled for adoption in August is for the renewal of UNIFIL’s mandate.
India, the Council president for August, has picked peacekeeping as its thematic debate. An open debate will be held on 26 August with a particular focus on troop-contributing countries.
Reports on Liberia, Haiti, Somalia, the UN office in Central Africa as well as a report on recommendations from the 1540 Committee on the working methods, composition and structure of its group of experts are expected over the month. The report on UNOCA is likely to be taken up this month.
