Programme of Work for October 2022
Gabon is the president of the Security Council in October. Council members adopted the provisional programme of work for the month earlier today (3 October).
As one of its signature events, Gabon will organise a debate on “Strengthening the fight against the financing of armed groups and terrorists through the illicit trafficking of natural resources”, under the “Peace and Security in Africa” agenda item. Gabon’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Michael Moussa-Adamo is expected to chair the meeting. Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Ghada Fathi Waly, AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security Bankole Adeoye, and a civil society representative are the anticipated briefers.
The second signature event this month is a debate on “Climate and security in Africa”, which will be held under the “Threats to international peace and security” agenda item. Moussa-Adamo is expected to chair the meeting. The expected briefers are UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed; Tanguy Gahouma-Bekale, Permanent Secretary of Gabon’s National Council for Climate and former Chair of the Africa Group of Negotiators on Climate Change; and Patrick Youssef, ICRC’s Regional Director for Africa.
The annual open debate on women, peace and security will be held in October. It will focus on “Strengthening women’s resilience and leadership as a path to peace in regions plagued by armed groups”. Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed, UN Women Executive Director Sima Sami Bahous and a woman civil society representative are the anticipated briefers.
The Council will also convene for its annual debate on cooperation between the UN and regional and sub-regional organisations. Moussa-Adamo is expected to chair the meeting, which will focus on cooperation with the African Union (AU). UN Secretary-General António Guterres and AU Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat are expected to brief. A presidential statement is a possible outcome of the meeting.
The 16th annual joint consultative meeting between the UN Security Council and the AU Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) will be held on 14 October. The annual meeting rotates between New York and Addis Ababa, the home of the AU headquarters. This year, the meeting will be held in New York, and it will be preceded by the ninth informal joint seminar of the Security Council and the AUPSC, which is set to take place on 13 October.
In addition to the signature events, several other African issues are on the programme this month.
Council members are expected to vote on a draft resolution renewing the mandate of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) ahead of its 31 October expiry. Prior to that, members will receive a briefing in consultations on the Secretary-General’s annual report on the situation concerning Western Sahara. Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General for Western Sahara Staffan de Mistura and Special Representative for Western Sahara and head of MINURSO Alexander Ivanko are expected to brief. The Council will also hold a meeting with MINURSO’s troop-contributing countries, in which Ivanko will participate.
There will be an open briefing, followed by closed consultations, on Mali. Special Representative and head of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) El-Ghassim Wane is expected to brief.
Council members will convene for an open briefing and closed consultations on the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA). Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the Central African Republic (CAR) and head of MINUSCA Valentine Rugwabiza will brief. The Council will also hold a meeting with MINUSCA’s troop-contributing countries, in which Rugwabiza will participate.
On Somalia, Council members are expected to vote on a draft resolution renewing the mandate of the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), which expires on 31 October. In addition, the chair of the 751 Somalia Sanctions Committee, Ambassador Fergal Mythen (Ireland), is expected to deliver his 120-day periodic briefing to the Council on the committee’s activities.
The Council will hold a briefing, followed by consultations, on the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL). The new Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya and head of UNSMIL, Abdoulaye Bathily, may brief. Council members are also expected to vote on a resolution renewing UNSMIL’s mandate ahead of its 31 October expiry.
In October, the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region, Huang Xia, is expected to provide his biannual briefing to the Council on the implementation of the 2013 Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework (PSC Framework) for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the Great Lakes region.
Regarding Sudan/South Sudan, the Council will receive a briefing on the Secretary-General’s report on the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA). Assistant Secretary-General for Africa in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations (DPPA-DPO) Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee will brief. Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for the Horn of Africa Hanna Serwaa Tetteh may also brief. Closed consultations are scheduled to follow the open briefing.
Several Middle Eastern issues will be discussed in October.
There will be a briefing and consultations on the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI). Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq and head of UNAMI Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert will brief on recent developments and on the Secretary-General’s latest reports on UNAMI and the issue of missing Kuwaiti and third-party nationals and missing Kuwaiti property.
The Council will convene for its monthly briefing, followed by consultations, on Yemen. Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg and Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Joyce Msuya are expected to brief. Head of the UN Mission to Support the Hodeidah Agreement (UNMHA) Major General Michael Beary is expected to brief during the consultations.
There will also be a briefing in closed consultations on the activities of the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in the Golan. Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix is the anticipated briefer.
Council members are expected to receive the semi-annual briefing on the Secretary-General’s report on the implementation of resolution 1559 in closed consultations. Adopted in 2004, the resolution called for the withdrawal of foreign forces from Lebanon, the disarmament of all militias, and the extension of government control over all Lebanese territory. Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo is the anticipated briefer.
The Council will hold its monthly meetings on the political, humanitarian and chemical weapons tracks in Syria. High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Izumi Nakamitsu will brief on the chemical weapons file. Special Envoy for Syria Geir O. Pedersen and Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths are the scheduled briefers in a joint meeting on political and humanitarian issues, respectively.
The quarterly open debate on “The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian Question” will take place in October. Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Tor Wennesland may brief.
Two issues in the Americas will be discussed this month.
The Council will convene for its quarterly meeting on Colombia. Special Representative and head of the UN Verification Mission in Colombia Carlos Ruiz Massieu will brief on recent developments and the Secretary-General’s latest 90-day report on the mission. Council members are also expected to renew the verification mission’s mandate ahead of its 31 October expiry.
There will also be a briefing and consultations on Haiti. Special Representative and head of the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) Helen La Lime will brief on recent developments and the Secretary-General’s regular quarterly report on BINUH. The Council also expects to receive a report from the Secretary-General on options to support the Haitian National Police in its fight against gang violence, in accordance with resolution 2645 of 15 July, which most recently renewed BINUH’s mandate for one year.
Regarding European issues, Council members will receive a briefing on the situation in Kosovo. Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Kosovo and head of the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) Caroline Ziadeh will brief on recent developments and the Secretary-General’s latest report.
The Security Council may hold one or more meetings on the situation in Ukraine, depending on developments on the ground.
In October, Council members will hold a private meeting to receive the annual briefing from President of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) Joan E. Donoghue.
Council members will also be closely following developments related to Burkina Faso, Ethiopia and Myanmar. They may choose to convene meetings on these and other issues.
