Programme of Work for November 2023
China is the president of the Security Council in November. Council members adopted the provisional programme of work for the month earlier today (1 November).
China has chosen to organise one signature event during its presidency. It will convene an open debate on promoting sustainable peace through development, under the “Maintenance of international peace and security” agenda item. Secretary-General António Guterres is the anticipated briefer.
The annual briefing with the heads of police components of UN peace operations will take place in November. The expected briefers are Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix, UN Police Adviser Faisal Shahkar, Police Commissioner of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) Christophe Bizimungu, Police Commissioner of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) Christine Fossen, and Executive Director of Security Council Report Karin Landgren.
In November, the Council is scheduled to receive its annual briefing from the chairs of its counter-terrorism-related committees: Ambassador Vanessa Frazier (Malta), chair of the 1267/1989/2253 Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da’esh) and Al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee; Ambassador Lana Nusseibeh (United Arab Emirates), chair of the 1373 Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC); and Ambassador Hernán Pérez Loose (Ecuador), chair of the 1540 Committee. (Adopted in 2004, resolution 1540 aims to prevent non-state actors from obtaining access to weapons of mass destruction and encourages enhanced international cooperation in this regard.)
The Security Council plans to address several African issues this month.
Regarding Sudan/South Sudan, the Council expects to renew the mandate of the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) and extend the mission’s support for the Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mechanism (JBVMM), established in 2011 to conduct monitoring and verification activities along the Sudan-South Sudan border, before their 15 November expiry. It will also hold an open briefing, followed by closed consultations, on UNISFA. Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix and Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for the Horn of Africa Hanna Serwaa Tetteh are the anticipated briefers.
The Security Council is also expected to vote on a draft resolution renewing the mandate of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) ahead of its 15 November expiry.
On Somalia, the Council is scheduled to renew the 751 Al-Shabaab sanctions regime, set to expire on 15 November, and the mandate of its Panel of Experts, which expires on 15 December. It may also vote on a draft resolution authorising the Somali government’s request for a three-month technical pause in the drawdown of 3,000 personnel of the AU Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), which was due to take place by 30 September, in line with resolution 2687 of 27 June.
A vote is also expected on the renewal of the mandate of the UN Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS). There will also be an open briefing, following by closed consultations, on the situation in Sudan and UNITAMS’ work. Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo is the anticipated briefer.
In November, ICC Prosecutor Karim Asad Ahmad Khan will provide the court’s semi-annual briefing concerning cases in Libya.
The Council will convene for its biannual briefing, followed by consultations, on the Joint Force of the Group of Five for the Sahel (FC-G5S) that Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, and Niger (G5 Sahel) established in 2017. Assistant Secretary-General for Africa in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations (DPPA-DPO) Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee is expected to brief.
Several Middle Eastern issues are on the programme of work this month.
The Security Council will hold its monthly meeting on “The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian Question”. Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Tor Wennesland is expected to brief. Council members will also continue following closely the escalation of violence in Israel and Gaza. They may convene additional meetings depending on developments.
The Council will hold its monthly meeting on the political and humanitarian tracks in Syria. Special Envoy for Syria Geir O. Pedersen and an OCHA official are expected to brief on political and humanitarian issues, respectively.
Council members will hold their monthly meeting on Yemen in closed consultations. Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg, an OCHA official, and Head of the UN Mission to Support the Hodeidah Agreement (UNMHA) Major General Michael Beary may brief. The Council will also hold an open meeting to receive a briefing from the chair of the 2140 Yemen Sanctions Committee, Ambassador Ferit Hoxha (Albania). The Council is expected to renew the Yemen financial and travel ban sanctions measures, set to expire on 15 November, and the mandate of the Yemen Panel of Experts, which expires on 15 December.
Council members also 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 anticipated briefers are Special Coordinator for Lebanon Joanna Wronecka and Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix.
Regarding European issues, the Council will hold its semi-annual debate on Bosnia and Herzegovina. No briefer is expected. Council members also expect to vote on a draft resolution reauthorising the EU-led multinational stabilisation force (EUFOR ALTHEA) prior to its 3 November expiry.
The Council may hold one or more meetings on the situation in Ukraine depending on developments.
Regarding Asian issues, the chair of the 1718 Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) Sanctions Committee, Ambassador Pascale Baeriswyl (Switzerland), is expected to brief Council members in closed consultations on the 90-day report regarding the committee’s work.
Council members also expect to hold an Informal Interactive Dialogue (IID) on Afghanistan to discuss the independent assessment of the challenges facing the country, as requested in resolution 2679 of 16 March.
The Security Council and the General Assembly will also vote to fill a vacancy on the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
The 15 current Council members and the incoming five (Algeria, Guyana, the Republic of Korea, Sierra Leone, and Slovenia) will participate in the annual “Hitting the Ground Running” workshop organised by Finland on 2 and 3 November.
This month, Council members are likely to start negotiating a draft framework resolution on the financing of AU peace support operations (AUPSOs).
Other issues could be raised in November depending on developments.
