Security Council Programme of Work for January 2025
Algeria is the president of the Security Council in January. Council members adopted the provisional programme of work for the month earlier today (2 January).
Algeria has chosen to organise three signature events during its presidency. The first one is the quarterly open debate on “The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question” (MEPQ), which will be held at ministerial level this month. Algerian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmed Attaf is expected to chair the meeting. Secretary-General António Guterres is the anticipated briefer.
At today’s press briefing on January’s programme of work, Ambassador Amar Bendjama (Algeria) noted that several additional meetings on the MEPQ are planned for this month. Tomorrow (3 January), a briefing will be held at Algeria’s request to discuss Israel’s attacks against hospitals in Gaza. World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk are expected to brief. Algeria also intends to schedule a meeting in the third week of the month focusing on the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). In addition, Russia has indicated that it will call for a meeting this month on the situation of children in Gaza, which it has yet to request at the time of writing.
The second signature event is an open debate on countering terrorism in Africa under the “Maintenance of international peace and security” agenda item. Attaf is expected to chair the meeting. Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed, African Union (AU) Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security Bankole Adeoye, and a civil society representative are the anticipated briefers. A presidential statement is a possible outcome of the meeting.
Algeria’s third signature event is the annual briefing on cooperation between the UN and the League of Arab States (LAS), which Attaf is expected to chair. A senior UN official and LAS Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit are the anticipated briefers. A presidential statement is an expected outcome of the meeting.
Several other Middle Eastern issues are expected to be discussed in January.
The Security Council will hold its regular monthly meeting on political and humanitarian issues in Syria. Special Envoy for Syria Geir O. Pedersen and Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher are scheduled to brief.
The Council will convene for its monthly briefing and consultations on Yemen. The anticipated briefers are Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg and Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher. Council members are also expected to discuss the extension of the monthly reporting requirement for the Secretary-General contained in resolution 2722 of 10 January 2024 on attacks by the Houthi rebel group on merchant and commercial vessels in the Red Sea. Resolution 2739 of 27 June 2024 most recently extended the reporting obligation until 15 January 2025.
The Security Council plans to address a number of African issues this month.
On 6 January, the Council will hold a briefing to discuss the latest report of the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) Famine Review Committee on Sudan, at the request of Guyana and Slovenia, the Council’s co-focal points on conflict and hunger, joined by the UK. The report, which was issued on 24 December 2024, indicates that famine conditions are present in at least five locations in the country, including camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in North Darfur and in the western Nuba Mountains in South Kordofan state.
International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor Karim Asad Ahmad Khan will provide the semi-annual briefing on the ICC’s Darfur-related activities.
On Libya, the Council is expected to renew the authorisation of measures contained in resolution 2146 of 19 March 2014 related to the illicit export of petroleum from Libya, which expires on 1 February. It is also expected to extend the mandate of the Panel of Experts assisting the 1970 Libya Sanctions Committee, which expires on 15 February. Additionally, the Council may renew the mandate of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) this month. Resolution 2755 of 31 October 2024 extended the mission’s mandate until 31 January, with a “further automatic extension” of an additional nine months, until 31 October, if a new Special Representative and Head of UNSMIL has been appointed by 31 January.
Regarding European files, the Council is expected to renew the mandate of the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) ahead of its 31 January expiry. Earlier in the month, Council members are expected to receive a briefing in consultations on the situation in Cyprus from Special Representative and Head of UNFICYP Colin Stewart. Members will also hold a meeting with UNFICYP troop-contributing countries, at which Stewart is expected to participate.
Two meetings on the Americas are scheduled this month.
The Security Council will hold its quarterly briefing on Colombia. Special Representative and Head of the UN Verification Mission in Colombia Carlos Ruiz Massieu is the anticipated briefer. Closed consultations are scheduled to follow the open briefing.
The Council will also receive the 90-day briefing on the situation in Haiti from Special Representative and Head of the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) María Isabel Salvador. Closed consultations are scheduled to follow the open briefing.
Other issues could be raised in January depending on developments in contexts such as Israel, the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), Lebanon, Sudan, Syria, and Ukraine.
