Swift action must change the current catastrophic trajectory of violence and humanitarian suffering in Afghanistan, briefers warned the Security Council today, as delegates called for an immediate halt to the recent Taliban offensive that has led to record numbers of civilian casualties and targeted killings.
On 23 July 2021, the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 2374 (2017) concerning Mali held informal consultations to hear a virtual presentation by the Panel of Experts on Mali in connection with the Panel’s final report, which was submitted to the Committee in accordance with paragraph 4 of resolution 2541 (2020).
Nearly eight years after its adoption, much work remains to be done before Security Council resolution 2118 (2013) on Syria’s chemical weapons programme can be considered fully implemented, a senior United Nations disarmament official told the 15-member organ today during its monthly meeting on that issue.
On 23 July 2021, the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 2127 (2013) concerning the Central African Republic held a meeting with representatives of the Central African Republic, Angola, Cameroon, Chad and Rwanda in connection with the final report of the Panel of Experts dated 25 June 2021 (document S/2021/569).
The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President T.S. Tirumurti (India):
The Security Council will focus on three major areas — maritime security, peacekeeping and terrorism — in August, alongside briefings on developing situations in the Middle East and other regions, its President for the month told a Headquarters press conference today.
The Security Council today recognized the progress made in Darfur since 2007 to advance peace and security, following the complete drawdown of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) on 30 June, as it looked forward to receiving an assessment of lessons learned from the experience no later than 31 October.
The Security Council today extended the mandate of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) for six months — until 31 January 2022 — expressing serious concern over violations of the military status quo along the ceasefire lines, reported encroachment by both sides into the buffer zone and increase in unauthorized construction — all of which pose challenges to the Force’s operations.
The Security Council today adopted a resolution extending for one year its arms embargo on the Central African Republic — as well as a travel ban and assets freeze imposed on certain individuals and entities, as designated by its sanctions committee — and renewing for 13 months the mandate of the Panel of Experts tasked with assisting that body.
While the global community should prioritize its support for Gaza’s reconstruction in the wake of the violence that erupted there in May, a senior United Nations official also urged the Security Council not to “lose sight of the broader goal” — namely, ending the Israeli occupation and realizing a two-State solution — as she briefed the organ during its quarterly open debate on the Middle East today.
