The Security Council united in 2017 to enact increasingly stringent sanctions on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in response to Pyongyang’s ongoing development of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles, but failed to come together over the ongoing crisis in Syria, as it addressed a myriad of international peace and security challenges.
Despite progress in West Africa and the Sahel, particularly regarding democratic and peaceful political transitions, the security situation in the region remained a grave concern, the Security Council heard today in a briefing by the Special Representative of the Secretary‑General in the region.
The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Kairat Umarov (Kazakhstan):
Meeting today to discuss the updated situation in Darfur, Security Council members focused on the first of two phases for the reconfiguration of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID), while noting developments with regard to the political process and the humanitarian situation on the ground.
Although the reintegration of former guerrilla combatants in Colombia was on track, the level of accumulated frustration with that process would not be easily overcome, the Security Council heard today, as representatives also expressed concern about the possible ramifications stemming from the broken ceasefire between the Government and the National Liberation Army (ELN).
On 22 December 2017, the Group of Experts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo transmitted its midterm report to the President of the Security Council (S/2017/1091). The report is currently available on the Committee’s website via the following link: www.un.org/sc/suborg/en/sanctions/1533/work-and-mandate/expert-reports.
Discussing the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo today, Security Council members expressed their concern about the recent protests in the country over the delays in holding presidential elections, as well as violence last December that left 15 United Nations peacekeepers dead and many others wounded.
The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Kairat Umarov (Kazakhstan):
On 29 December, the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 2127 (2013) concerning the Central African Republic held a meeting with Marie-Noëlle Koyara, Minister for National Defence of the Central African Republic, Henry Wanzet Linguissara, Minister for Interior and Public Security of the Central African Republic, Kenneth Gluck, Deputy Special Representative and Deputy Head of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), Major General Fernando García Blázquez, Commander of the European Union Training Mission in the Central African Republic (EUTM RCA), and the Panel of Experts to discuss the issues related to the arms embargo established by resolution 2127 (2013) and renewed by resolution 2339 (2017).
The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Kairat Umarov (Kazakhstan):
