The Government led by Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi continued efforts to fulfil its reform agenda even as the scope and complexity of Iraq’s security, political, social, budgetary and humanitarian challenges increased, Ján Kubiš, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), told the Security Council this morning.
The Security Council today renewed authorization of the European Union-led multinational stabilization force (EUFOR ALTHEA) in Bosnia and Herzegovina for another year, a decision taken ahead of its semi-annual debate on the situation there in the 20 years since the historic Dayton Accords had ended the Bosnian war.
The Security Council this morning renewed the measures granted to States and regional organizations cooperating with authorities in Somalia in the fight against piracy and armed robbery at sea off the coast of that country for a further period of 12 months.
The Security Council this afternoon was briefed on the situation in Burundi by high-level officials of the United Nations and the African Union, as the violence there, according to speakers, threatened to spiral out of control with risks that the country could slide back into an “all too familiar chaos”.
The Security Council today urged the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and all relevant parties to ensure an environment conducive to the holding of free, fair, credible, inclusive, transparent, peaceful and timely presidential and legislative elections by November 2016.
In a ministerial meeting today, the Security Council approved changes to the United Nations mission in Somalia, consolidating efforts around the strategic objectives established for the country to better respond to a dramatic expansion of requested support.
The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Matthew Rycroft (United Kingdom):
Between 27 and 29 October, the Governments of Morocco and Spain conducted “Gate to Africa”, a joint exercise designed to strengthen their national capabilities on security of radioactive material in transport, in this case, radioactive sources used for cancer therapy, by sea.
The era of accountability and rule of law upon which to build the future of Libya may be within reach of its people, Fatou Bensouda, Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, told the Security Council this morning as it addressed the situation in that country.
Libya’s leaders had a unique opportunity to reach a political settlement that would spare their people further bloodshed, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative in that country told the Security Council today, emphasizing that the recently negotiated Political Agreement sought to create a viable middle ground upon which all stakeholders could meet.
