While Somalia was making progress on its long road back to peace and stability, with preparations well afoot for elections in August and a constitutional review, Al-Shabaab remained a potent threat that risked undercutting hard-earned gains, the senior United Nations official in that country told the Security Council today.
The demolition of Palestinian homes and businesses in the West Bank was continuing at an alarming rate and plans for more illegal Jewish settlements in the area cast doubt on Israel’s commitment to a two-State solution, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said this morning at the start of a day-long Security Council open debate on the Middle East.
The Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Yemen asked the Security Council today for its support in the weeks and months ahead as parties to the conflict in that country prepared to embark on a fresh round of face-to-face negotiations, building on the cessation of hostilities that began on 10 April.
Following peaceful elections bearing the promise of ushering stability and democracy into the Central African Republic, the Government must capitalize on the positive momentum by instituting key economic, judicial and security reforms, the head of United Nations peacekeeping told the Security Council this morning.
Against the backdrop of recent deadly terrorist attacks around the world, and ahead of a key General Assembly special session on the issue in June, the Security Council heard calls today for action to combat the threat posed by terrorism to global peace and security.
Stressing that Côte d’Ivoire was well on the path to peace, stability and economic growth, the head of United Nations peacekeeping today called upon the Security Council to phase out the Organization’s peacekeeping operation in the West African country.
Determining that the situation in South Sudan posed a continuing threat to regional peace and security, the Security Council today renewed, until 1 June, the sanctions imposed by resolution 2206 (2015) against those blocking peace in the war-torn country, including a travel ban and a freeze on their assets.
Intensified fighting since January had resulted in a rapidly worsening security situation and large-scale displacement in Darfur, the Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations told the Security Council today.
Every day lost in implementing the peace agreement in Mali was a day gained by extremist and terrorist groups betting on its collapse, the Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations said today as he briefed the Security Council on the situation in that country.
Amid continuing violence and a persistent political impasse in Burundi, the Security Council requested today that the Secretary-General present options for the deployment of a United Nations police contribution to monitor the security situation, promote respect for human rights, and advance the rule of law in the country.
