Briefing the Security Council today, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for West Africa painted a mixed picture of the situation in the region, noting the completion of peaceful elections in several nations, as well as the continuing threats of terrorism, drug trafficking and organized crime.
Rising political tensions associated with the electoral process and the increasing number of security incidents and human rights violations posed a real risk of civil unrest and widespread violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Security Council heard today during its periodic briefing on the situation.
With the successful holding of its presidential election on 25 October 2015, Côte d’Ivoire had reached a critical milestone in consolidating long-term peace and stability while advancing national reconciliation and strengthening the security sector remained key challenges on the path to lasting stability, the Security Council heard during a briefing today.
Delays in implementing elements of Mali’s 2015 peace agreement could unravel the hard-won confidence built between the signatories to the accord, United Nations peacekeeping chief Hervé Ladsous warned today, while briefing the Security Council on the situation in that country.
The Security Council today stressed the importance of triangular consultations among the 15-nation body, the troop- and police-contributing countries and the Secretariat to improve the United Nations peacekeeping operations.
The Security Council today welcomed the 17 December signing of the Libyan Political Agreement to form a Government of National Accord, and called on its new Presidency Council to form that Government within 30 days and finalize interim security arrangements required for stabilizing the country.
The non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction was a global challenge and, therefore, the response had to be global, the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004) stated as he briefed the Security Council today, stressing that it was much more economical to invest in preventing non-State actors obtaining those arms than dealing with the consequences of their use.
Despite deep remaining divisions, the latest round of peace negotiations between parties to the conflict in Yemen had provided a solid foundation for resumed talks in January and a renewed, strengthened cessation of hostilities, the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy told the Security Council in today.
The Security Council, adopting resolution 2256 (2015) by a recorded vote of 14 in favour to none against, with 1 abstention (Russian Federation), today decided to extend the term of office for 17 permanent and ad litem judges of the Trial Chambers and the Appeals Chamber at the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia.
In efforts to ensure that humanitarian assistance reached people in need throughout Syria by the most direct routes, the Security Council today unanimously adopted resolution 2258 (2015), thus renewing for a period of 12 months two decisions taken in its resolution 2165 (2014) that authorized passage of aid into that country.
