Small arms and light weapons are key drivers of hostilities and “de facto weapons of mass destruction”, killing 700 people per day, speakers told the Security Council today during a debate that highlighted the need for the 15-nation body to mount a comprehensive response that included strict control over diversion of those weapons to conflict zones.
Outgoing Chairs of Security Council subsidiary bodies detailed their work today on various progress made, underscoring their efforts in discussions on security situations, activities of armed groups and monitoring of arms embargoes, as they emphasized that more work remains to be done to move forward the goals of the 15-member body.
South Sudan is not yet ready to hold credible elections in 2024, a senior United Nations official said today, as the Security Council examined the recent developments in that country, including implementation of the 2018 peace agreement and the dire humanitarian situation exacerbated by the influx of people fleeing the conflict in Sudan.
The Security Council today extended for a further year the mandate of the team monitoring sanctions against the Taliban and associated individuals and entities, which threaten Afghanistan’s peace, security and stability.
Central Africa is facing an extremely worrying humanitarian situation, with 42 million people in need of assistance and 2.6 million internally displaced, the Organization’s senior official in the subregion told the Security Council today, as delegates underscored the need to support inclusive democratic transitions in Chad and Gabon, address continuing threats from Boko Haram and mitigate the impact of climate change on regional security.
Facing an extremely worrisome security situation in Haiti, the Security Council heard today a renewed call for the full and effective implementation of resolution 2699 (2023), which authorized a specialized multinational force to support the Haitian National Police in restoring stability in the country.
Sudan’s representative called on the Security Council today to impose an arms and material transport embargo against rebel forces, invaders and mercenaries, and to lift sanctions on the Government forces, as the 15 member organ received an update from its sanctions committee for that country.
The court set up to carry out remaining functions of the criminal tribunals that investigated and prosecuted serious crimes committed during the Yugoslav wars and the 1994 Rwanda genocide has finally transitioned to its truly residual phase, its President said today as she detailed plans to restructure and streamline its internal framework, while speakers underscored that the conclusion of the latest trials in no way diminishes its relevance.
Briefers and delegates offered contrasting views in the Security Council today on the provision of arms to Ukraine and the Russian Federation in their ongoing conflict — with numerous speakers charging Moscow with diverting the 15-member organ’s attention from its aggression by convening the eleventh meeting on the topic since the outbreak of hostilities.
With upcoming elections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo fast approaching, speakers in the Security Council today expressed concern over the country’s security situation, humanitarian conditions and regional tensions.
