Security Council

On 22 March 2016, the Security Council Working Group on peacekeeping operations held an organizational meeting to discuss the provisional work plan for the year.

The formation of a transitional Government in South Sudan was moving forward, despite serious security, humanitarian and human rights concerns in the country, the Security Council heard today, as several high-level officials briefed members on the situation there.

The Security Council today expressed regret over the limited progress in implementing national and regional commitments under the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Region, stressing that signatory States must carry out those obligations in order to achieve lasting peace.

The Security Council today renewed until 31 July 2017 the measures imposed by its resolution 2146 (2014) on the prevention of illicit crude oil exports from Libya.

After five years of senseless and brutal conflict, a much-needed glimmer of hope had presented itself in Syria, the United Nations humanitarian chief told the Security Council today, during a briefing in which he nevertheless stressed that the sustained, unconditional and unimpeded access required by humanitarian actors was still a long way off.

The Security Council today renewed until 31 March 2017 the mandate of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), including its Intervention Brigade, deciding to maintain its current force levels.

On 28 March 2016, the Security Council Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999), 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015) concerning ISIL (Da’esh), Al-Qaida and associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities approved the addition of the entry specified below to its ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions List of individuals and entities subject to the assets freeze, travel ban and arms embargo set out in paragraph 2 of Security Council resolution 2253 (2015) adopted under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations.

The members of the Security Council condemned in the strongest terms the 27 March terrorist attack in Lahore, Pakistan, which resulted in the deaths of more than 70 people, while leaving over 250 injured, and for which Tehrik-e-Taliban has claimed responsibility.  They expressed their deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims and to the people and Government of Pakistan.  They also wished a speedy recovery to those left injured.

Women must be placed at the centre of efforts to prevent or resolve conflict in Africa, speakers said today as the Security Council took up the “women, peace and security agenda”, considering the role of women in creating more peaceful and equitable societies on the continent.

Amid the current bloody wave of escalating violence, including stabbings and shootings in Israel and the occupied West Bank, the international community must move beyond mere condemnations and send a clear message to both sides that a two-State solution was the best road to peace, the Secretary-General’s Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process told the Security Council today.