Security Council

A briefing on corruption and conflict and a debate on United Nations peacekeeping operations are among the highlights of the Security Council’s work in the month ahead, Nikki R. Haley (United States), the organ’s President for September, said at a Headquarters press conference today.

The Security Council extended today the mandate of United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) until 31 August 2019, calling on that Government to develop a plan to increase its naval capabilities, with the goal of decreasing the Mission’s Maritime Taskforce and transitioning activities to the country’s armed forces.

The Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004) in cooperation with the Commission of the African Union, and with the financial support of African Union member States, convened a training course for 1540 national Points of Contact from French-speaking African States in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from 14 to 16 August.  It is envisaged that a further training course for other African States will be arranged during 2019.

The Security Council today renewed for one year sanctions imposed by resolution 2374 (2017) concerning Mali, also extending until 30 September 2019 the mandate of the expert panel established to monitor their implementation.

Guinea‑Bissau, having made crucial strides towards overcoming its long‑standing political impasse, must hold free, fair and inclusive elections as scheduled in November or risk rolling back its fragile progress, senior officials briefing the Security Council emphasized today.

The Security Council adopted its annual report to the General Assembly today for the period 1 January 2017 to 31 December 2017.

With conflicts taking on transnational dimensions, peace agreements growing more elusive and political will waning, the United Nations must be “bold and creative” in harnessing the avenues and capacities available for mediation, Secretary-General António Guterres told the Security Council today in an open debate on the topic.

On 23 August 2018, the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1970 (2011) concerning Libya held informal consultations to consider the final report of its Panel of Experts, submitted pursuant to paragraph 14 of resolution 2362 (2017).

On 17 August 2018, the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1591 (2005) concerning the Sudan was briefed by the Panel of Experts on the Sudan in connection with the Panel’s interim report, which was submitted to the Committee in accordance with paragraph 2 of resolution 2400 (2018).

Escalating military clashes and renewed air strikes in north‑west Syria — especially Idlib Governorate, covered under an international “de‑escalation zone” agreement — represent a worrying trend, threatening some 3 million residents as well as the already fragile delivery of aid, a senior United Nations humanitarian official told the Security Council today.