Programme of Work for October 2021
Kenya is the president of the Security Council in October. The Council adopted its provisional programme of work for the month earlier today (1 October). Most Council meetings are expected to be held in person this month.
As one of its signature events, Kenya will convene a high-level open debate titled “Diversity, statebuilding and the search for peace”, under the agenda item “Peacebuilding and Sustaining Peace”. Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta is expected to chair the meeting.
The Council will also hold a high-level open debate via videoconference (VTC) on cooperation between the UN and regional and sub-regional organisations, focusing on the partnership with the African Union (AU). Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta is expected to chair the meeting. The anticipated briefers are Secretary-General António Guterres and AU Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat. A presidential statement is a possible outcome of the meeting.
The annual open debate on women, peace and security will be held in October. It seems that the meeting will take place at ministerial level and will focus on the contribution of local women to peacekeeping, peacebuilding and transitional settings.
There will also be a ministerial-level debate on the Great Lakes Region. Kenyan Foreign Minister Raychelle Omamo is expected to chair the meeting. The Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for the Great Lakes Region, Huang Xia, will brief on the Secretary-General’s biannual report on the implementation of the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Region. A civil society representative may also brief. A presidential statement is a possible outcome of this meeting.
This month, the Security Council will receive a briefing on the Secretary-General’s seventh biennial report on Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW). The focus of the meeting will be on addressing the threat posed by illicit flows of SALW in peace operations. The expected briefers are UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Izumi Nakamitsu, Executive Secretary of the Regional Centre on Small Arms in the Great Lakes Region, the Horn of Africa and Bordering States (RECSA) Lieutenant General Badreldin Elamin Abdelgadir, and Senior Researcher at the Small Arms Survey David Lochhead.
The Security Council is also expected to conduct a visiting mission to the Sahel in October, travelling to Mali and Niger. France and Niger are co-leading the mission.
Several African issues are on the programme this month. There will be a briefing, followed by consultations on the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) and on Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) sanctions. Special Representative and head of MONUSCO Bintou Keita is expected to brief on the Secretary-General’s latest report on the DRC. Ambassador Abdou Abarry (Niger) will brief in his capacity as chair of the 1533 DRC Sanctions Committee. A civil society representative may also brief.
The Council will receive a briefing in consultations on the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO). Alexander Ivanko, the new Special Representative for Western Sahara and head of MINURSO, is expected to brief. A representative from the UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) may also brief. Council members are also expected to vote on a draft resolution renewing MINURSO’s mandate ahead of its 31 October expiry.
There will be a briefing, followed by consultations, on the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA). Special Representative for the Central African Republic (CAR) and head of MINUSCA Mankeur Ndiaye will brief on the Secretary-General’s latest report.
In October, the chair of the 751 Somalia Sanctions Committee, Ambassador Geraldine Byrne Nason (Ireland), is expected to deliver her 120-day periodic briefing to the Council on the activities of the committee.
Regarding Sudan/South Sudan, the Council will receive a briefing on the Secretary-General’s report on the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA). Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix and the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa, Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, are expected to brief. A civil society representative may also brief. Closed consultations are scheduled to follow the open briefing.
There will be an open briefing, followed by closed consultations, on Mali. Special Representative and head of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) El-Ghassim Wane is expected to brief. A civil society representative may also brief.
Several Middle Eastern issues will also be discussed in October. The Council will hold its monthly meetings on the political, humanitarian and chemical weapons tracks in Syria. High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Izumi Nakamitsu will brief on the chemical weapons file. Special Envoy Geir O. Pedersen is expected to brief on political developments, while Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths may brief on the humanitarian situation.
There will also be a briefing on the activities of the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in the Golan Heights. Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix is the anticipated briefer.
The Council will convene for its monthly briefing, followed by consultations, on Yemen. Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg is expected to brief. Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths may also brief the Council.
The quarterly open debate on the “Middle East, including the Palestinian Question” will take place in October. Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Tor Wennesland is expected to brief. A civil society representative may also brief.
Council members are expected to receive the semi-annual briefing on the Secretary-General’s report on the implementation of resolution 1559 in closed consultations. Adopted in 2004, the resolution called for the withdrawal of foreign forces from Lebanon, the disarmament of all militias, and the extension of government control over all Lebanese territory. Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo is the anticipated briefer.
Two issues in the Americas will be discussed this month. The Council will convene for a briefing and consultations on Haiti. Special Representative and head of the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) Helen La Lime will brief on recent developments and the Secretary-General’s latest report on BINUH. A civil society representative may also brief. Council members will also vote on a draft resolution renewing BINUH’s mandate, which expires on 15 October.
The Council will also convene for its quarterly meeting on Colombia. Special Representative and head of the UN Verification Mission in Colombia Carlos Ruiz Massieu will brief on recent developments and the Secretary-General’s latest 90-day report on the mission, which was issued on 24 September. A civil society representative may also brief. Council members are also expected to renew the verification mission’s mandate ahead of its 31 October expiry.
This month, Council members will receive a briefing on the situation in Kosovo. Special Representative and head of the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) Zahir Tanin will brief on recent developments and the Secretary-General’s latest report.
Council members will also be closely following developments related to Afghanistan, the Tigray region of Ethiopia and Myanmar. They may choose to convene meetings on these and other issues.
