Week 5: 1-5 February 2021

Recent developments at the UNSC

• The fifth session of the Syrian Constitutional Committee concluded last week. The United Nations Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, voiced deep frustration on Friday that the Syrian Constitutional Committee had failed to start drafting a new charter after the government delegation rejected proposals.
• Mr. Tor Wennesland, the new Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, briefed the Security Council on Tuesday 26 January. Reflecting on the announcement of new parliamentary and presidential elections last month, he noted that this would be a crucial step towards Palestinian unity.
• Stephanie Williams, the Acting Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Libya and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), told the Security Council that intra-Libyan dialogues – facilitated by the Mission – have produced “tangible results” on Thursday 28 January, amid hopeful signs that a decade of armed conflict might finally be coming to an end. 
• The UK will have the Presidency of the Security Council in February. Its signature events will focus on climate change and COVID-19. The high-level meeting on security risks in climate–vulnerable contexts is expected to be chaired by UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson. The COVID-19 meeting will focus on equitable access to vaccines, especially in conflict-affected areas; UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab is expected to chair.
• Several meetings are planned on Somalia. The Council will receive a briefing on developments in Somalia and the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM).
• A meeting is also planned on the 751 Somalia sanctions committee, to be chaired by Ireland. At the end of the month the Council is expected to renew the authorisation of the AU Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).

Monday – 1st February

• The UK assumes the monthly presidency of the Security Council. Pending the adoption of the provisional programme of work for February on that day, videoconference (VTC) meetings are anticipated this week on the chemical weapons track in Syria (with High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Izumi Nakamitsu briefing) and Myanmar (with a briefing by Special Envoy Christine Schraner Burgener).
• UNSC members will also continue to negotiate a presidential statement on the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) that may be adopted during the week.

Tuesday – 2^nd February

• The Informal Expert Group on Women, Peace and Security (co-chaired by Ireland and Mexico) is expected to hold a VTC meeting on South Sudan.