Week 79, 11 July - 15 July 2022

Ireland and the UN Security Council – This Week

Last week, the Security Council held a briefing on the situation in West Africa and the Sahel. The Council failed to adopt two draft resolutions aimed at renewing cross-border humanitarian operations in Syria’s North-West. Elsewhere in the UN, the 2022 High-Level Political Forum commenced under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council. This year’s theme centres on “Building back better from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) while advancing the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”.

• Last week, the Security Council held a briefing on the situation in West Africa and the Sahel. The Council failed to adopt two draft resolutions aimed at renewing cross-border humanitarian operations in Syria’s North-West. Elsewhere in the UN, the 2022 High-Level Political Forum commenced under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council. This year’s theme centres on “Building back better from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) while advancing the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”.
• On 5 July 2022, Brazil, as Council President, issued a Press Statement on behalf of the UNSC condemning the attack perpetrated against the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) on 5 July.
• On 7 July 2022, over a month after legislative elections took place in Lebanon, Brazil, as Council President, issued a Press Statement on behalf of the UNSC urging the speedy formation of a Government to implement necessary reforms in the country.

Ronaldo Costa Filho, Permanent Representative of Brazil to the United Nations

• The Council was briefed on 7 July 2022 by Khatir Mahamat Saleh Annadif, Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS). He informed the Council that military stakeholders are attempting to dominate the political space, and detailed challenges threatening the region such as increasingly irregular rainfall that is negatively impacting agriculture and generating conflict around increasingly rare resources. He also underlined that extremist violence is spreading. Ireland stressed that that the threat of violence and insecurity continues to intensify and expand southward to coastal states and expressed concern that cooperation within the G5 Sahel has weakened at a time of deteriorating security.  Ireland also addressed the humanitarian situation and underlined that the United Nations system has a critical role to play in enabling calls from countries in the region for more inclusive and evidence‑based policymaking, integrated partnerships and scaled-up conflict‑sensitive climate finance for sustainable peace.

Khatir Mahamat Saleh Annadif

• On 8 July 2022, the Security Council failed to adopt two draft resolutions aimed at renewing cross-border humanitarian operations in Syria’s North-West. The first draft resolution, which was submitted by Norway and Ireland, was defeated owing to the veto cast by the Russian Federation. The draft resolution had otherwise garnered 13 votes in favour and 1 abstention (China) and would have offered a 6+6-month extension of the mechanism for cross-border humanitarian assistance. Both the Russian Federation and China criticised the text for ignoring the interests of the Syrian government and called for full respect for the sovereignty of Syria. The Russian Federation’s competing draft, which provided for a six-month extension, was rejected by a vote of 3 against (France, the United Kingdom and the United States) to 2 in favour (China and the Russian Federation) and 10 abstentions. Delegates contended that the 6-month renewal offered by the Russian text would not allow for sufficient planning of humanitarian operations and would plunge Syrians into uncertainty in the dead of winter, right when in aid is most needed. Ireland, speaking also on behalf of Norway, emphasised that it is necessary to renew the mandate for cross-border aid, and expressed regret at the use of the veto.
• On 8 July 2022, Ireland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney, met with Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the UN, to discuss the humanitarian crisis in the Horn of Africa.

Minister Simon Coveney and Deputy Secretary-General of the UN Amina Mohammed

The Week Ahead (11 July – 15 July 2022)

This week, the Council will hold briefings on Yemen, Syria and Colombia. A high-level open debate on the role of Strategic Communications in UN peacekeeping will be hosted by Brazil. Ireland will host an Arria-formula meeting focused on the transitional justice system in Colombia and Albania will organise an Arria-formula meeting that is expected to focus on the destruction of cultural heritage in Ukraine.

Monday – 11 July 2022

• The Council will hold a briefing and consultations on Yemen. UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, and Joyce Msuya, Assistant Secretary-General of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, are expected to brief.
• Russia has indicated that it will organise an Arria-formula meeting on Ukraine.

Tuesday – 12 July 2022

• Brazil will host a high-level open debate on the role of Strategic Communications in UN peacekeeping, chaired by Brazilian Foreign Minister, Carlos França. The Council will be briefed by António Guterres, UN Secretary-General; Jean-Pierre Lacroix, UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations; Lieutenant General Marcos de Sá Affonso da Costa, Force Commander of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; and Ms. Jenna Russo, Director of Research and Head of the Brian Urquhart Center for Peace Operations/International Peace Institute.

Wednesday – 13 July 2022

• The Council is expected to adopt a resolution renewing the mandate of the UN Mission to Support the Hodeidah Agreement in Yemen (UNMHA).
• The Council is expected to adopt a resolution renewing the mandate of the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH).
• The Council is expected to adopt a resolution renewing Libya sanctions measures related to illicit oil exports and extending the mandate of the Libya Panel of Experts.
• The Council will hold consultations on Syria. UN Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, and Under-Secretary-General, Martin Griffiths of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs are expected to participate.
• The Council will hold a Troop and Police Contributing Country meeting on the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), a mission which an Garda Síochána contribute 12 personnel to. The head of the mission, Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Colin Stewart, will brief the Council.

Thursday – 14 July 2022

• The Council will hold a briefing and consultations on the situation in Colombia. Carlos Ruiz Massieu, Special Representative of the Secretary-General, will brief and Brazil is also likely to extend an invitation to Father Francisco de Roux, the President of the Truth Commission.
• Ireland will host an Arria-formula meeting focused on the transitional justice system in Colombia. Briefers will include Father Francisco de Roux, the President of the Truth Commission; Eamon Gilmore, EU Special Envoy for the Peace Process in Colombia (and EUSR for Human Rights); as well as two civil society briefers. The Vice-President and Foreign Minister of Brazil, Marta Lucía Ramírez Blanco, is expected to participate.

Friday – 15 July 2022

• Albania will organise an Arria-formula meeting that is expected to focus on the destruction of cultural heritage in Ukraine.