Week 85, 22 – 26 August 2022

This bulletin will provide a brief analysis of last week’s meetings at the UN Security Council (UNSC), and an overview of the upcoming meetings this week.

Last week, the Security Council was briefed on the recently extended truce in Yemen. Members of the Council called an ‘Any Other Business’ meeting on Georgia, and the Council held closed consultations regarding the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon.

• On 15 August 2022, the Council was briefed on the situation in Yemen. Hans Grundberg, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen, spoke to the Council following the extension of a truce in Yemen until 2 October 2022. Mr Grunberg said that the truce is holding broadly in military terms, fuel products are flowing through the port of Hudaydah, and passenger and commercial flights are being transported through Sana’a international airport. He informed the Council that despite a significant decline in civilian casualties, the increase in children killed, which now make up about 40 per cent of reported civilian deaths due to the war, is worrisome. The Acting Director of the Operations and Advocacy Division of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Ghada Eltahir Mudawi, highlighted some of the major economic challenges in the country, including an exchange rate worse than before the truce and a precarious food supply chain. Ireland welcomed the truce and said the indispensable role of women in peacebuilding across the country must be matched by their full, equal and meaningful participation in all stages of the peace process, and at all levels of political representation. Ireland also called for the immediate release of all detained staff of the United Nations and non-governmental organisations

  

                Hans Grundberg                              Ghada Eltahir Mudawi

 

• On 15 August 2022, Ireland, Albania, France, Norway, the United Kingdom and the United States requested a United Nations Security Council AOB meeting on Georgia. Ireland urged Russia to fulfil its international obligations, implement the 2008 Ceasefire Agreement and withdraw its military and security forces.  
• On 17 August 2022, the Assistant Secretary General Middle East, Asia and the Pacific, Khaled Khiari, briefed the Council in a closed consultation about the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon.

 

Khaled Khiari

The Week Ahead (22 - 26 August 2022)

This week, the second signature event of China’s UNSC Presidency, a briefing on common security through dialogue and cooperation, will take place. Karim Khan, Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, will brief the Council on the Court’s investigation in Darfur. Meetings will also be held on Libya and the Middle East, including the Palestinian Question.

Monday – 22 August 2022

• The Council will hold a briefing on the maintenance of peace and security, with a focus on the promotion of common security through dialogue and cooperation. This will be the second signature event of China’s Presidency of the Council. The UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, is expected to brief.          

Tuesday – 23 August 2022

• The Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Karim Khan, will give his semi-annual briefing to the Council on the Court’s investigation regarding Darfur.

Wednesday – 24 August 2022

• The Council will hold a briefing and consultations on the Libyan Sanctions Regime and the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL). The Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, as well as India, as Chair of the 1970 Committee, are expected to brief.  

Thursday – 25 August 2022

• The Council will hold its monthly meeting on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian Question. Special Coordinator, Tor Wennesland, will brief.

Friday – 26 August 2022

• No official meetings.