Week 93, 17 – 21 October 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 held a debate on strengthening the partnership between the African Union and the United Nations. A Debate on Climate and Security in Africa was also convened by the Security Council. The Council was briefed in meetings on Colombia and Yemen. In the UN General Assembly, a resolution which condemned the Russian Federation’s attempted illegal annexation of parts of Eastern Ukraine was adopted.

• On 10 October 2022, the UN General Assembly held a special session in response to the use of the veto by the Russian Federation, which blocked the adoption of a UN Security Council resolution intended to condemn the Russian Federation’s referenda that preceded Moscow’s proclamation of its annexation of Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, on 30 September 2022.
• On 11 October 2022, the Security Council held a debate on the strengthening of the partnership between the African Union and the United Nations. Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, briefed the Council. Pointing out that 70 percent of peacekeeping missions are in Africa and African issues are the most-discussed topics at the United Nations, he called for a deepening of the partnership between the Organisation’s specialised agencies and the African Union. Ireland called on the Council to play a greater role in supporting Africa in responding to climate change, and to strengthen the African Union’s role in promoting good, inclusive and accountable governance which includes the full protection of the freedom of expression and assembly, transparent elections and the promotion of the rule of law.

Moussa Faki Mahamat

• On 12 October 2022, the UN General Assembly, with 143 votes in favour, 5 against and 35 abstentions, adopted a resolution condemning the Russian Federation’s attempted illegal annexation of the Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia regions of Ukraine. The Resolution also called on the Russian Federation to immediately withdraw all its military forces from Ukraine territory. Ireland emphasised its continued commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders. Ireland also described the Russian Federation’s recent use of the veto as a “reprehensible attempt to excuse its own military aggression against Ukraine, a fellow member of our United Nations” and reiterated the call to abolish the veto.
• The Security Council held its regular meeting on Colombia, the first to take place under the new Colombian administration, on 12 October 2022. Carlos Ruiz Massieu, Special Representative and the Head of the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia, presented the Secretary-General’s latest report on Colombia. He also expressed hope that renewed progress on the Government’s peacebuilding commitments, as well as its willingness to resume talks with the National Liberation Army (ELN), would enable the end of a conflict that has lasted for decades. Ireland said that the peace process in Colombia continues to provide a shining example of inclusive peace building and a comprehensive peace accord and welcomed the new Government’s commitment to intensify implementation of the agreement. Voicing support for the Colombian transitional justice system, Ireland underlined that the opening of three new cases at the Special Jurisdiction for Peace, individually and collectively, will have a transformative impact on the lives of victims and survivors and for true reconciliation for all Colombians. 
• On 12 October 2022, the Security Council held a Debate on Climate and Security in Africa. Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee, Assistant Secretary-General for Africa, Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations, briefed the Council and underlined that lasting peace in Africa is unattainable without ambitious climate action at all levels. The Assistant Secretary-General illustrated that from Dakar to Djibouti, desertification and land degradation are driving competition for resources and eroding livelihoods and food security for millions, meanwhile in the Sahel, extremists are exploiting intensifying conflict over resources for their own ends. Ireland said that at the upcoming twenty-seventh Conference of the Parties in Egypt, Member States must increase their ambitions to urgently deliver on the Paris Agreement. Recalling the Security Council’s failure to adopt a much-needed resolution which would have recognised the link between climate change and instability, Ireland noted that nonetheless the Council has increasingly incorporated climate-related security risks into its peacekeeping mandates.

Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee

• The Security Council was briefed by the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grunberg, on 13 October 2022, who outlined that parties to the conflict in Yemen have yet to agree on extending their truce, resulting in fresh uncertainty and a heightened risk for violence. Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator, Joyce Msuya, informed the Council, that civilians in Yemen still face terrible dangers, including from landmines and other explosive hazards, which have killed or injured 70 civilians in September alone. She underlined that day-to-day activities such as farming or even walking to school had become life-threatening. Ireland said that the truce had represented the longest break in hostilities since the conflict in Yemen began more than seven years ago and called on all sides, particularly on the Houthis, to immediately re-engage with the negotiations. Ireland also called on the international community to continue its flow of funding to Yemen to help tackle the country’s economic crisis.

Joyce Msuya

The Week Ahead (17 – 21 October 2022)

This week, the Annual High-Level Open Debate on Women, Peace and Security will take place under the auspices of Gabon’s October Presidency of the Security Council. The Council will also hold meetings on the Golan Heights, Western Sahara, Mali, Kosovo, the Central African Republic, Lebanon and Libya. Ireland will host a side-event during Women, Peace, and Security week, on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in humanitarian contexts.

Monday – 17 October 2022

• The Council will hold closed consultations on the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in the Golan Heights. Jean-Pierre Lacroix, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, will brief on the UN Secretary-General’s report.
• The Council will hold its semi-annual meeting on the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO). The UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for Western Sahara, Staffan de Mistura, and Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Western Sahara and Head of MINURSO, Alexander Ivanko, are expected to brief the Council.

Tuesday – 18 October 2022

• The Council will hold a briefing and consultations on the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), the last scheduled meeting of Ireland’s term on the Council. The Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of MINUSMA, M. El-Ghassim Wane is expected to brief.
• The Council will hold a biannual briefing on the United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), with Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Kosovo and Head of UNMIK, Caroline Ziadeh, expected to present the UN Secretary-General’s latest report.
• Ireland will host a side-event during Women, Peace and Security week, on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in humanitarian contexts.

Wednesday – 19 October 2022

• The Council will hold a briefing and consultations on United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA). Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of MINUSCA, Valentine Rugwabiza, is likely to brief, along with a civil society representative.
• The Council will hold consultations on the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1559 (Lebanon). Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, Rosemary DiCarlo, is expected to brief on the latest UN Secretary-General’s report.

Thursday – 20 October 2022

• The theme of this year’s Annual High-Level Open Debate on Women, Peace and Security will be “Strengthening women’s resilience and leadership as a path to peace in regions plagued by armed groups”. The Executive Director of UN Women, Sima Bahous, is expected to participate. Gabon has joined the WPS Shared Commitments for its October Presidency of the Security Council, an initiative launched by Ireland last year.

Friday – 21 October 2022

• Gabon, as Council President, has scheduled a briefing and consultations on Libya, with the newly appointed Special Representative of the Secretary General, Abdoulaye Bathily, expected to brief the Council for the first time.