Week 94, 24 – 28 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, Gabon, as Security Council President for October, held the Annual High-Level Open Debate on Women, Peace and Security. The Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 2653 (2022), which established a sanctions regime targeting gangs in Haiti. During the week, the Council met to discuss the situations in Haiti, Mali, Kosovo, the Central African Republic and Ukraine.

• On 17 October 2022, the Security Council was briefed by Helen La Lime, Head of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH), who described a grim situation unfolding in the country. She detailed that the rapid spread of cholera is claiming many lives, while gang members are continuing to block the Varreux port terminal, the main repository for the country’s fuel, disrupting access to hospitals and water suppliers, further impacting the medical and humanitarian response to the outbreak. Ireland expressed deep concern, especially over the sexual and gender-based violence in Haiti and reaffirmed its commitment to remain actively engaged with the Council to create a sanctions regime aimed specifically at gangs.
• On 18 October 2022, El-Ghassim Wane, the Head of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), briefed the Council on the volatile security situation in central Mali. Highlighting progress in Mali’s political transition, he pointed to the draft constitution and preparations for a constitutional referendum in March 2023.  Turning to the humanitarian situation, he said there are now more than 422,000 internally displaced persons in Mali and more than 1.8 million people facing severe food insecurity.  In the ensuing debate, Council members expressed condolences for the four MINUSMA peacekeepers who died on 17 October 2022. Ireland expressed concern that more than a quarter of the incidents in MINUSMA’s human rights report are attributed to the Malian Defence and Security Forces. Ireland also outlined that the 40 percent increase in reported instances of conflict-related sexual violence is not acceptable.
• On 18 October 2022, Caroline Ziadeh, Head of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), informed the Security Council that, since last spring, escalations in rhetoric between Pristina and Belgrade had led to tensions on the ground, threatening to impede many of the gains previously achieved through the European Union-facilitated dialogue. Donika Gërvalla-Schwarz, Foreign Minister of Kosovo, noted that her country will apply for European Union membership this year and aspires to become a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) soon. Ireland welcomed the 27 August 2022 agreement on free movement between Kosovo and Serbia after high-level talks in Brussels and encouraged both sides to continue their engagement to resolve all outstanding issues.

Caroline Ziadeh

• On 19 October 2022, the Council received a briefing from Valentine Rugwabiza, Head of United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), who expressed her condolences to the families of the blue helmets who were struck and killed by explosive devices on 5 October 2022. She expressed concern at the resurgence of armed groups’ activity in the region and called on the Central African Republic government to lift the ban on night flights, stressing they are essential for the safety and security of blue helmets, humanitarian actors, civilians and people in humanitarian need. Ireland noted the deteriorating human rights situation in the country and expressed concern that 45 percent of documented violations are attributed to State agents, while armed groups have responsibility for 44.3 percent of documented abuses during the reporting period. Ireland also highlighted that the Central African Republic has one of the highest proportions of critically food-insecure people globally

Valentine Rugwabiza

• Gabon, as Security Council President for October, held the Annual High-Level Open Debate on Women, Peace and Security on 20 October 2022. United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, presented the latest report of the Secretary-General on Women, Peace and Security to the Council and called for more women mediators and negotiators to be put forward; and for greater support to be extended to the underfunded frontline work of women peacebuilders. Ireland pointed to Ukraine, Afghanistan and Haiti, emphasising that the situation of women in conflict has worsened over the last two years.  Citing crackdowns in Iran after the death of Mahsa Amini, and the persecution of activists in Myanmar, Ireland called for those responsible to be held accountable. Ireland also called on the United Nations to lead by example and make women’s participation a requirement in all peace processes, while ensuring that perpetrators of conflict-related sexual violence are held to account.
• On 21 October 2022, the Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 2653 (2022), which established a sanctions regime on Haiti, imposing a targeted arms embargo, travel ban and asset freeze upon individuals and entities designated for such measures, who are responsible for or complicit in actions that threaten the peace, security or stability of the country.
• On 21 October 2022, Rosemary DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, briefed the Council on the situation in Ukraine and expressed concern over the destruction of critical energy infrastructure such as power plants. Denise Brown, United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine, reported that temperatures are plummeting and warned of an increased risk of even more deaths in the months ahead because civilians do not have access to essential services. She expressed particular concern over people who cannot be reached in Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia. Ireland expressed concern over the use of Iranian-supplied unmanned aerial vehicles, as their acquisition by the Russian Federation contravenes Council resolution 2231 (2015). Ireland also emphasised that the unconscionable attacks by the Russian Federation on civilian targets represent a blatant disregard for human life and constitute a serious violation of international law

Joyce Msuya

The Week Ahead (24 – 28 October 2022)

This week, the Security Council will hold meetings on both the Syria Political and Humanitarian files. The Council will be briefed on the Great Lakes region, the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei. The quarterly open debate on the situation in the Middle East, including on the Palestinian Question, will also take place.

Monday – 24 October 2022

• No official meetings.

Tuesday – 25 October 2022

• The Council will hold a meeting on both the Syria Political and Humanitarian files. The Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, will brief on political issues and developments on the ground.  The Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Martin Griffiths, will brief the Council on humanitarian issues, and is likely to focus on the implementation of Resolution 2642 and associated challenges. Ireland and Norway are co-penholders on the humanitarian file, and Ireland will deliver the co-penholders’ humanitarian statement this month.
• The Council will hold closed consultations on Syria (Chemical Weapons).

Wednesday – 26 October 2022

• The Council will hold its regular briefing and consultations on the Great Lakes region. The Special Envoy for the Great Lakes region, Huang Xia, will brief, with a focus on the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Region.
• The President of the International Court of Justice, Judge Joan E. Donoghue, will give her annual private briefing to the Council.

Thursday – 27 October 2022

• The Council will hold a briefing and consultations on the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA, Sudan/South Sudan). UN Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa, Hannah Tetteh, and Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix will brief. The UNISFA mandate is due to expire on 15 November 2022. 
• The Council is expected to adopt a resolution extending the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), which is due to expire on 31 October 2022.
• The mandate of the UN Verification Mission in Colombia is due to be renewed in advance of its expiry on 31 October 2022.  

Friday – 28 October 2022

• The Council will hold its quarterly open debate on the situation in the Middle East, including on the Palestinian Question. The UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Tor Wennesland, will brief the Council, and representatives of Israel and the Observer State of Palestine are expected to participate.
• The Council is expected to adopt a resolution renewing the mandate of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL).
• The United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) mandate renewal is scheduled for adoption on 28 October 2022.