Week 96, 7 - 11 November 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 Ghana’s Presidency of the Security Council for the month of November commenced and its first signature event took place, addressing the theme of ‘Integrating effective resilience-building in peace operations for sustainable peace’. The Council held a meeting in response to the Russian Federation’s temporary suspension of its participation in the Black Sea Grain Initiative.

• On 31 October 2022, the Security Council adopted resolution 2657 (2022), extending the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) for one year, by a vote of 14 in favour to none against, with 1 abstention (China).
• On 31 October 2022, Martin Griffiths, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, briefed the Council after the Russian Federation temporarily suspended its participation in the Black Sea Grain Initiative. Mr Griffiths said that the decision would risk causing spikes in food and fertilizer prices and will disproportionately impact developing countries. Ireland underlined that, as always, the most vulnerable will pay the highest price, and urged the Russian Federation to reconsider its decision and resume participation in the Initiative so that food can reach those who need it most, such as those in Somalia, Ethiopia, Yemen and Lebanon. 
• On 31 October 2022, Salvatore Sciacchitano, President of the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), briefed the Security Council. He detailed the outcomes of a fact-finding investigation after a Ryanair flight travelling from Athens, Greece, to Vilnius, Lithuania, was diverted over Belarusian airspace and landed at Minsk Airport, following information provided by the Belarusian air traffic controller of a bomb threat onboard the aircraft. The investigation established that Belarus’ actions were inconsistent with the aims of the Chicago Convention and in contravention of its article 4 on the misuse of civil aviation. Ireland condemned the breach of international aviation law and descried the incident as the latest in a pattern of repressive actions by the Lukashenko regime against the Belarusian people and civil society following the fraudulent 2020 presidential election. 
• On 1 November 2022, Ghana, as Council President for the month of November, detailed the UNSC’s programme of work, which will feature two signature events. Under Ghana’s Presidency, the Council will continue to focus on African issues, the first of the two signature events for the month will be an Open Debate taking place on 3 November, addressing the theme of ‘Integrating effective resilience-building in peace operations for sustainable peace’, and on 10 November, the second signature event will focus on counter-terrorism in Africa.

Ambassador Harold Agyeman, Ghana’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations

• On 2 November 2022, the Security Council renewed EUFOR-Althea mandate in Bosnia and Herzegovina (the European Union-led stabilisation force) for a twelve-month period, by unanimously adopting resolution 2658 (2022). Ireland welcoming the adopting, encouraged all parties in Bosnia and Herzegovina to respect and engage with the Office of the High Representative of the country. Noting that while it was positive that last month’s elections were largely peaceful, Ireland called on parties to repudiate the use of divisive and negative rhetoric. 
• On 2 November 2022, Filippo Grandi, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, brief the Council, detailing that the Russian Federation’s invasion of Ukraine has driven the fastest, largest displacement witnessed in decades, with some 14 million people forced from their homes since 24 February 2022. He added that the confluence of climate change and conflict has created very protracted displacement, urging greater international support for inclusion and integration, both in refugee contexts and situations of internal displacement. Ireland underscored the indisputable link between climate change and displacement and called for greater humanitarian aid in the Horn of Africa. Emphasising that the Council has the responsibility to use sanctions when required, Ireland underlined that they must be effective and without unintended consequences for humanitarian efforts. Ireland, together with the United States, has put forward a proposal to mainstream humanitarian carve-outs across all sanctions regimes. 
• On 3 November 2022, the Council held the Open Debate on the theme of ‘Integrating effective resilience-building in peace operations for sustainable peace’. Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee, Assistant Secretary-General for Africa in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations, stressed that peace operations need clear, realistic and up-to-date mandates, with well-identified priorities, adequate sequencing and flexibility to evolve over time. Mary Robinson, Chair of The Elders, expressed support for the principle of enabling regional organisations, such as the African Union, to take a leading role in conflict prevention and resolution. Ireland emphasized that for peace to be resilient and sustainable, it must be inclusive and locally owned, and that women and youth must be placed front and centre of national and regional responses.

Mary Robinson, Chair of The Elders

• On 4 November 2022, the Security Council elected Leonardo Nemer Caldeira Brant (Brazil) to the International Court of Justice until 5 February 2027.
• On 4 November 2022, Mohamed Khaled Khiari, Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific in the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations, briefed the Council. He stated that the launch of an unprecedented number of missiles, including an intercontinental ballistic missile, on 2 and 3 November 2022 by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), is reckless and a clear violation of Security Council resolutions. Ireland said that the launches show the continuing, unprecedented escalation of the DPRK’s illegal missile activities over the past year and called on Pyongyang to immediately end its destabilising actions. 

Mohamed Khaled Khiari, Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific in the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs 

The Week Ahead (7 -11 November 2022)

This week, the Council will hold closed consultations on Syria. The Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Karim Khan will brief the Council, and the second signature event of the Ghanaian Presidency will take place, addressing counter-terrorism in Africa.

Monday – 7 November 2022

• The Syria (chemical weapons) meeting will be held in closed consultations format.
• The Council will hold a Troop/Police Contributing Country (TCC/PCC) meeting on MINUSCA (Central African Republic).
• The Council will hold a Troop/Police Contributing Country (TCC/PCC) meeting on UNISFA (Sudan/South Sudan).

Tuesday – 8 November 2022

• No official meetings.

Wednesday – 9 November 2022

• The Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Karim Khan, will deliver his semi-annual briefing to the Council on the situation in Libya. 

Thursday – 10 November 2022

• The Council will hold a debate on “Counter Terrorism in Africa: An Imperative for Peace, Security and Development”.

Friday – 11 November 2022

• No official meetings.