Security Council Roundup: July 2021
In July, the Security Council heard six briefings in open chamber and five behind closed doors on the work of political missions or peace processes under the purview of the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA). The issues ranged from the need for a ceasefire in Ethiopia, electoral challenges in West Africa and the Sahel, rights and responsibilities over Nile water usage, milestones for reconciliation in Colombia, the lack of political will in Libya and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Ethiopia
Rosemary DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, in a briefing to the Council on the situation in Ethiopia, said that a ceasefire observed by all parties would not only facilitate the provision of humanitarian aid but would also be a starting point for the necessary political efforts to chart a way out of the crisis. “The conflict in Tigray is a result of deep-rooted political grievances that can only be resolved through dialogue and a credible political process,” she stressed.
Ethiopia is at a critical juncture, she continued, calling on the parties to place paramount concern on the protection and well-being of the 1.7 million people who have been displaced by the eight-month-long conflict, including more than 60,000 refugees who have crossed into Sudan.
On recent national elections, DiCarlo called them an “important milestone”, held in a generally peaceful manner, but affected by insecurity and technical problems. Expressing hope that elections can be held in a peaceful and secure environment, she proposed several areas for concerted international support, including by calling for a permanent ceasefire to be honored by all parties and urging Ethiopia’s leaders to swiftly restore national unity through an inclusive dialogue and reconciliation process.
To read her full remarks, click here.
West Africa and the Sahel
On 8 July, the Head of the United Nations Regional Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) and Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG), Mahamat Saleh Annadif, in his first briefing to the Security Council after assuming the role, noted that Security challenges, issues related to the participation of women and young people in decision-making bodies, as well as challenges related to climate change are major obstacles to peace and development in West Africa and the Sahel.
Annadif stressed that “terrorist acts in Liptako-Gourma and in the Lake Chad basin, and crime along the Gulf of Guinea coasts must be dealt with from a regional perspective.” He noted the significantly improved coordination among the ECOWAS action plan, the Regional Stabilization Strategy of the Lake Chad Basin and the United Nations integrated strategy for the Sahel, adding that electoral challenges in the region stem from a deficit of political dialogue and lack of consensus on the principles underpinning elections.
On the topic of inclusion, the SRSG welcomed the progress of national legislation such as laws on quotas and on parity and called for more efforts to consolidate a positive dynamic in terms of the participation of women and young people.
To watch his briefing to the Council (in French), click here.
Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD)
Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, UN Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa, said during his briefing to the Council on 8 July that the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) “encapsulates the conflicting narratives, hopes and fears, challenges and opportunities related to water usage, security and energy in Egypt, Ethiopia, Sudan and the wider Horn of Africa.” Despite various attempts at negotiations, the parties had so far been unable to agree on a framework of engagement to settle the remaining contentious issues, he stated.
Onanga-Anyanga emphasized that “each of the countries sharing the Nile waters has both rights and responsibilities, and the use and management of this natural resource requires the continued engagement of all nations involved, in good faith, with a view to reaching common ground.”
The Special Envoy called on all sides to engage in a constructive manner and to avoid any pronouncements that could increase tensions. He stressed that “cooperation is not a zero-sum game and a collective effort could help deliver on the development potential of the region as a whole.”
Watch his briefing to the Council here.
Colombia
On 13 July, Carlos Ruiz Massieu, Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia, briefed the Council on the Secretary-General’s latest report, noting that the reconciliation process achieved a new milestone in April, when seven former commanders of the highest decision-making body of the former FARC-EP officially accepted their responsibility for crimes against humanity and war crimes, involving hostage-taking and other serious deprivations of liberty.
Ruiz Massieu also referred to the hundreds of victims’ bodies that have been found thanks to information provided by former guerrillas, paramilitary actors and State agents, which has given their families “tranquility after years of painful uncertainty”. He said all of those developments — which were unthinkable in Colombia until recently — have been possible thanks to the Final Peace Agreement.
The Special Representative mentioned with concern the persistent violence and stigmatization against former combatants and members of the Comunes party, especially ahead of the 2022 elections, when they expect to engage actively in political work across the country.
He went on to note that, despite a challenging reintegration landscape, former combatants continue to demonstrate their commitment to building a new life. Parties must continue working together to provide greater certainty to former FARC-EP members and their families, especially by expanding access to housing and land. Underscoring that the comprehensive implementation of the Final Peace Agreement provides a way to tackle the root causes of conflict, he urged Colombian society and institutions to view the accord as an opportunity to help address many of the longstanding issues facing the country.
To read his full remarks, click here.
To watch the briefing, click here.
Libya
Special Envoy and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) Ján Kubiš, on 15 July, briefed the Council on the situation in Libya. “The situation in Libya is getting more difficult, confrontational and tense,” with institutional, political and individual interests standing in the way of agreeing on the necessary legal framework for holding the elections on 24 December 2021. If this impasse over the constitutional basis for elections is not quickly resolved, and if leaders fail to demonstrate political will, then the positive momentum seen just a few months ago will be reversed, he warned.
The continued presence of foreign forces and mercenaries also threatens the ceasefire, he said, emphasizing that Libyan and international actors must agree on a plan for their withdrawal.
He concluded by welcoming the outcome of the second Berlin Conference on Libya and the collective efforts of Member States and regional and international organizations to help the Libyan people in their quest for unity, peace, stability and prosperity. Implementation of the ceasefire agreement and progress on the political and economic tracts are interdependent. “Positive steps are now needed to avoid backsliding on all tracks,” Kubiš stressed.
To read the Special Representative’s full remarks, click here.
The situation in the Middle East
On 28 July, Lynn Hastings, Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, briefed the Security Council on the most recent developments on the ground.
“Beyond the human tragedy for both Palestinians and Israelis, and the physical damage of eleven days of fighting, the economic impact of the escalation in May has further exacerbated the existing humanitarian crisis and severely weakened Gaza’s economy.” She said that international efforts — coordinated by the United Nations — to implement the humanitarian response and stabilize the situation on the ground in Gaza are well underway.
Ms. Hastings stressed that it is essential that Israel implement additional measures to allow unhindered entry of all humanitarian assistance, including materials to implement the 2021 Humanitarian Response Plan and the Flash Appeal.
While urgent humanitarian interventions can provide crucial relief in the short-term, she cautioned that any sustainable future in Gaza requires political solutions. “I again reiterate the need for the return of a legitimate Palestinian Government to the Strip.”
To read the Deputy Special Coordinator’s full remarks, click here
Other meetings
On 7 July, the Security Council heard from Bintou Keita, Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), where she stressed that efforts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo must now coalesce around ending an upsurge of fighting in the eastern provinces of Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu.
The Security Council on 9 July unanimously adopted resolution 2585 (2021), extending the use of the Bab al-Hawa border crossing point, on Syria’s border with Turkey, for the delivery of humanitarian aid for six months, with the expectation of a subsequent renewal for another six months, until 10 July 2022.
With the unanimous adoption of resolution 2586 (2021), the Security Council on 14 July decided to extend the mandate of the United Nations Mission to support the Hudaydah Agreement (UNMHA) until 15 July 2022. The mission will oversee the governate-wide ceasefire, redeployment of forces and mine action operations, and monitor ceasefire compliance in the Red Sea ports of Hudaydah, Salif and Ras Issa. The Council was then briefed, in closed consultations, by Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo and Abhijit Guha, head of UNMHA, on the latest developments in Yemen.
During the briefing on ‘Preserving humanitarian space’ on 16 July, Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, said that security incidents affecting humanitarian workers have increased tenfold around the world since 2001. She reiterated the Secretary-General’s calls for the Council to take strong, immediate action to support its resolutions designed to protect civilians and the humanitarian space.
The Security Council held closed consultations on 19 July on the political situation in Syria. During the meeting, Special Envoy Geir Pedersen urged all sides to define, with greater precision, what kind of reforms and steps they are willing to take, if concrete steps are taken on the other side. The Envoy noted that any steps should be reciprocal and mutual, realistic and precise and should be implemented in parallel.
In a closed-door meeting on 21 July, Elizabeth Spehar, Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), briefed the Council on the situation in Cyprus. She expressed the Secretariat’s deep concern over the recent developments with respect to Varosha and their negative impact on the relations between the parties and the possibilities to return to viable settlement talks.
Watch her press stakeout after the briefing here.
On 22 July, Joanna Wronecka, UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, and UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) Force Commander Stefano Del Col briefed the Council on the implementation of Resolution 1701. Focusing on the recent developments in Lebanon, Special Coordinator Wronecka highlighted the country’s multiple and accumulating socio-economic, financial and political difficulties and their impact on the people.
On 26 July, Special-Representative and head of the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia Natalia Gherman updated the Security Council behind closed doors on the work of her office based in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.
The same day, in closed consultations, Assistant Secretary-General Oscar Fernandez-Taranco briefed the Council on the current challenges of COVID-19 vaccine access in conflict-affected areas.
Atul Khare, Under-Secretary-General for Operational Support, on 27 July, updated the Security Council on the closure of the United Nations-African Union Hybrid Mission in Darfur (UNAMID). Khare told the Council that all uniformed personnel, except for a uniformed Guard Unit, had been withdrawn and that the former mission headquarters and team sites have been closed and handed over to local authorities for civilian use in Central, South and North Darfur States.
On 29 July, Security Council members voted to extend the mandate of the UN Peacekeeping Mission in Cyprus (UNFICYP) for another 6 months. They also voted to extend the sanctions regime in the Central African Republic.
