African Diplomacy Observer

On October 1st, Ghana took on the presidency of the UN Security Council for the month of October 2007. During this month, the UNSC will have to handle and deal with several issues relating to the international peace and security. In that regard, the Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon, is expected to report on the evolution of several peacekeeping, peacebuilding process situations (Afghanistan, Eritrea-Ethiopia, Georgia, Guinea-Bissau, Iraq, Lebanon, Somalia -prospects for the deployment of a UN Mission replacing the African Union Mission, AMISOM, and arms embargo-, Sudan -progress toward achieving the full operational capacity of the AU-UN Hybrid Operation in Darfur, etc.), as well as on particular issues such as "Women and peace and security", "Conflict prevention and resolution, particularly in Africa", "Protection of civilians in armed conflict".

The Council will also review, and certainly extent, the mandate of certain peacekeeping operations (UN Operation in Côte d’Ivoire -UNOCI-, UN Mission in Sudan -UNMIS-, UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara -MINURSO-, UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti -MINUSTAH-, and UN Observer Mission in Georgia -UNOMIG).

During this month, the SC is expected to adopt its Annual Report for the period 1 August 2006 to 31 July 2007 at a formal meeting during October 2007. In the same vein, the Peacebuilding Commission shall submit its Annual Report to the SC for an annual debate. Finally, on October 16, the election of four of the ten non-permanent members of the SC, whose mandate expired on December 31, 2007, is scheduled to be held in the General Assembly. The agenda of the UNSC will also be shaped by topical issues such as the Iranian nuclear programme and the crisis in Burma.

Source: UNSC Tentative Monthly Programme of Work

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has decided to appoint Ibrahim Gambari of Nigeria as his Special Adviser on the International Compact with Iraq and Other Political Issues. At this position, Ibrahim Gambari will play an important role in ensuring the coordinated support from the United Nations system with regard to the International Compact with Iraq with a view to allow the implementation of commitments made towards a peaceful, secure and prosperous Iraq. The International Compact with Iraq was launched in July 2006 to help Iraq consolidate peace and pursue political, economic and social development over the next five years.

Ibrahim Gambari has occupied top positions in his country’s Foreign Service, in the international service, as well as in the academia. In that respect, before his appointment to that position, Mr. Gambari headed the UN Department for Political Affairs (DPA) as from July 2005. He held the position of Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on Africa and served, from September 2002 to February 2003, as Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Mission to Angola.

Before joining the United Nations Secretariat in 1999, Mr. Gambari served as the Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the United Nations.  He also served as President of the Security Council on two occasions when Nigeria was a member. Prior to his tenure as Ambassador/Permanent Representative, Mr. Gambari served as Minister for External Affairs of Nigeria.  He had served as Director-General, Nigerian Institute of International Affairs.

Source: UN News Centre

This month of March 2007 South Africa assumes the presidency of the United Nations Security Council. During this month, the Council will address and discuss, among others, issues, questions and situations in the following countries and regions: Afghanistan, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guinea-Bissau, Iran (nuclear proliferation), Iraq, Kosovo, Liberia, Palestine, Somalia, Sudan (particularly the Darfur issue as well as the eventuality of sanctions), the Great Lakes region, cross-border issues in West Africa, as well as UN missions/operations (the mandate of some UN missions has to be extended and the UN Secretary-General is expected to report on some situations) in some of these countries.

Three African countries are currently non-permanent members of the UN Security Council: Congo and Ghana (until 31 December 2007) and South Africa (until 31 DEcember 2008).

Source: Programme of work of the Security Council for the month of March 2007