Sudan’s deepening war is driving unprecedented levels of hunger, child malnutrition and displacement, UN agencies report, as new data from Darfur and a renewed refugee influx into Chad underscore the rapidly deteriorating situation.
Sudan’s deepening war is driving unprecedented levels of hunger, child malnutrition and displacement, UN agencies report, as new data from Darfur and a renewed refugee influx into Chad underscore the rapidly deteriorating situation.
Sexual violence against children has become entrenched, systemic and increasingly widespread across the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), with new data showing a sharp rise in cases since 2022, according to the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
Mr. President,
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen.
On 26 December, Prime Minister Netanyahu announced Israel’s official recognition of “Somaliland” as an independent and sovereign state.
Subsequently, on the same day, “Somaliland” issued a statement welcoming what it termed a “historic and principled” decision by the State of Israel to officially recognize what it described as its sovereignty and independence. The statement noted that the recognition represented a milestone in “Somaliland’s” longstanding pursuit of international legitimacy, and what it asserted its historical, legal, and moral entitlement to statehood. Moreover, the statement affirmed that the recognition gave rise to the establishment of full diplomatic relations between “Somaliland” and the State of Israel and will proceed to deepen cooperation across a broad range of sectors.
Mr. President,
In response to these developments, the Federal Government of Somalia issued a statement reaffirming its absolute and non-negotiable commitment to its sovereignty, national unity and territorial integrity as enshrined in the Provisional Constitution of the Federal Republic of Somalia, the Charter of the United Nations and the Constitutive Act of the African Union. The Federal Government of Somalia further stated that it categorically and unequivocally rejected what it characterized as a deliberate attack on its sovereignty.
The Somali statement further noted that no external actor has the authority or standing to alter its unity or territorial configuration. Therefore, according to the statement, Somalia considers any declaration, recognition, or arrangement that seeks to undermine this reality to be null and void and without any legal or political effect under international law.
In its statement, Somalia also underscored that it would not permit the establishment of any foreign military bases or arrangement that would draw the country into proxy conflicts or import regional and international hostilities into this region. The Federal Government of Somalia warned that actions of this nature seriously undermined regional peace and stability and exacerbated tensions in the region.
On 27 December, a joint session of Somalia’s two Houses of Parliament also condemned and rejected what it termed the “unlawful” recognition of “Somaliland” by Israel. In a statement, the parliament further noted that “any recognition by Israel or any other country is null and void, without legal basis, and has no international legal effect.”
Mr. President,
Israel’s announcement prompted widespread reactions from the region and beyond, including from Egypt, Jordan, Djibouti, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, among others, as well as a joint statement by 20 Middle Eastern and African countries rejecting and condemning Israel’s recognition of “Somaliland”. Several regional organizations have issued similar statements stating the importance of respecting the unity, the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia, including the League of Arab States, the Eastern African Community, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the European Union. The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, on 26 December, rejected any recognition of “Somaliland” and reaffirmed the African Union’s unwavering commitment to the unity and sovereignty of Somalia. The Chairperson of the Commission further noted that any attempt to undermine the unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Somalia runs counter to the fundamental principles of the African Union and risks setting a dangerous precedent with far-reaching implications for peace and stability across the continent.
In closing, Mr. President, I would like to recall, as has the Secretary-General, that the Security Council has repeatedly affirmed the respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence and unity of Somalia, as most recently reaffirmed in resolution 2809 (2025) of 23 December 2025. I also call on Somali stakeholders to engage in peaceful and constructive dialogue, in particular recalling the 2023 Djibouti Communique on talks between the Federal Government of Somalia and “Somaliland”.
I thank you.
The UN Security Council meets today to hear a briefing on threats to international peace and security following Israel’s recent recognition of the northern region of Somalia as an independent and sovereign state. Follow live below and UN News app users can click here and go here for all our in-depth meeting coverage.
As the world enters 2026 amid mounting crises, the UN Secretary-General António Guterres has issued a stark but hopeful New Year appeal, urging global leaders to shift resources away from destruction and towards development, peace and people.
By Rosemary DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs
We are coming to the end of one of the most challenging years in the history of the United Nations. The catastrophic war between Israel and Hamas, the carnage in Sudan and the devastating fighting in Ukraine were only three of the acute crises the global community grappled with in 2025. Violent conflicts killed thousands of civilians around the world and led to widespread destruction of livelihoods and infrastructure. Global political divisions deepened, making international cooperation to promote peaceful resolution of conflict even more difficult. Compounding this dire situation, the United Nations — the body charged with bringing the world together to maintain peace and security — is facing a financial crisis that is constraining its capacity to respond.
As tough as the year has been, it has also served to confirm the need for sustained and adequate investment — political and financial — in peace efforts. The successful push to increase support for Haiti as it tackles widespread criminal violence that also threatens the region is a case in point. At times like these it is equally crucial to remember that peace is not only the absence of war, but that it is often built gradually, sometimes painstakingly, with gestures and actions big and small. As you’ll see in the stories and pieces we’ve compiled here, much of the world continues to look to the United Nations for support in creating or bolstering the institutions that prevent conflict, consolidate democracy and lay the ground for economic development. That is what we do in the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) when we help countries hold inclusive elections or help competing groups settle differences at the negotiating table instead of the battlefield. We monitor global developments to keep the Security Council and the United Nations leadership informed and prepared to act to foster peace. We back up the work of the Council’s sanctions mechanisms. And we put the vast expertise and experience gathered over the last 80 years to work to help countries make the transition from violent turmoil to stability, including in many of our special political missions.
The international political environment is indeed difficult, but our commitment to supporting countries in their efforts to prevent and resolve conflict and build sustainable peace is undiminished. We look to the global community in turn to continue to back our work, politically and financially, to enable us to fulfill our important mandate.
Here’s a quick look at some of our areas of work as covered in our online newsletter, Politically Speaking.
DPPA and the UN system provided electoral assistance to over 40 countries in 2025. In October, we looked at how this support aims to make elections worldwide peaceful, inclusive, and credible, always at the request of Member States and under national ownership. It highlights local examples — from Malawi to Liberia, Vanuatu, Ecuador, Jordan, and others — to show how assistance is adapted to each country’s needs, whether through strengthening electoral institutions, improving laws, supporting information integrity, or ensuring that women, youth, persons with disabilities and other marginalized groups can participate fully. Demand for UN electoral support is growing, even as funding declines, and multiple UN entities coordinate this work as a cost effective investment in good governance and conflict prevention.
“Genuine elections that reflect the will of the people are not guaranteed. Gains can be reversed. Sustained commitment and investment are essential to ensure inclusion, protect electoral integrity and maintain public trust.”
UN sanctions have evolved from broad, country-wide measures to more targeted tools — such as arms embargoes, travel bans and asset freezes — aimed at specific individuals, groups or sectors that threaten international peace and security. Today, 14 sanctions regimes support conflict resolution, counter terrorism and non-proliferation, and are designed to work alongside diplomacy, mediation and peace operations rather than punish entire populations.
“Security Council sanctions can be broadly considered as measures strategically imposed to restrict activities in a wide range of areas, aimed at achieving peace and security objectives.”
DPPA was a partner in the “Through Her Lens: Women Rising for Peace” photo exhibit, launched at the 2025 Photoville Festival. The exhibit showcases women as protagonists in making and keeping peace, challenging the stereotype of women as only victims of war.
“These images are more than art — they are a collective story of resilience, acts of resistance, and transformation.”
Recent IMF research shows that well targeted macroeconomic policies can be a highly cost effective tool for preventing armed conflict. It is estimated that every $1 spent on prevention can yield returns of $26–$75 in countries without recent violence and up to $103 in countries emerging from conflict.
We looked at how DPPA and its Peacebuilding Support Office apply a “prevention lens” in practice, working with international financial institutions and governments to design and implement national prevention and peacebuilding plans, support youth empowerment and inclusion, and engage early in fragile contexts through diplomacy, mediation and local peacebuilding efforts.
“We found that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
Indigenous Peoples, though disproportionately affected by climate risks and conflict, remain underrepresented in decision-making, even as they steward a large share of the world’s land and biodiversity. In 2025, we examined Indigenous-led, climate-informed peacebuilding, focusing on the shift from viewing Indigenous communities as vulnerable groups to recognizing them as key partners.
“Please don’t worry about us, just include us.”
The situation in five countries on the Security Council’s agenda — and monitored by DPPA — saw significant developments in 2025, reflecting, notably, the effects of a substantially changed geopolitical landscape.
Gaza continued to retain much of the Security Council’s attention during 2025. DPPA and UNSCO, the Jerusalem-based special political mission it oversees, briefed the Council regularly on the impact of the fighting in the territory and the need to reach a ceasefire, release the hostages and prisoners and allow the unimpeded delivery of aid into Gaza. In September, the United States, with Egypt and Qatar, brokered a ceasefire in Gaza, which was welcomed by the Secretary-General and later endorsed in October by the Council in resolution 2803. Briefing the Council in December, Ramiz Alakbarov, Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, said the ceasefire “remains fragile, as we have seen with continued attacks and strikes in Gaza.” He welcomed the “ongoing efforts by the mediators to avert further escalation, support implementation of current commitments — including the recovery and return of the last Israeli hostage — and to advance discussions on the next phase and implementation of the Comprehensive Plan for Gaza, in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2803.” UNSCO and DPPA continue to support the implementation of the ceasefire by supporting humanitarian efforts and providing expertise and advice on ceasefire implementation to pave the way toward a path to a political process and sustainable peace.
Amid broadly somber global political sentiment at the beginning 2025, there were some signs of hope, and none more prominent than the change of government in Syria after decades of repression and 14 years of a bloody conflict. As Bashar al-Assad fled Syria in December 2024, the Secretary-General said: “We will need the support of the international community to ensure that any political transition is inclusive and comprehensive and that it meets the legitimate aspirations of the people of Syria, in all their diversity.” Many countries lifted bilateral sanctions on Syria in 2025, and in November, the Security Council removed Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Minister of Interior Anas Hasan Khattab from its ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions List. In December 2025, Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo told the Security Council that, “[o]ne year ago, the hope of millions of Syrians was realized when then President Assad fled the country.” She commended the people of Syria for the progress made since, “despite the undeniable and daunting challenges before them.” She added that the Office of the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Syria, the special political mission for the country, continues to be fully engaged with the Government and Syrian society and provides them with good offices support on issues related to the transition, including transitional justice. The Office, with DPPA support, is seeking to be on the ground in Damascus to engage in a structured and supportive way throughout the transition.
In Sudan, however, there is no end in sight to the war. After nearly 1000 days of brutal fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the country is in the grip of the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. Throughout 2025, UN leaders condemned the violence at the hands of both parties. In October, shortly after the fall of El Fasher to the RSF, Assistant Secretary-General Martha Pobee warned: “The risk of mass atrocities, ethnically targeted violence and further violations of international humanitarian law, including sexual violence, remains alarmingly high across the country, and particularly in El Fasher.”
The situation is simply horrifying. In the past week, the UN Human Rights Office has documented widespread and serious human rights violations in and around El Fasher. These include credible reports of mass killings in various locations and summary executions during house-to-house searches and as civilians have tried to flee the city.
The conflict is being fanned by other countries in the region and farther afield. As Assistant Secretary-General Khaled Khiari told the Council in December, “The continued supply of weapons — increasingly sophisticated and deadly — remains a key driver of the conflict. Sudan is saturated with arms. Calls to end these flows have gone unheeded, and there has been no accountability. Moreover, the parties remain unwilling to compromise or de-escalate. While they were able to stop fighting to preserve oil revenues, they have so far failed to do the same to protect their population.”
The Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for Sudan, Ramtane Lamamra, is in contact with the warring parties to encourage them to engage in discussions on concrete and implementable measures to de-escalate violence and advance the protection of civilians in Sudan. Lamamra is also engaging closely with members of the Quad, composed of the United States, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. “Consistent coordination of peace efforts is essential to increase our collective impact,” Khiari said, adding that preparations are underway for the fifth Consultative Meeting on Enhancing Coordination of Peace Initiatives. The next meeting is expected to be held in Cairo in early 2026.
The situation remained critical in Haiti in 2025, but there was also a significant breakthrough. The Security Council in September authorized the creation of a multinational, non-UN mission — the Gang Suppression Force — to counter the criminal groups terrorizing the population. The Council took on board several important recommendations by the Secretary-General to make increased security support for Haiti more effective, notably the establishment of a support office funded by the UN’s peacekeeping budget — UNSOH — to provide logistical and other backing to the GSF. Speaking to the Council in October, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Haiti Carlos Ruiz Massieu said the establishment of the GSF and UNSOH reflected “the continued engagement of the Security Council in supporting the restoration of security in Haiti. More importantly, it has generated a renewed sense of hope among Haitians.” He emphasized that improving the security situation is vital to support Haitian-led efforts to advance the political process and set the stage for elections to renew the country’s political institutions. The Special Representative heads BINUH, the UN’s special political mission in Haiti.
In Libya, too, there was progress in 2025 in preparation for future elections. Through its integrated electoral team, UNSMIL continued to provide technical and advisory support to the High National Elections Commission (HNEC) in the organization of municipal council elections across the country. Building on the successful polling conducted in November 2024, HNEC implemented a phased nationwide approach, with polling conducted in over one hundred municipalities in 2025 and additional local elections anticipated in 2026. In December, the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) announced the launch of a key step in an initiative announced at the end of 2024 to help clear a path to national elections and unified institutions. On 14 and 15 December, over 120 Libyan personalities — representing key sovereign institutions, civil society actors, political parties, academia, cultural and linguistic components — took part in the inaugural session of the Structured Dialogue, a forum mandated to generate recommendations to, among others, create the conditions for credible elections, bring an end to successive transitional arrangements, advance economic and security sector reforms and support national reconciliation and human rights. The Structured Dialogue is an integral part of the political roadmap that UNSMIL is facilitating and that Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya Hannah Tetteh presented to the Council in August. Addressing the Council in December, Tetteh, the head of UNSMIL, said “the country’s path to elections remains fraught with complications that are challenging, but we believe can be overcome.”
In February, as the expanded war in Ukraine hit the three-year mark after the full-scale Russian invasion, Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo underscored the need for a just and comprehensive peace, in line with the Charter of the United Nations, international law, and resolutions of the General Assembly. A month later, the Under-Secretary-General told the Council that it was meeting at a potential inflection point in the war amid intensified efforts to bring the parties to negotiations. However, despite cautious optimism around resumed diplomatic efforts, 2025 has been particularly deadly for Ukrainian civilians. In November, the Under-Secretary-General visited Ukraine to express solidarity with the Ukrainian people and reiterate the call for a just and lasting peace. In Ukraine and before the Council throughout 2025, the Under-Secretary-General and other senior DPPA officials consistently conveyed the UN’s readiness to support all meaningful efforts to achieve such a peace.
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One United Nations peacekeeper was injured on Friday after heavy machine gunfire from Israel Defense Forces (IDF) positions south of the Blue Line, following a nearby grenade explosion, impacted close to a UN patrol in southern Lebanon.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres “unequivocally condemns” the deadly terrorist attack on a mosque in Homs, Syria during Friday prayers, his spokesperson said in a statement
The UN has urged Sudan’s warring parties to pursue compromise and an immediate ceasefire, even as drone attacks, displacement and the killing of peacekeepers underscore the growing risks to civilians and humanitarians.
The UN has long been at the forefront of efforts to involve young people in decision-making, and the last decade has seen significant progress, thanks to the adoption of a Security Council resolution on youth, peace and security which led to widespread changes in the ways that the voices of young people are not just heard, but also incorporated in peace plans and policies.
With Central Africans set to vote in presidential, legislative, regional and long-delayed municipal elections this weekend, the United Nations has appealed for calm and restraint, warning that the credibility of the process will be critical to consolidating peace after years of conflict and instability.
Thank you, Mr. President, Excellencies,
The United States’ military presence and operations in the Southern Caribbean, off the coast of Venezuela, have increased since this Council last discussed the situation on 10 October, further heightening tensions between the two countries.
The United States described its military deployment as part of a, quote, “non-international armed conflict”, unquote, against drug cartels and drug trafficking, invoking Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations. President Donald Trump has stated that he is going to use “the full power of the United States to take on and eradicate these drug cartels no matter where they’re operating from”.
The Venezuelan Government, including its Permanent Representative, has described the measures by the United States as a serious threat to international peace and security. Most recently, in a letter dated 16 December and addressed to the President of the Security Council, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Venezuela asserted that the United States is violating the principle prohibiting the threat or use of force in international relations.
Mr. President,
US strikes on vessels alleged to be illegally carrying drugs in the Southern Caribbean Sea and the Eastern Pacific have continued. According to United States authorities, 105 individuals have been killed in these strikes since 2 September. Officials have stated that the strikes have taken place in “international waters” or in the “SOUTHCOM area of responsibility”. The exact locations of these incidents have not been disclosed.
In a statement on 31 October, the High Commissioner for Human Rights said that “the airstrikes by the United States of America on boats in the Caribbean and the Pacific – allegedly linked to drug trafficking -- violate international human rights law”. The High Commissioner added that “countering illicit trafficking of drugs across international borders is – as has long been agreed among States – a law-enforcement matter, governed by the careful limits on lethal force set out in international human rights law”. He called for prompt, independent and transparent investigations.
Mr. President,
In late November, President Nicolás Maduro and President Trump held a telephone conversation.
On 24 November, the United States designation of the Cartel de los Soles [kaɾˈtel de los ˈsoles] as a foreign terrorist organisation entered into force under US law. Subsequently, the United States imposed additional measures against organizations and individuals it alleges are linked to these activities.
On 29 November, President Trump declared that the airspace above and around Venezuela should be considered “closed in its entirety.” This followed an alert issued by the US Federal Aviation Administration a few days earlier, warning major airlines of a “potentially hazardous situation when flying over Venezuela”. Since then, most international airlines have suspended or cancelled flights to and from the country. Venezuelan authorities have described this as an attempt to impose an “air blockade”.
The International Civil Aviation Organization issued a statement on 1 of December recalling that, and I quote, “Article 1 of the 1944 Convention on International Civil Aviation recognizes that every State has complete and exclusive sovereignty over the airspace above its territory”, end of quote. The statement further noted, and I quote: “Any State can issue any information to its own operators regarding risks for flights over or in proximity of any geographic zone, including of another State”, end of quote.
On 10 December, tensions increased further when President Trump announced that the United States had seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, stating that the Government of Venezuela was using oil to finance criminal activities. He also declared that, and I quote: “The Venezuelan regime has been designated a foreign terrorist organization” under United States laws and ordered “a total and complete blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers going into and out of Venezuela”, end of quote.
Subsequently, United States authorities imposed sanctions on six shipping companies operating in Venezuela’s oil sector and six vessels allegedly associated with these companies, which the US claims “have engaged in deceptive and unsafe shipping practices”.
Venezuelan authorities described these actions as a “unilateral naval blockade”. In identical letters dated 17 December and addressed to the Secretary-General and the President of the Security Council, the Permanent Representative of Venezuela stated that US actions violate Venezuela’s national sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence. The letter further asserted that “the naval blockade, imposed unilaterally”, constitutes “a violation of international law.”
In recent days, reports indicate that the Venezuelan navy has been escorting ships departing its ports with petroleum products.
On 20 December, the United States interdicted another tanker off the coast of Venezuela that was transporting oil from Venezuela. According to United States announcements, the vessel was suspected of carrying oil subject to sanctions under US laws.
On 21 December, the US Coast Guard pursued a third oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela. Reportedly, the ship did not submit to boarding during the attempted interdiction and continued sailing away from the Caribbean Sea.
US actions have received support from some regional allies, but other Member States within and beyond the region have voiced concern over the militarization of the Southern Caribbean and stressed the importance of respecting national sovereignty and international law. Several Member States have echoed calls for de-escalation and dialogue to address ongoing tensions.
Mr. President, Excellencies,
In September, citing external threats, President Maduro enacted a decree expanding the Government’s emergency powers. Public life has become further militarized, while Venezuelans continue to face serious human rights concerns and socioeconomic challenges.
The UN Human Rights Office reported coerced enlistment into the Bolivarian Militia, including adolescents and older persons.
The High Commissioner has also reported on sweeping restrictions on freedom of expression and peaceful assembly; arbitrary detention and enforced disappearances; as well as acute social and economic strain. He called for an immediate end of enforced disappearances, incommunicado detention, and unauthorized transfers of detainees to unknown locations.
The High Commissioner further reiterated the disproportionate impact of broad sectoral sanctions on Venezuela’s most vulnerable populations, noting that these measures also hinder the work of human rights and humanitarian organizations. He called for the sanctions to be reassessed and lifted.
Venezuela’s economy was already extremely fragile, with soaring inflation, currency instability, and widespread income erosion. Millions are unable to meet basic needs. Recent air and maritime restrictions, along with reduced exports, risk further constraining the Government’s fiscal ability to deliver basic public services.
As the humanitarian situation deteriorates, the United Nations and its partners continue to work and deliver assistance in support of the Venezuelan people, including through recent financial allocations of the United Nation’s Central Emergency Response Fund, and the Venezuela Humanitarian Fund.
Mr. President,
On 17 December, at his request, President Maduro held a telephone conversation with the Secretary-General. The Secretary-General reaffirmed the United Nations position on the need for Member States to respect international law, particularly the United Nations Charter, exercise restraint and de-escalate tensions to preserve regional stability.
The Secretary-General stands ready to support all efforts at diplomatic engagement, including the exercise of his good offices, if both parties so request it. He welcomes initiatives by Member States, offers for mediation, and proposals for peaceful solutions.
Dialogue is the only viable path toward lasting peace and preventing further instability and human suffering.
Thank you, Mr. President.
Mister President,
Thank you for the opportunity to brief the Security Council on the implementation of resolution 2231 (2015).
As the Secretary-General noted in the report before you, despite intensified diplomatic efforts during the second half of 2025, there was no agreement on the way forward regarding the Iran nuclear programme.
On 28 August 2025, France, Germany and the United Kingdom – referred to as the E3 States - notified the Council of their intention to trigger the snapback mechanism of resolution 2231 (2015).
They attributed their decision to what they described as the “significant non-performance” by the Islamic Republic of Iran of its commitments under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
In accordance with the snapback procedure, as the Council did not adopt a resolution to continue the termination of measures within 30 days from the E3 letter, the previously existing sanctions on the Islamic Republic of Iran were re-applied on 27 September 2025.
This entailed reinstating the website of the 1737 sanctions Committee and the corresponding sanctions list.
Several relevant Member States rejected the validity and effect of the snapback process. Specifically, some members asserted that the process was “procedurally and legally flawed.”
Member States also expressed differing viewpoints regarding the status of the resolution in the aftermath of 27 September.
Mister President,
In its latest report of 12 November 2025, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) recalled that the Islamic Republic of Iran had stopped implementing its nuclear-related commitments under the JCPOA as of 23 February 2021.
The Agency was nevertheless still able to verify and monitor some of these commitments through activities implemented pursuant to Iran’s NPT Safeguards Agreement.
Specifically, the Agency has verified that, during this period, Iran has exceeded the limits on its nuclear programme as stipulated in the JCPOA.
On 18 October 2025, the Agency reported that it had no information on the status of the stockpiles of enriched uranium in Iran.
The IAEA concluded that a commonly agreed framework with the support of countries concerned was necessary to ensure that Iran’s nuclear programme was exclusively peaceful.
The agency also noted the readiness of its Director General to engage with Iran at the earliest opportunity to work constructively to this end.
Turning to the remaining restrictive measures set out in annex B to resolution 2231 (2015), namely, those pertaining to nuclear activities and transfers, the Secretariat did not receive any allegations of violations of these provisions during this reporting period.
Furthermore, no new proposals have been submitted through the procurement channel during the reporting period.
The Security Council did, however, receive six notifications regarding the nuclear-related restrictive measures for certain activities consistent with the JCPOA.
Mister President,
Notwithstanding the significant differences between the relevant parties on the way forward regarding resolution 2231 (2015) and the JCPOA, all of them have continued to emphasize the importance of a diplomatic solution and expressed overall readiness to engage with each other for this purpose.
Indeed, as the Secretary-General has stated, a negotiated settlement that would secure the overall objectives of ensuring a peaceful Iranian nuclear programme and providing sanctions relief is the best option available to the international community.
The Secretariat remains at the full disposal of the parties in the pursuit of these objectives.
Thank you, Mister President.
Tensions between the United States and Venezuela have sharply escalated amid increased US military operations in the Southern Caribbean, prompting accusations of sovereignty violations, concerns over civilian harm and growing calls at the UN Security Council for restraint and de-escalation.
The Security Council convened earlier today for a packed agenda, adopting a resolution extending the authorisation of the African Union support mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) and hearing a briefing on Iran and the implementation of resolution 2231, which endorsed the 2015 nuclear deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Members are set to reconvene at 3 pm for an emergency meeting requested by Venezuela, amid heightened tensions between Caracas and Washington. Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Khaled Khiari is expected to brief ambassadors. Follow live below and UN News app users can click here.
At a meeting to discuss nuclear non-proliferation on Tuesday, the Security Council’s stance on Iran’s nuclear activities remained divided on the issue, split between those who support the reinstatement of sanctions, and the members who believe the sanctions should be permanently lifted, whilst questioning the legality of the meeting itself.
As Myanmar approaches elections scheduled for 28 December, the UN’s top human rights official has said that civilians are being coerced from all sides – forced by the military to vote and threatened by armed opposition groups to boycott – in a climate of fear, violence and mass repression.
Mr. President,
Since the Secretariat’s last briefing on Sudan in October, the conflict has again intensified - confirming fears that the dry season would bring increased fighting and renewed attacks on civilians.
Each passing day brings staggering levels of violence and destruction. Civilians are enduring immense, unimaginable suffering, with no end in sight.
In recent weeks, the conflict has centred in the Kordofan region, where the Rapid Support Forces have made significant territorial gains.
On 1 December, the Rapid Support Forces captured Babanusa in West Kordofan, followed on 8 December by their capture of Heglig in South Kordofan – an oil field and critical processing station for South Sudanese crude oil pumped to Port Sudan for exportation. Kadugli and Dilling, both in South Kordofan, are now under tightening siege conditions.
Reports indicate that Sudanese Armed Forces personnel withdrew from Babanusa and Heglig into South Sudan, and that South Sudanese forces moved into Sudan to protect the Heglig oil infrastructure.
Beyond Heglig, movements of armed groups across Sudan and South Sudan’s border have been reported in both directions, with potentially de-stabilizing effects for both countries.
These developments reflect the increasingly complex nature of the conflict and its expanding regional dimensions. If unaddressed, Sudan’s neighbours could become embroiled in a regional conflict in and around Sudan.
Excellencies,
For months, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has warned of the dangers of the escalation of hostilities in the Kordofan region and called for urgent action to prevent the repetition of atrocities documented in North Darfur, and El Fasher in particular.
A particularly alarming feature of the conflict is the growing use of indiscriminate drone strikes by both parties, which are causing significant civilian deaths.
On 4 December, drone strikes in Kalogi, South Kordofan, hit a kindergarten and then the hospital where victims of the initial attack had been taken for treatment. More than 100 people were killed in this despicable attack, including 63 children.
On 13 December, drone attacks targeted the
Six members of the Bangladeshi peacekeeping contingent serving with the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) were killed, and nine others injured.
UNISFA has launched an investigation and is working to preserve evidence, under challenging circumstances, that would help
Due to the prevailing insecurity, all UNISFA personnel
As the Secretary-General has stressed, attacks targeting United Nations peacekeepers may constitute war crimes under international law and called for accountability. The safety and security of our peacekeepers is non-negotiable.
In addition to the rising civilian death toll, there are concerns about increasing cases of detention of civilians accused by one party of ‘collaboration’ with the opposing side. In November, OHCHR documented that 93 civilians were arrested and detained in the Kordofan region for reasons of 'collaboration'.
Mr. President,
The continued supply of weapons – increasingly sophisticated and deadly - remains a key driver of the conflict. Sudan is saturated with arms.
Calls to end these flows have gone unheeded, and there has been no accountability.
Meanwhile, the parties remain unwilling to compromise or de-escalate. While they were able to stop fighting to preserve oil revenues, they have so far failed to do the same to protect their population.
The backers of both sides must use their influence to help stop the slaughter, not to cause further devastation.
Excellencies,
Preventing a further deterioration of the situation – and preserving the unity and territorial integrity of Sudan – requires swift and coordinated action.
The Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for Sudan, Ramtane Lamamra, is in contact with both warring parties to encourage them to engage in discussions on concrete and implementable measures to de-escalate violence and advance the protection of civilians in Sudan.
Personal Envoy Lamamra is engaging closely with members of the Quad. Consistent coordination of peace efforts is essential to increase our collective impact.
Equally important is the deepening collaboration among the Quintet of multilateral organizations – the African Union, European Union, IGAD, the League of Arab States and the United Nations.
Together, we are currently focused on supporting an African Union-led inter-Sudanese dialogue that can pave the way for a credible, inclusive and civilian-led transition.
To support these efforts, the Office of Personal Envoy Lamamra is developing a Consensus Document aimed to synthesize the visions put forward by Sudanese political actors and prominent individuals.
The goal of this exercise is to identify convergences in views that can assist Sudanese stakeholders in shaping a credible political horizon.
To foster complementarity and coordination of peace efforts, preparations are underway for the fifth Consultative Meeting on Enhancing Coordination of Peace Initiatives. The next meeting is expected to be held in Cairo, Egypt, in early 2026.
Mr. President, Excellencies,
As mediation efforts continue, the strong support of this Council is needed.
With the conflict nearing the tragic milestone of one thousand days, the Secretary-General has renewed his call on the parties to agree on an immediate cessation of hostilities and to re-engage in talks toward a lasting ceasefire and an inclusive and Sudanese-owned political process.
We urge the Council to send a clear, united message: those who enable this war will be held accountable.
We also look to the Council to use all the tools at its disposal to demand peace, protect civilians and ensure accountability for violations of international law.
The United Nations is fully committed to working with all international actors to end the violence and to support an inclusive path towards peace and security, for the sake of the people of Sudan and regional stability.
Thank you.
Past geopolitical tensions related to the synthetic drug “captagon” are now being mitigated with the Syrian authorities’ commitment to dismantle illicit manufacturing, says the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
Senior UN political and humanitarian officials are set brief the Security Council this afternoon as members meet to discuss the rapidly deteriorating situation in Sudan, where intensified fighting – including in the Kordofan region – has driven widespread civilian harm and displacement. The region has seen a sharp escalation, including a deadly drone attack on a UN peacekeeping base that killed six Bangladeshi peacekeepers. The meeting was requested by Sudan and Transitional Prime Minister, Kamil Eltayeb Idris, is expected to attend. Follow live below and UN News app users can click here.
The war in Sudan is entering a deadlier phase, the United Nations has warned, as intensified fighting in the Kordofan region, mounting civilian casualties from drone strikes and growing risks of regional spillover push the conflict toward the 1,000-day mark.
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As fighting escalates in Sudan, “people are scared, people are fleeing their homes”, the UN migration agency, IOM, said on Friday, noting that more than 50,000 people have been uprooted since late October in the Kordofans region alone.
Food security in Gaza has improved since the ceasefire declared in October, pushing back famine conditions, but the situation remains critical with more than three-quarters of the population still facing acute hunger and malnutrition, a new UN-backed analysis has found.
The United Nations on Friday condemned the killing of a civilian staff member serving with its peacekeeping mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), calling on the authorities to swiftly bring those responsible to justice.
The United Nations has urged calm in Bangladesh after the killing of a prominent youth protest leader sparked fresh unrest, raising concerns about political violence and the safety of civic space as the country prepares for elections early next year.
The UN Security Council on Friday unanimously extended the mandate of the UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) for another year, as fighting in the country’s east intensified amid renewed offensives by the M23 rebel group.
The UN Secretary-General on Friday condemned the arbitrary detention of 10 more UN personnel by Houthi de facto authorities in Yemen, warning that the growing crackdown is crippling humanitarian operations and putting millions of lives at risk.
The path to long-awaited elections in Libya is paved with complications but they can be overcome, the UN Special Representative for the country said on Friday in a briefing to the Security Council.
Mr. President,
One year ago, the hope of millions of Syrians was realized when then President Assad fled the country. As they celebrated earlier this month the events that culminated on 8 December 2024, Syrians again reaffirmed their abiding belief in peace, stability, prosperity, and justice for their country, despite the undeniable and daunting challenges before them.
During the Security Council’s visit to Syria on 4 December, Council members saw firsthand the opportunities and difficulties the country is facing.
The hopes and expectations are high, and the challenges ahead are immense.
Syrians have made great strides since a year ago, but serious obstacles remain.
The Government of Syria has restored state institutions and begun to integrate armed factions under a single command. It has issued a constitutional declaration and formed a new cabinet. Also, indirect legislative elections were held in October. A day of National Dialogue also took place. Several key institutions, including the full formation of the People’s Assembly and the Constitutional Court, could be established soon.
Syrians have also returned home in high numbers; over 1 million refugees and almost 2 million IDPs have gone back to their areas of origin.
Many countries have lifted bilateral sanctions on Syria. Just yesterday, the US Congress repealed the Caesar Act, and last month, the Security Council adopted resolution 2799, which removed designations on President Sharaa and Minister of Interior Khattab.
Humanitarian access has improved, but more needs to be done. You will hear more about this from my colleague from OCHA, Assistant Secretary General Joyce Msuya.
In another positive development, the Syrian Government and the Syrian Democratic Forces reached an agreement on 10 March. As the end-of-year target for implementation of the agreement approaches, we encourage the parties to engage in constructive steps on its security and political aspects.
We also urge the parties to engage with the Amman roadmap of September and implement confidence-building measures to restore trust and bring stability to Sweida.
Mr. President,
The levels of violence in Syria have declined notably; however, the situation on the ground is fragile, and inter-communal dynamics remain tense.
Years of conflict and decades of repressive rule and human rights violations exacerbated tensions along sectarian lines.
Tragically, these tensions have boiled over in the past year: the large-scale violence in the coastal region in March, a terrorist attack targeting a church in Damascus in June, and the violence in Druze-majority Sweida in July.
In the north and east, tensions also persist between the Syrian army and the Syrian Democratic Forces.
In many cases, hate speech and disinformation campaigns have fueled communal strife and fear.
Hundreds of civilians have been killed in the violence, leading to new displacement. Demands for protection and accountability have intensified as reports of summary executions and abductions targeting specific communities, including Alawites, continue.
The United Nations condemns the violence unreservedly. We urge that transparency remain central to the investigations launched by the authorities into these episodes, and that perpetrators are held accountable.
As the Council members saw during your visit, including in the meetings with the National Commissions on Missing Persons and Transitional Justice and the Investigative Committees for the Coast and Sweida, work has begun on dealing with the past and on reconciliation. But more remains to be done. International encouragement and expertise can complement national efforts to sustain peace, justice, and accountability.
Mr. President,
Israeli airstrikes and incursions in the south have aggravated the security situation.
In late November, an incursion and accompanying strikes by the Israel Defense Forces into the town of Beit Jinn killed 13 people according to the Syrian authorities. They also caused displacement, forcing families from Beit Jinn to flee to nearby areas.
I reiterate the Secretary-General's call on Israel to refrain from violations of Syrian sovereignty and territorial integrity. I also call on the parties to respect the terms of the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement. Resuming dialogue between Syria and Israel on security arrangements is imperative.
Strong international and regional engagement to support this track is essential.
Mr. President,
There is continued domestic, regional, and international focus on counter-terrorism efforts in Syria, with concerns regarding the presence of foreign terrorist fighters and an ISIL resurgence.
In a worrying development, a joint US-Syrian patrol was attacked late last week near Palmyra, killing two US soldiers and one civilian interpreter, and injuring several others. The Syrian government has condemned the attack, which they stated was carried out by a member of the Syrian security forces suspected of harboring extremist views. The United States has attributed the attack to ISIL and vowed serious retaliation.
The prevalence of conventional arms and challenges with stockpile management pose an additional security challenge.
Landmines and unexploded ordnance continue to kill and maim Syrians daily.
All this points to the need for the political transition to be accompanied by a Syrian program of security sector reform and disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration.
Mr. President,
The Office of the Special Envoy continues to be fully engaged with the Government of Syria and Syrian society.
Over this past year, the Office continued to support the Syria-led and Syria-owned transition process with advice on constitutional and electoral matters. They have also supported reconciliation and transitional justice efforts in close consultation with national authorities.
All of their work is to support an inclusive transition that fosters trust and legitimacy, as this Council has called for. To do so with greater impact, the Office seeks to be on the ground to engage in a structured and supportive way throughout this transition.
Mr. President
The shadows of the past continue to haunt the Syrian people. True healing can only begin through a full reckoning with this history—by addressing the fate of the missing, ensuring accountability for the gravest atrocities, including the use of chemical weapons, and confronting the horrors of war without compromise.
Inclusive dialogue among all of Syria’s components, genuine national reconciliation, sanctions relief, and sustained international support will be essential for the security of Syria and the region. It will be key to restoring investor confidence and laying the foundation for Syria’s reconstruction.
The full and meaningful participation of Syrian women in shaping that future is essential.
I am pleased to note that Mariam Jalabi will brief today from civil society. Long a stalwart for the participation of women in Syrian political life, she is a co-founder of the Syrian Women’s Political Movement.
Mr. President,
We welcome the continued dialogue with the Security Council at this pivotal moment for Syria. After so much loss of life and suffering, the Syrian people are hopeful for their future and ready to take on the challenges before them. The UN is here to support them.
Thank you.
Harrowing new details emerged on Thursday in a UN report detailing targeted sexual violence and summary executions in Sudan’s North Darfur region, attributed to paramilitary fighters who overran the city of El Fasher in late October.
Intensifying air strikes and heavy artillery fire across Thailand and Cambodia have left civilians increasingly at risk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk warned on Thursday.
Humanitarian needs in Syria remain immense despite a year of reduced violence and political change, with millions still displaced, basic services strained and funding shortfalls threatening aid operations, senior UN officials said on Thursday.
The United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) will evacuate its logistics base in Kadugli, Sudan, in the wake of the “heinous attack” this past weekend that killed six Bangladeshi peacekeepers and seriously injured eight others.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres called on Yemen’s leaders to return to the path of peace and release all UN personnel detained there, following a briefing to the Security Council on Wednesday.
Imagine living through a war and not being able to make a meal or heat your home; that’s the reality today for thousands of Ukrainians who’ve seen repeated Russian attacks knock out their electricity for days at a time.
Families continue to flee intense hostilities across the Kordofan region of Sudan and humanitarian needs are surging, the UN said in an update on Wednesday.
Humanitarian agencies working in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) have warned that life-saving aid operations risk collapse unless Israel immediately lifts new barriers that are blocking access and forcing international charities to shut down.
Israel has issued new demolition orders for the Nur Shams camp in the north of the occupied West Bank effective this week, which a senior official with the UN Palestine refugee agency (UNRWA) labelled as “more devastating news” for the region.
The situation across Sudan’s Kordofan region is rapidly worsening, the UN aid coordination office (OCHA) warned on Monday.
The ceasefire in Gaza remains fragile, while humanitarians continue to face obstructions in delivering aid to the people, a senior UN official working to promote greater peace in the region told the Security Council on Tuesday.
A solemn farewell ceremony was held on Monday at the headquarters of the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) to honour six Bangladeshi peacekeepers killed in a drone attack on a UN logistics base in Kadugli, South Kordofan.
Gathered around the Security Council’s iconic horseshoe table, ambassadors were challenged on Monday to look backwards – when, despite deep rivalry and distrust, the body chose leaders capable of steering the world away from catastrophe towards active cooperation.
Despite widespread suffering driven by conflict, displacement and disasters, Myanmar’s humanitarian emergency has become “almost invisible” to the world, the UN’s senior official in the country has warned.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has strongly condemned the “heinous deadly attack” on Sunday against Jewish families gathered in Sydney, Australia, to celebrate Hanukkah.
Drone attacks targeting the UN logistics base in Kadugli, Sudan, on Saturday killed six peacekeepers and injured eight others – all members of the Bangladeshi contingent serving in the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA).
The United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) is ending operations this month but support for the country will continue, Secretary-General António Guterres affirmed at the official closing ceremony in Baghdad on Saturday.
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