S/PV.8928 Security Council

The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. At this meeting, the Security Council will hear briefings by the outgoing Chairs of the subsidiary bodies of the Security Council according to the year of adoption of the related Council decisions: His Excellency Ambassador Tarek Ladeb, Permanent Representative of Tunisia, Chair of the Working Group on Peacekeeping Operations, Chair of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001) concerning counter-terrorism, and Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 2048 (2012); Her Excellency Ambassador Rhonda King, Permanent Representative of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Chair of the Informal Working Group on Documentation and other Procedural Questions and Chair of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 2140 (2014); His Excellency Ambassador Sven Jürgenson, Permanent Representative of Estonia, Chair of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1518 (2003) concerning Iraq, and Chair of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1591 (2005) concerning the Sudan; and myself, as Permanent Representative of the Niger and Chair of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1533 (2004) concerning the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Chair of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 2127 (2013) concerning the Central African Republic; and His Excellency Ambassador Hai Anh Pham, Deputy Permanent Representative of Viet Nam, Chair of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 2206 (2015) concerning South Sudan. I now give the floor to Ambassador Ladeb.

I would like to present the report of the Tunisian chairmanship of the Working Group on Peacekeeping Operations. During its membership to the Security Council, Tunisia has chaired the Working Group on Peacekeeping Operations, established pursuant to a decision of the Security Council contained in a statement by its President (S/PRST/2001/3) made at the 4270th meeting, held on 31 January 2001, to hold consultations with troop-contributing countries in a timely manner at different stages of a United Nations peacekeeping operation. Notwithstanding the impact of the coronavirus disease pandemic on the work of the Council in 2020, the Working Group resumed its activities. Given the importance of peacekeeping operations, which have been affected by the pandemic, the promotion of peace operations is a priority despite the exceptional circumstances in the world, especially in conflict zones. On 21 December 2020, the Working Group held in this context a video-teleconference on “Transitions and exit strategies in peacekeeping operations: taking stock and looking forward”. Such issues are of paramount importance, given the situation of achieving and building peace in a number of zones, the importance of keeping the gains made in peacekeeping operations and transitioning to the next stages without any setback that might cause the exacerbation or the resurgence of conflicts. It is also important to create an environment conducive to sustainable peace in countries that have witnessed conflicts and crises, especially by supporting political settlements and ensuring the protection of civilians. The members of the Security Council heard briefings made by Ms. Rania Dagash-Kamara, Chief of Policy and Best Practices in the Department of Peace Operations, and Ms. Anita Kokui Gbeho, Deputy Joint Special Representative for the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur. During that meeting, there was emphasis to invest in building and sustaining peace in order to avoid losing it after the end of United Nations missions. We must also address the important challenges facing sustainable peace. In our discussions, it was agreed that changes in the duties of United Nations missions are not related only to the departure of the missions after completing their tasks, but represent a process of strategic rearrangement with regard to the United Nations presence to preserve and build upon what has been achieved. To that end, the Secretary-General has established transitions and exit strategies of United Nations peace missions as top priority. In 2021, the Working Group on Peacekeeping Operations held two video-teleconferences. The first meeting was held on 13 April to consider the implementation of resolution 2518 (2020), on the safety and security of peacekeepers. Major General Jai Menon, Director of the United Nations Office of Peacekeeping Strategic Partnerships; Dr. Bernhard Lennartz, Acting Director of the Division of Healthcare Management and Occupational Safety and Health; and Mr. Anthony Amidon, Director of Operations Support Department in the Office of Information and Communication Technology delivered briefings on the different aspects of this issue, which continues to be important, especially in the light of the increasing challenges and risks faced by peacekeepers in many conflict zones and the rising number of casualties among them, as well as the rise in attacks by terrorist organizations and armed groups. Also discussed was the Secretary-General’s Action for Peacekeeping initiative, which is aimed at refocusing peacekeeping operations on specific mandates to make them more robust and safe while enhancing political solutions and ensuring that peacekeepers are better trained and equipped Further attention was given in the meeting to the safety and security of peacekeepers after the report prepared by Lieutenant General (Retired) Carlos Alberto dos Santos Cruz, entitled “Improving Security of United Nations Peacekeepers”, which aims to improve the safety and security of United Nations peacekeepers, as well as the Action for Peacekeeping (A4P) and Action for Peacekeeping Plus (A4P+) document. The Santos Cruz report identified acts of violence as a result of security risks emanating from armed conflict, terrorism, violence and crime. When we spoke of safety, we also focused on environmental risks or those which are man-made that might cause illness or death. All statements emphasized the importance of complying with the highest security and safety standards, while promoting peacekeepers’ capabilities. They also focused on good training, with special attention to providing peacekeepers with the equipment necessary for supporting the mandate requirements with ensuring the safety and security of mission staff. During our discussion, we also addressed fundamental preventive and medical care structures, communication, awareness and empowerment of staff members, as well as the mobility, fail-safe equipment, effective training before proliferation, technological skills, flexibility and smart response that enable United Nations to peacekeeping. All participants called for greater collective efforts to respond to the current challenges in order to protect peacekeepers, who are facing significant risks in the service of international peace and security. In that regard, I reiterate my appreciation for the efforts of all women and men who are working to achieve a safer world. I also remember those who have paid the ultimate price while defending peace. During its meeting on 6 October, the Working Group focused on supporting the United Nations police and enhancing their role in peacekeeping and peacebuilding missions, leading to positive effects on global policing. United Nations Police Adviser Luis Carrillo enumerated in his statement the most important achievements of the United Nations police and the new measures taken to build confidence with the local population by way of facilitating humanitarian assistance, deterring criminal activities and putting an end to human rights violations. He also showed that the United Nations police force is characterized by diversity and experience, embodies the values enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and has positive effect on communities, including on human rights and protecting and empowering vulnerable groups. The statements of member States focused on the importance of adequately equipping United Nations police, which is tasked with daunting missions, including managing public order, patrolling and community policing with continuous presence within vulnerable communities to protect civilians. It also helps Member States to develop responsible national police force. Given the extraordinary circumstances that we are experiencing globally and the increasing risks and challenges facing the United Nations missions to establish peace, there is an urgent need to continue to strive, together with all stakeholders, in the area of peacekeeping in order to implement the recommendations of the Secretary-General’s A4P and A4P+ initiatives, as well as improving mission performance and the means to facilitate mission mandates, while providing peacekeepers with the necessary protection throughout the peacekeeping and peacebuilding stages through commitment to promoting political solutions to conflicts and deepening the political impact of peacekeeping, in addition to implementing the women and peace and security agenda while committing to supporting performance and accountability and enhancing partnerships.

I thank Ambassador Ladeb for his briefing. I now give the floor to Ambassador King.

For the past two years, I have had the privilege to chair the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 2140 (2014), and I welcome this opportunity to brief the Security Council on the Committee’s activities during this period. Before I proceed, allow me to extend my gratitude to the Security Council Affairs Division, which has consistently supported me, as Chair, as well as the entire Committee. I also express my appreciation to the Panel of Experts, with whom we have had seamless cooperation. Over the past two years, the Committee met eight times, both via videoconference and in person, to receive briefings from the Panel of Experts following the submission of their respective midterm updates and final reports and to consider their recommendations. In that regard, the Committee agreed on follow-up action in relation to a total of 11 of the recommendations emanating from the various reports by the Panel of Experts. The Committee also convened informal informals to receive a briefing by Ms. Virginia Gamba, Special Representative of the Secretary- General for Children and Armed Conflict, and will meet on 17 December to receive, for the first time, an oral briefing from Ms. Pramila Patten, Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, pursuant to a recommendation contained within the Panel of Experts’ midterm update to the Committee. Under my chairpersonship, the Committee considered three communications invoking the exemption provision for humanitarian or other purposes, as set out in resolution 2511 (2020). The Committee also updated its guidelines to reflect resolutions 2511 (2020) and 2564 (2021). That process was completed in October, and the guidelines have since been published on the Committee’s website. Additionally, the Committee added four individuals to the sanctions list — one listed via resolution 2564 (2021) for various acts, involving sexual violence, and three added to the list for the first time, pursuant to a decision taken within the Committee. This year, following a request for support made by the Panel of Experts, I proposed the possibility of the Chair’s visit to the region. My proposal was made on the basis that engagement with stakeholders on the ground would be conducive to the work of the Committee, notably in support of the Panel of Experts. The visit to the region would have been an opportunity to raise awareness of the purpose and scope of the sanctions measures concerning Yemen and would have allowed for the Committee to receive first-hand information on the implementation and impact of the sanctions measures concerning Yemen. Although the terms of reference were circulated and considered by the Committee, we were unable to undertake the trip as a result of the ongoing restrictions related to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in some of the countries we planned to visit. Nevertheless, I believe that the incoming Chair should consider taking up that initiative in future, when the situation allows. I also had the privilege of chairing the Informal Working Group on Documentation and Other Procedural Questions, another top priority of mine. At this juncture, allow me to extend my appreciation to the Security Council Affairs Division for its continued support and assistance over the past two years. The joint retreat held in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in January 2020, with Kuwait as Chair, provided the guiding framework for my chairpersonship — action-oriented implementation. To that end, my focus in the Informal Working Group has been to explore concrete ways to secure implementation of presidential note 507 and subsequently adopted notes. In 2021, 11 of 12 presidencies prepared those commitments. Despite the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Working Group held 13 formal meetings and maintained its focus on implementation. The agenda included a standing item entitled “Implementation of the note by the President of the Security Council (S/2017/507): Reflections from past presidencies and proposals for future action”, which allowed recent presidencies to reflect on working methods during their respective months, including their efforts towards securing the implementation of said note and subsequently adopted notes. It was also intended as an opportunity to explore the overlooked provisions of presidential note S/2017/507 and other presidential notes so that we could better utilize them, thereby contributing to the overall effectiveness of the Security Council. In July 2021, following weeks of negotiations, the Informal Working Group adopted four presidential notes. Presidential note S/2021/645 was aimed at strengthening incoming members’ familiarity with the working methods of the Security Council and its subsidiary bodies and invited the Secretariat to take appropriate measures, including by keeping a register of training opportunities offered. Presidential note S/2021/646 underscored the role of those who coordinate the monthly activities of respective missions on the Council in securing implementation. Presidential note S/2021/647 recognized the important role played by the President of the Security Council in securing implementation and invited presidencies to consider preparing written monthly commitments. Finally, presidential note S/2021/648 was a declaration of the Security Council’s commitment to prioritizing multilingualism at all times. While I presented a number of other draft notes for consideration, including penholdership, and a note focused on the need for the Security Council to ensure, at all times, its ability to function continuously in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, these notes have not yet found consensus. However, there is appetite to engage on some of these issues, and we will continue to seek consensus during our remaining weeks on the Security Council. Before concluding, I would like to express my gratitude to the members of the 2140 Committee and the Informal Working Group for their engagement and productive cooperation on various issues over the past two years. I wish the incoming Chairs of these subsidiary bodies every success.

I thank Ambassador King for her briefing. I now give the floor back to Ambassador Ladeb, in his capacity as Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001) concerning counter-terrorism and the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 2048 (2012), concerning Guinea-Bissau so that he can complete his briefing to the Council.

I have had the honour and privilege of leading the Tunisian chairmanship of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001) concerning counter-terrorism over the past two years. I welcome this opportunity to share my reflections and observations with the members of the Council and my colleagues on the other Committees. Terrorism continues to pose a grave threat to international peace and security. That threat has been greatly exacerbated by the impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. We continue to face significant challenges in a broad range of areas, including the adaptation of terrorist groups to counter-terrorism measures of Member States, the use of information and communication technologies for terrorist purposes, border management and civil aviation security, the protection of critical infrastructure and soft targets, the threat posed by foreign terrorist fighters, in addition to the continued appearance of new trends, including new methods for terrorism financing and the insurgence of terrorism motivated by xenophobia, racism and other forms of intolerance. Such threats are often exacerbated in fragile contexts, particularly during prolonged and new armed conflicts. Since its establishment, the Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) has stood at the forefront of efforts to counter these threats. Tunisia was a member of the Security Council in 2001 and actively participated in the adoption of resolution 1373 (2001) and the establishment of the CTC. We were pleased during our presidency earlier this year to commemorate the twentieth anniversary of the Committee. We launched this commemorative process in January through a Ministerial debate (see S/2021/48) and the issuance of a presidential statement (S/PRST/2021/1). On 4 November, the CTC held a special meeting on this topic and adopted an outcome document that outlined new threats, trends and challenges, the measures that need to be taken, and the way forward. Supported by its Executive Directorate (CTED), the CTC has continued to implement its mandate, which has been described in more than two dozen resolutions. A few facts and figures will suffice to indicate the Committee’s progress. Over the past two years, acting on the Committee’s behalf, CTED has conducted 15 country-assessment visits. The Committee adopted modalities for hybrid visits, which allowed us to continue assessment visits during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Two enhanced assessment and stocktaking tools  — the electronic detailed implementation survey and the revised overview of implementation assessment — were launched to ensure continued thoroughness, consistency, transparency and even-handedness in desk review and stocktaking and to help produce quantitative and qualitative analysis. Twenty-three Member States have given their consent to a full or partial release of their visit reports and 705 identified technical-assistance needs for posting on the United Nations Global Counter- Terrorism Coordination Compact portal for use by United Nations implementing partners. The United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism has been invited to provide briefings to the CTC twice a year and to attend, as an observer, CTED briefings to the CTC on the findings of country-assessment visits. Policy papers and guidelines have been updated, including the Committee’s visit-framework document and procedures, as well as the technical guide to the implementation of resolution 1373 (2001) and other relevant resolutions. Global surveys of Member States’ implementation of resolution 1373 (2001) and other relevant resolutions, including resolution 1624 (2005), have been adopted by the Committee and issued as documents of the Council. The CTC has held 13 briefings and open and closed events on regional and thematic topics to address the interests and concerns of States in the area of counter- terrorism. Indeed, much has been achieved. Yet more remains to be done. After two years of chairing the Committee under exceptional circumstances, I would like to make the following observations and proposals. First, we must continue to place counter-terrorism and countering violent extremism conducive to terrorism high on the international peace and security agenda. This is particularly important in view of the additional threats and challenges posed by COVID-19. Secondly, in order to address the evolution of the global terrorist threat, it is essential that we continue to adapt our approaches and strengthen our cooperation. One of the main lessons learned during our chairmanship is that, with the necessary political will, we can always find solutions. The Committee’s procedures and methods of work are essential tools to ensuring consistency, transparency and even- handedness. However, the Committee was able to come up with creative ways that allowed it to function continuously, at times even with further added value. This is a timely conclusion in view of CTED’s mandate renewal, where we can examine what has worked so far and what can we do better. This exercise is not an easy one, but it is a necessary one, if our main objective is a unified, efficient and coordinated One United Nations response to terrorism. Thirdly, we must bring into full play the role of the CTC as a key subsidiary body of the Council in order to ensure effective implementation of relevant Council resolutions. In this regard, the work of the Committee was not only challenged by the COVID-19 pandemic, but also suffered the impact of the austerity measures implemented by the United Nations. On multiple occasions, the Committee has not been able to hold its meetings owing to the lack of resources, even in the absence of a parallel formal Council meeting, thus affecting the effective implementation of the programme of work. While the good stewardship of United Nations resources must be a priority, it cannot come at the expense of the efficient and meaningful work of the Security Council. I invite Council members and the Secretariat to work closely together to find solutions that provide the right balance in this regard. Fourthly, we must identify effective ways and means to achieve deliverables and concrete results by facilitating the delivery of targeted technical assistance for capacity-building and ensuring impact on the ground. The end result is as important as the process. In this regard, the Committee must continue to strengthen its partnership, collaboration and cooperation with the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism, the other Council subsidiary bodies, United Nations specialized agencies and international and regional organizations. Fifthly, we must continue to enhance transparency in the Committee’s working methods and outreach. There is a need for better dialogue between the CTC and visited States, including late or non-submitting States. In the same vein, there should be greater access for non-Committee members and other actors, including academia and civil society organizations. In all their activities, the CTC and CTED continue to address the human rights and gender aspects of counter-terrorism and countering violent extremism. I am delighted that the Tunisian chairmanship has been able to promote a multidisciplinary approach in countering terrorism over the past two years. As part of such efforts, on 16 December, Tunisia will organize an end-of-chairmanship town hall meeting which will serve as a platform to hear further views from civil society and other counter-terrorism partners on the work of the Committee. We are very pleased that the incoming Chair of the Committee will be joining these discussions, and we invite Chairs of other Committees to consider making similar discussions an established practice in future. Finally, we must continue to encourage Member States to share their progress, experiences and new challenges and needs with the CTC in order to strengthen the CTC’s understanding of their challenges and enhance its ability to identify effective practices and capacity needs and support. I wish to conclude my remarks by extending Tunisia’s deep appreciation to the members of the Committee over the last two years for their invaluable contributions, their flexibility and sense of responsibility. Without our unified efforts, no progress would have been made. I wish also to thank Assistant Secretary-General Michèle Coninsx, Executive Director of CTED, and her team, for their support for the Committee and its Chair. I wish to thank my capable team for managing the daily tasks of the Chair’s Office, and I wish the incoming Chair and incoming Committee members every success in their future deliberations.

I thank Ambassador Ladeb for his briefing. I now give the floor to Ambassador Jürgenson.

I have had the honour to chair the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1518 (2003) concerning Iraq, and the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1591 (2005) concerning the Sudan. I thank the Security Council for giving me the opportunity to share my observations on that mandate. I would like to begin with the 1518 Committee on Iraq. Throughout the last two years as the Chair of the Committee, I have been committed to supporting Iraq in its efforts to recover its assets and achieve progress with regard to the delisting of entities and individuals. The Committee and the Permanent Mission of Iraq have continued efforts towards the reduction of the number of listed entities, maintaining the momentum created during the previous Chair’s term and reducing the number of entities on the sanctions list by more than 80 per cent over the course of the past two years. That has been remarkable progress. Due to the close cooperation with the Permanent Mission of Iraq, the Committee has delisted 63 entities, with only 13 entities remaining on the sanctions list. In addition, five individuals were delisted. I encourage Iraq to continue to submit requests so that the remaining 13 entities and 81 individuals can be delisted as soon as possible. For the past two years, the issue of recovering Iraqi financial assets abroad has remained as relevant as earlier. I urge all countries where remaining assets lie to cooperate with Iraq in recovering them in accordance with relevant resolutions. I hope that the delisting of the remaining entities will continue and that it will be possible to terminate the sanctions regime in the foreseeable future. I will now turn to the 1591 Sanctions Committee on the Sudan and then end with some general remarks on all of the Committees. Two years ago, my predecessor, Ambassador Wronecka, Permanent Representative of Poland, handed over the chairmanship of the 1591 Committee concerning the Sudan, while emphasizing the importance of transparency, fairness and accountability in work of the Committee. She also pointed out that the Chair has limited autonomy and freedom of action, given that the Committee reaches all of its decisions by consensus. That has continued during my term and, in many instances, political divisions inside the Council make it difficult to agree on even minor actions in the Committees. I aimed to build on the great work and lessons learned by previous Chairs. Let me highlight three aspects, in particular, of which I am proud, and related recommendations. First, in order to improve transparency and make the Committee’s engagement with the Council more meaningful, I provided more substantive 90-day briefings to the Council. We often made use of the Panel of Experts’ reporting, as it is a valuable resource not only for the Council, but also for the larger public. So far, we are the only Sanctions Committee that has done more substantive reporting by using the Panel’s reports, but I hope that our paving the way in that practice will open doors so that others can follow. Therefore, I highly encourage my successor, as well as other Sanctions Committees, to follow suit, as it improves transparency and makes the Committees’ engagement with the Council more meaningful. In that regard, I would also like to point out that, in the Sudan sanctions regime, only the final reports of the Panel of Experts are published. For transparency, the midterm updates should be made available to all, as well. The publication of quarterly updates should also be given due consideration. In relation to transparency, I would also like to emphasize the importance of respecting and comprehending the relevant resolutions and the Committees’ rules and procedures. Following consultations and based on creative problem-solving, we have respected the regulations by submitting the 90-day report and the programme of work of the Panel of Experts in writing when it has been impossible to brief the Council owing to restrictions resulting from the coronavirus disease. Our second noteworthy contribution to the Committee has been to update the current sanctions regime as much as possible. We have managed to update the list of sanctioned individuals. I would encourage my successor to continue updating the sanctions regime, to the extent that conditions allow and developments require. Our third biggest contribution has been building trust and cooperation between the Sudan and the Sanctions Committee, as a matter of priority. I believe that the sanctions regime will only benefit from closer cooperation between the Committee and the Sudan. Therefore, I highly encourage my successor to build a strong relationship with the Sudan, as well. One possible avenue to pave that relationship is by organizing a visit by the Chair. Unfortunately, I have had to postpone my visit to the Sudan twice — first, because of the pandemic and, subsequently, because of the developments on the ground. I sincerely hope that the new Chair will be able to visit the country as soon as possible. As coordination and sharing information among different subsidiary bodies and other United Nations entities are crucial, I have also worked to enhance contacts with other subsidiary bodies, as well as with the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict. I would like to recall that the Panel of Experts is mandated by the relevant resolutions to assess among, other things, violations and abuses of human rights, including those that involve attacks on the civilian population, sexual and gender- based violence and violations and abuses against children. Such reporting must continue. Therefore, I would like to urge the Committee to continue the practice of cooperation with other subsidiary bodies, as well as with the Special Representative of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict. I would also like to address the misconceptions about United Nations sanctions. Too often, a narrative is put forward on how sanctions harm the host population’s development and security. In reality, such narratives could not be further from the truth. The arms embargo helps to prevent the additional flow of arms into Darfur. At the same time, targeted sanctions are aimed at punishing individuals who are spoilers of peace. The sanctions in place serve to help the population. I thank the Panel of Experts on the Sudan, which has been instrumental in supporting the Committee. I completely agree with my predecessor that one cannot overestimate the value of the information that all Panels provide to the Committees — information that is often obtained in the most challenging circumstances. Their independence, security and working conditions are of great importance. Member States have to respect the privileges and immunities of experts on mission. In that regard, I have to address the situation regarding the Ombudsperson for the Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015) concerning Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Da’esh), Al-Qaida and associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities. The Council needs to strengthen the institution of the Ombudsperson. Estonia is currently working on an initiative to address both matters, and we hope to bring about a change to show our full support for both the Panels and the Ombudsperson. In conclusion, it has been a tremendous honour to serve as Chair of both Committees. I have sought to facilitate progress where possible, bring the sanctions regimes up to date as much as possible, enhance transparency, build trust and strengthen coordination among stakeholders. It is unfortunate that my successors, at this time, have not yet been determined and I hope that, in the future, the chairmanship of subsidiary bodies will be decided in a more timely manner, as requested in presidential note S/2016/619, updating note S/2010/507. In that regard, I would like to remind all members of the Council of their responsibility to make every effort to agree on the appointment at the earliest possibility. In conclusion, my words of gratitude go to the Security Council Subsidiary Organs Branch and the Secretariat for their invaluable assistance. I would like to assure the next Chairs of the Committees of my full support.

I thank Ambassador Jürgenson for his briefing. I now give the floor to Ambassador Ladeb.

Tunisia has assumed the chairmanship of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 2048 (2012) concerning Guinea-Bissau over the past two years. We have been committed to coordinating and cooperating with members of the Committee, as well as Ms. Rosine Sori-Coulibaly, former Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Guinea- Bissau and Head of the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNIOGBIS), and the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Guinea- Bissau on the various issues on the Committee’s agenda. Throughout Tunisia’s chairmanship, we have seen a number of security and political developments take place, both domestically in Guinea-Bissau and regionally. One notable example is the elections that were held in Guinea-Bissau, which were preceded by political tensions. The presidential elections were organized on time on 24 November 2019 in a calm environment, as was confirmed by international observers. I would like to express my appreciation for the efforts of various stakeholders, especially the Economic Community of West African States, the United Nations, the African Union, the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries and the European Union, to support the smooth conduct of the elections. I would also like to commend the efforts of all concerned parties to overcome the crisis that followed the announcement of the election results by resorting to judicial and legal means. I commend the important role played by stakeholders in Guinea-Bissau, who gave precedence to the highest national interests and have been committed to maintaining calm and avoiding any action that would lead to escalation. During Tunisia’s chairmanship of the Committee, the Security Council held meetings pertaining to the situation in Guinea-Bissau on 14 February 2020 (see S/PV.8724) and 10 August 2020 (see S/PV.8754). We listened to briefings by Ms. Rosine Sori-Coulibaly, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Guinea-Bissau and Head of the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Guinea-Bissau. The coronavirus disease pandemic has significantly affected the work of our Committee. It has not been possible to visit the country. That visit could have had a positive impact on the work of the Committee and on addressing the situation in Guinea-Bissau. It would have allowed us to directly assess the situation on the ground. On 12 October 2020, on an exceptional basis, the Committee held a meeting via video-teleconference at which the members listened to a briefing by Ms. Rosine Sori-Coulibaly on the progress achieved in terms of ensuring stability and restoring constitutional order in Guinea-Bissau. During Tunisia’s chairmanship of the Committee, the Security Council unanimously adopted, on 28 February 2020 (see S/PV.8736), resolution 2512 (2020) which was presented by the Niger as penholder. That resolution extended the mandate of the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Guinea- Bissau until 31 December 2020, which is when UNIOGBIS was set to close permanently. As Chair of the Committee, Tunisia, along with its other member States, contributed to ensuring a convergence of views regarding the different provisions of the resolution, especially the sanctions imposed on Guinea-Bissau. Tunisia stressed the importance of continuing consultation and coordination regarding the sanctions within the Sanctions Committee, UNIOGBIS and the various relevant stakeholders according to the developments of the situation and the political progress and reform in the country. We hope that the Security Council will take all necessary measures to lift the sanctions in accordance with developments in the situation on the ground and the progress achieved in terms of reforms and sustainable development, which would enhance peace and security in Guinea-Bissau and the region at large. In conclusion, I would like to express my sincere thanks to the Office of Legal Affairs and the Legal Department of the Secretariat for the assistance and support provided during Tunisia’s chairmanship of the Committee. I especially want to thank Mr. Manuel Bressan, who was highly professional and constantly ready to provide support and assistance. I would also like to wish my successor every success.

I thank Ambassador Ladeb for his briefing. I shall now make a statement in my capacity as Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1533 (2004) concerning the Democratic Republic of the Congo and of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 2127 (2013) concerning the Central African Republic. Over the past two years, I have had the privilege of chairing the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1533 (2004) concerning the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 2127 (2013) concerning the Central African Republic. I would like to take this opportunity to share some reflections on my role as Chair of those two Committees, as well as the work accomplished during the reporting period. At the beginning of my mandate, and with the support of the Secretariat, an internal work programme was prepared for each Committee, with our ideas for possible meetings, our objectives for each meeting and the main points of interest. Unfortunately, as we all know, the outbreak of the coronavirus disease pandemic in March 2020 hampered the implementation of those work plans, at least as we had originally envisaged them. In that regard, I would like to acknowledge the efforts of the Secretariat to put in place technological solutions to ensure the continuity of our work. Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, both Committees have been able to hold fruitful exchanges with various stakeholders. For example, the Committee concerning the Democratic Republic of the Congo discussed the activities of armed groups, monitoring of the arms embargo and the management of arms and ammunition with the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the United Nations Mine Action Service. Work also focused on the illicit exploitation of natural resources with the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region, the Executive Secretary of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region and a representative of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Similarly, the Committee concerning the Central African Republic exchanged views with the Panel of Experts on the Central African Republic and the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic on the issue of arms trafficking. The two Committees also held meetings, sometimes jointly, with the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict and the Special Representative of the Secretary- General on Sexual Violence in Conflict. Both Special Representatives have provided the Committees with useful information, including names of persons to be considered for appointment. I hope that my successor will continue to hold such meetings with the two Special Representatives of the Secretary-General on a regular basis. I would also like to encourage the 1533 and 2127 Committees to sanction perpetrators of human rights violations, including conflict-related sexual violence, in order to help the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of the Congo fight impunity and bring those responsible to justice. Finally, the 1533 and 2127 Committees held meetings with States in the region to discuss the mid-term and final reports of their respective Group and Panel of Experts. Those meetings provided an opportunity for representatives of the States of the region to transmit relevant information to the Committees and address their concerns regarding the Experts’ reports. I believe that those meetings with the States of the region should continue, as they provide an opportunity to bring together all relevant actors on a regular basis, as well as to hear their ideas on the implementation of the sanctions regimes and how the States concerned could contribute to promoting peace and stability in the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. I had the opportunity, together with the Committee members, to visit the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of the Congo in October and November, respectively. The logistical and health challenges associated with many trips to the region had to be to take into account, and those constraints prevented us from also visiting Rwanda and Uganda, as originally planned. I therefore hope that my successor will be able to visit both countries and the States of the region in the near future. Let me now make some personal remarks. First, I am convinced of the importance of using targeted sanctions to single out individuals and entities, including armed groups, whose actions threaten peace and security. Sanctions can help to isolate spoilers who are involved in arms trafficking, violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, including conflict-related sexual violence, the illicit exploitation of natural resources and attacks on peacekeepers and humanitarian workers. Secondly, I believe that the Chair’s visits are essential, as they allow the Committees to obtain first- hand information on the implementation of sanctions measures and to interact in person with a wide range of stakeholders, including Government officials at the highest level, civil society organizations and the diplomatic community. The visits also give us the opportunity to hear national and local perspectives regarding the impact of sanctions, and it is an opportunity for our hosts to hear the Committee’s messages. Thirdly, on the importance of raising awareness and transparency, in the course of my various engagements, I have noted the persistent lack of understanding of the nature, purpose and broader framework of United Nations sanctions. That is true for the sanctions regimes of both the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Central African Republic. In that regard, in my interactions and meetings, in particular in the Committee’s briefings with States of the region, I sought to clarify misunderstandings about the United Nations sanctions on the two countries and to emphasize that arms embargos, asset freezes and travel bans are adopted by the Council to help to promote peace and security in the region. Such misunderstandings were never more evident than during my recent visits to the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. I believe that more effort should be made to communicate the aims of the sanctions mechanism to the population, perhaps through United Nations radio in the countries concerned. Fourthly, regional cooperation is essential. In the case of the Central African Republic for example, my main objective was to continue to strengthen the Committee’s engagement with the States of the region, as I strongly believe that only with the cooperation of the States of the region can those countries address regional threats in a comprehensive and collaborative manner. Regional efforts are essential to combating cross- border trafficking in small arms and light weapons, as well as natural resources, and to prevent the movement of combatants among neighbouring States. Fifthly, the work of the United Nations expert groups is essential to ensuring the implementation of sanctions measures, and their independence must be preserved. The experts are truly the eyes and ears of the sanctions committees and work tirelessly to assist national authorities and States of the region in implementing sanctions measures. That cooperation is essential to the work of the Committees. In that regard, I welcome the recent decision of the 1533 Committee to approve the proposed list of members of the Group of Experts on the Democratic Republic of the Congo after more than four months of stalemate. I hope that the members of the 2127 Committee will reach a similar decision with regard to the Panel of Experts on the Central African Republic, which has been pending since 17 August. I call on the Committee to approve the list expeditiously so that the Panel of Experts can begin its mandate under resolution 2588 (2021). On specific issues, I would now like to briefly address the arms embargo in the Central African Republic, which remains a sensitive issue. In that regard, let me reiterate that the Committee has always worked with the authorities of the Central African Republic and has acted swiftly in approving all exemption requests and notifications. I would also like to call on the authorities of the Central African Republic to redouble their efforts to implement the benchmarks set by the Council in presidential statement S/PRST/2019/3 of 9 April 2019, and I encourage Member States and regional organizations to assist the authorities of the Central African Republic in achieving those benchmarks. Last year, the international community followed with great concern the setback in implementing the Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in the Central African Republic when the Coalition of Patriots for Change threatened to undermine the peace and political process in the country, in particular by attacking the capital, Bangui. I would like to recall that article 35 of the Political Agreement mentions the possibility of sanctions against violators. The Security Council and the Central African Republic Sanctions Committee should continue to act decisively in support of the peace agreement and sanction other individuals or entities that continue to deliberately violate the agreement. Indeed, one of the Niger’s objectives in being elected as a member of the Security Council and in chairing the two Committees was to ensure that sanctions imposed on countries under its responsibility were as fair as possible. On the basis of that conviction, I believe that the term “sanctions committee” is perhaps not the most appropriate one, as it does not reflect the reality of the Council’s role in monitoring the measures that form the regime. My proposal would be, as part of future reflections, to consider renaming such committees to something more appropriate that would not sound like coercion or repression. In conclusion, I would like to express my sincere gratitude and thanks to all those who have supported us and worked with us during the implementation of our mandate, in particular our fellow Committee members in New York who joined me during my visits to the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as the experts and colleagues in the Secretariat for their professionalism. I resume my functions as President of the Council. I now give the floor to Ambassador Pham.

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of Ambassador Dinh Quy Dang, Permanent Representative of Viet Nam to the United Nations, Chair of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 2206 (2015) concerning South Sudan for the term from 2020 to 2021. This statement focuses on the following points. First, regarding the work of the Committee over the past two years, the Committee adapted its working methods in the light of the coronavirus disease pandemic. Despite the challenges related to the pandemic, the Committee held 11 meetings, passed 85 communications, granted 10 exemption requests and issued two press releases. In June, the 2206 Committee was the first subsidiary body of the Security Council to return to in-person meetings. In November, the Committee conducted a visit to South Sudan, which was the first visit of the Committee in two years, as well as since the transitional Government was established in February 2020. The visit took place at an important moment when the Security Council is preparing for the review of the arms embargo measures in May next year. It provided an opportunity for the Committee to acquire an updated view of the situation on the ground in the country, the implementation of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan and the progress on the implementation of the key benchmarks. Particularly, the Chair was encouraged by the willingness expressed by the Government of South Sudan to address the multiple challenges faced by the country, its commitment to advancing the transitional process and its new approach to fostering dialogue with international partners and meeting the benchmarks. Secondly, during his tenure, the Chair of the Committee has been committed to exploring new ways to support South Sudan in achieving progress towards meeting the conditions for the lifting of sanctions, while conducting the work of the Committee in a transparent, objective and responsible manner. Fostering cooperation between South Sudan, regional countries and the Committee, the Panel of Experts has been a high priority for Viet Nam. The Chair has actively conducted consultations with the members of the Committee, South Sudan and members of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) on new initiatives aimed at increasing the implementation of relevant Council resolutions on South Sudan. Four out of eleven meetings of the Committee have involved the participation of South Sudan and regional States. In addition, the Chair has held several informal meetings with the representatives of South Sudan, neighbouring countries and IGAD member States to exchange experiences and increase mutual understanding on relevant aspects. Furthermore, with the support of all Committee members, all 10 exemption requests in the past two years have been granted to support the implementation of the revitalized agreement. Together with the progress achieved in South Sudan, these have resulted in the establishment of key benchmarks for the review of the arms embargo measures, with a view to lifting them when the conditions are met. Thirdly, throughout his work in the Committee, Viet Nam has been convinced that cooperation and dialogue between the Committee and relevant stakeholders will remain crucial in ensuring the effective work of the Committee. In this regard, it is Viet Nam’s hope that the Committee will continue to support South Sudan and regional countries in the implementation of relevant Council resolutions, provide assistance to South Sudan authorities in their implementation and reporting of the key benchmarks, and help address any related challenges. It is also Viet Nam’s wish that the Committee will make further visits in the future, not only to South Sudan but also to the regional countries. Finally, we wish to express our sincere gratitude to the members of the Committee, South Sudan and regional countries for their active engagement in the work of the Committee under Viet Nam’s chairmanship. We thank the Secretariat, particularly the Security Council Subsidiary Organs Branch, for their invaluable assistance with the everyday work of the Chair. We would like to commend the other outgoing Chairs and their teams for their efforts during the past two years and to wish the incoming Chairs every success.

I thank Ambassador Pham for his briefing. On behalf of the Security Council, I take this opportunity to express appreciation to the outgoing Chairs for the manner in which they have discharged their important responsibilities on behalf of the Council, and to wish every success to their successors.