Abdou Abarry, Permanent Representative of Niger to the United Nations and President of the Security Council for the month of December, chairs the Security Council meeting on threats to international peace and security Dec. 02, 2021. (Credit: UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe)
By Gary Raynaldo DIPLOMATIC TIMES
UNITED NATIONS – NEW YORK – West African nation NIGER officially took over as President of the UN Security Council this week for the month of December with a focus on international peace and security and climate control. Abdou Abarry, Permanent Representative of Niger to the United Nations and President of the Security Council for the month of December, briefed reporters on the Council’s Programme of work for the month. Niger as President of the Security Council faces one of the most important issues facing West Africa at the moment: The deteriorating security situation in the region and the Sahel. In addition, crisis in Ethiopia and Sudan will need to be addressed by the Security Council. Ambassador Abarry said that his country’s new President, Mohamed Bazoum, will chair the UN Security Council’s high-level open debate on international peace and security in the context of terrorism and climate change on 9 December.
LIBYA Instability Threatens Mali, Chad
Asked about the upcoming elections in Libya and that country’s prospects, he spoke in his national capacity, noting that the country has ceased to exist as a State after 10 years’ turmoil. Libya’s instability — and the arsenal of weapons that has been made accessible to bandits across the region — has also impacted Libya’s neighbours. Libya’s instability has hit hard on Mali and Chad, where an attack by a column of heavily armed mercenaries from Libya left the President of Chad, Idriss Déby, dead.
Plight of Migrants In Libya of Great Concern To Niger
Ambassador Abarry said the issue of the plight of migrants in Libya is of great concern to Niger, as it is a country of transit. He said that the ensuing deaths are unconscionable and must be avoided. The ambassador added that Libya must not be a country of refoulement, as migrants who end up there are exploited in detention camps and prisons which are run by groups who are not answerable to State authorities. The international community, African Governments and the Council must try to ameliorate this situation which concerns the most fundamental human right, that of the right to life, so that people do not die in the sea or in Libyan prisons, he said.
December will be a busy month in the Council regarding African issues
Niger has also committed to building on the “presidency trio” initiative on women, peace and security (WPS) begun by Ireland, Kenya and Mexico during their consecutive presidencies (September, October and November). In a recently released “Statement of Shared Commitments”, Niger, Norway, the UAE and Albania committed to making WPS “a top priority” during their respective December, January 2022, March 2022, and June 2022 presidencies.
December will be a busy month in the Council regarding African issues. On Somalia, the Council is scheduled to vote on two resolutions: one to renew counter-piracy measures off the coast of Somalia, which is due to expire on 4 December, and the other to reauthorise the AU Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) ahead of its 31 December expiry.
There will be a briefing, followed by consultations, on the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) and on Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) sanctions. Special Representative and head of MONUSCO Bintou Keita is expected to brief on the Secretary-General’s latest report on the DRC. Ambassador Abarry will brief in his capacity as chair of the 1533 DRC Sanctions Committee. Council members are also expected to vote on a draft resolution renewing MONUSCO’s mandate ahead of its 20 December expiry.
Several Sudan-related activities are also anticipated in December. The Council will convene for a briefing, followed by consultations, on the UN Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS) and on the 1591 Sudan Sanctions Committee. Special Representative for Sudan and head of UNITAMS Volker Perthes is expected to brief on the Secretary-General’s 90-day report on UNITAMS, which is due by 3 December, and Ambassador Sven Jürgenson (Estonia) is expected to provide the quarterly briefing on the Committee’s work.
