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Jerry Matjila, Permanent Representative of South Africa to the UN, speaks to reporters during a press briefing at the UN Headquarters in New York on October 1, 2019. (Xinhua / Li Muzi)
This is South Africa’s second presidency during its two-year term (2019-2020) in the United Nations Security Council. December will also be the country’s last month in the Council during its current term.
UNITED NATIONS, December 1 (Xinhua) – South Africa assumed the monthly rotating presidency of the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday.
During the month, South Africa will focus on strengthening cooperation between the African Union (AU) and the United Nations, and emphasizing the importance of a proactive approach to maintaining international peace and security, particularly in the form of drawing greater attention to “diplomatic prevention mechanisms,” Jerry Matjila, South Africa’s permanent representative to the United Nations and president of the Security Council for the month of December, told reporters during a press meeting at the United Nations headquarters in New York.
This is South Africa’s second presidency during its two-year (2019-2020) term on the board. December will also be the country’s last month in the Council during its current term.
In December, there will be a ministerial-level debate on “Peacebuilding and Peace Support: Government and Security Sector Reform,” Matjila said, adding that the country is organizing a high-level open videoconference debate on cooperation between the UN and AU peace and security architectures.
As a third signing event, South Africa chose to hold a briefing on “promoting and strengthening the rule of law, focusing on strengthening cooperation between the Security Council and the International Court of Justice”.
A woman walks in front of the UN headquarters in New York, United States, Sept. 14, 2020. (Xinhua / Wang Ying)
In relation to other African issues, adoption is planned to renew the mandate of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with a briefing and consultations prior to renewal.
There are also meetings related to Sudan and South Sudan. On South Sudan, there will be a briefing and consultations on the activities of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, as well as a briefing by the chairman of the 2206 South Sudan Sanctions Committee.
On Iran, the Council is expected to receive the Secretary General’s report on the implementation of Resolution 2231, which in 2015 approved the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on the Iranian Nuclear Program.
According to Matjila, there will also be regular meetings on Syria, Yemen and the situation in the Middle East, a quarterly meeting on Afghanistan and the six-monthly debate on the international residual mechanism for criminal courts.
The council will also follow developments in Ethiopia, Western Sahara and Nagorno-Karabakh, the ambassador said. ■
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