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The Security Council Security Council Situation Report 11 October 2019
This update complements the brief background notes already published in the AMUN Handbook. Please read the handbook before turning to this update.
The Situation in Saudi Arabia and Yemen
Speaking at the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly on 26 September, the Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Ibrahim bin Abdulaziz Al-Assa, claimed that the 14 September attack on the oil facilities at Abqaiq and Khurais had been perpetrated by Iran, despite Houthi rebels from Yemen claiming responsibility. He stated the Iranian regime is “terrorist,” “aggressive,” and “bloodthirsty.” He suggested that the United Nations and the international community generally should “apply the utmost pressure” on Iran’s financial resources.
Two days later, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Yemen, Mohammed Abdullah Al-Hadhrami, addressed the General Assembly and called for an end to the “Iranian-Houthi coup d’etat in Yemen” and stated, “In just a few years [militias] had been able to destroy all the dreams of Yemen and its people.”
Despite these remarks, the Houthi released 300 detainees as a gesture of goodwill on 30 September, falling in line with the Stockholm Agreement, which mandated a swap of approximately 7,000 prisoners. United Nations Special Envoy for Yemen, Martin Griffiths, stated that he hoped the release of these detainees would “lead to further initiatives that will facilitate the exchange of all the conflict-related detainees as per the Stockholm Agreement.”
Bibliography
Yemen prisoner release boosts hopes of peace at last for war-weary civilians (30 September 2019). UN News Centre.
At UN, Yemen Foreign Minister demands end to ‘Iranian-Houthi coup d’etat’ (28 September 2019). UN News Centre.
‘Terrorist Iranian regime’ must be checked; Saudi Foreign Minister urges financial pressure (25 September 2019). UN News Centre.
The Situation in Sudan
Parties interested in steering the future of Sudan have come to landmark agreements in recent months. In August 2019, the leaders of the transitional military council that took power after the ouster of former President Omar al-Bashir and the leaders of the protests agreed to form a joint ruling body known as the “Sovereign Council.” The Council, composed of six civilians and five soldiers, will be led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan for 21 months. After his term, the protest movement will appoint a civilian to head the Council for 18 months. General elections are to be held in November 2022.
The protest movement nominated Abdalla Hamdok, a well-respected economist, as Prime Minister of the transitional government, and the military leaders accepted this nomination. The joint selection of Hamdok indicates that the Sudanese are serious about solving their massive economic difficulties, including 40% year-over-year inflation and over 50 billion dollars in government debt. The agreement calls for the Prime Minister to appoint a cabinet of experts, which he did in September, and for the formation of a 300-member legislative body. These negotiations have continued despite ongoing crackdowns against the protests, in which hundreds of Sudanese have been killed since December 2018. After Hamdok’s new cabinet was sworn in, the African Union ended its three-month suspension of Sudan from the regional body.
Unrest continues in Sudan beyond the protests. The Sovereign Council recently closed Sudan’s borders with Libya and the Central African Republic, citing vehicles illegally crossing and unspecified security concerns. Despite these problems, Sudan believes it is now more capable of handling security issues itself, and has asked the United Nations Security Council to withdraw all peacekeepers from Darfur by June 2020.
Bibliography
African Union lifts Sudan suspension after transitional government appointed (6 September 2019). Reuters.
Sudan closes borders with Libya, Central African Republic (26 September 2019). Reuters.
Sudan forms 11-member sovereign council, headed by al-Burhan (20 August 2019). Al Jazeera.
Sudan’s first cabinet since Omar al-Bashir’s removal sworn in (8 September 2019). Al Jazeera.
This update complements the brief background notes already published in the AMUN Handbook. Please read the handbook before turning to this update.
The Situation in Saudi Arabia and Yemen
Speaking at the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly on 26 September, the Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Ibrahim bin Abdulaziz Al-Assa, claimed that the 14 September attack on the oil facilities at Abqaiq and Khurais had been perpetrated by Iran, despite Houthi rebels from Yemen claiming responsibility. He stated the Iranian regime is “terrorist,” “aggressive,” and “bloodthirsty.” He suggested that the United Nations and the international community generally should “apply the utmost pressure” on Iran’s financial resources.
Two days later, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Yemen, Mohammed Abdullah Al-Hadhrami, addressed the General Assembly and called for an end to the “Iranian-Houthi coup d’etat in Yemen” and stated, “In just a few years [militias] had been able to destroy all the dreams of Yemen and its people.”
Despite these remarks, the Houthi released 300 detainees as a gesture of goodwill on 30 September, falling in line with the Stockholm Agreement, which mandated a swap of approximately 7,000 prisoners. United Nations Special Envoy for Yemen, Martin Griffiths, stated that he hoped the release of these detainees would “lead to further initiatives that will facilitate the exchange of all the conflict-related detainees as per the Stockholm Agreement.”
Bibliography
Yemen prisoner release boosts hopes of peace at last for war-weary civilians (30 September 2019). UN News Centre.
At UN, Yemen Foreign Minister demands end to ‘Iranian-Houthi coup d’etat’ (28 September 2019). UN News Centre.
‘Terrorist Iranian regime’ must be checked; Saudi Foreign Minister urges financial pressure (25 September 2019). UN News Centre.
The Situation in Sudan
Parties interested in steering the future of Sudan have come to landmark agreements in recent months. In August 2019, the leaders of the transitional military council that took power after the ouster of former President Omar al-Bashir and the leaders of the protests agreed to form a joint ruling body known as the “Sovereign Council.” The Council, composed of six civilians and five soldiers, will be led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan for 21 months. After his term, the protest movement will appoint a civilian to head the Council for 18 months. General elections are to be held in November 2022.
The protest movement nominated Abdalla Hamdok, a well-respected economist, as Prime Minister of the transitional government, and the military leaders accepted this nomination. The joint selection of Hamdok indicates that the Sudanese are serious about solving their massive economic difficulties, including 40% year-over-year inflation and over 50 billion dollars in government debt. The agreement calls for the Prime Minister to appoint a cabinet of experts, which he did in September, and for the formation of a 300-member legislative body. These negotiations have continued despite ongoing crackdowns against the protests, in which hundreds of Sudanese have been killed since December 2018. After Hamdok’s new cabinet was sworn in, the African Union ended its three-month suspension of Sudan from the regional body.
Unrest continues in Sudan beyond the protests. The Sovereign Council recently closed Sudan’s borders with Libya and the Central African Republic, citing vehicles illegally crossing and unspecified security concerns. Despite these problems, Sudan believes it is now more capable of handling security issues itself, and has asked the United Nations Security Council to withdraw all peacekeepers from Darfur by June 2020.
Bibliography
African Union lifts Sudan suspension after transitional government appointed (6 September 2019). Reuters.
Sudan closes borders with Libya, Central African Republic (26 September 2019). Reuters.
Sudan forms 11-member sovereign council, headed by al-Burhan (20 August 2019). Al Jazeera.
Sudan’s first cabinet since Omar al-Bashir’s removal sworn in (8 September 2019). Al Jazeera.