UN Photo / Manuel Elías A wide view of the Security Council Chamber prior to the meeting on the admission of new members. 18 April 2024.
In 2024, the Security Council maintained a high level of activity, holding the highest number of meetings on record and a similar number of informal consultations compared to 2023. Although fewer decisions were adopted (five per cent decrease in resolutions and presidential statements), in 2024, Council members issued more press statements (27 per cent increase) compared to 2023. The number of unanimously adopted resolutions continued to decrease (65 per cent in 2024 compared to 70 per cent in 2023). 2024 also saw a record number of procedural votes, with eight such instances compared to three in 2023. In 2024, the Council conducted one visiting mission to Colombia.
Introduction
In 2024, the Security Council was composed of its five permanent members (China, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States), as well as ten elected members (Algeria, Ecuador, Guyana, Japan, Malta, Mozambique, Republic of Korea, Sierra Leone, Slovenia and Switzerland).
A historical overview of the Security Council membership is available in the Membership Dashboard prepared by the Security Council Affairs Division.
UN Photo / Evan Schneider Security Council discussions before the vote on a resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza for the month of Ramadan. 25 March 2024.
In 2024, the Council held a total of 305 meetings and 124 informal consultations, averaging 25 meetings and 10 consultations per month.
305 public and private meetings
124 consultations
Overview
UN Photo / Mark Garten Secretary-General António Guterres speaks with participants ahead of the Security Council meeting on the theme “Leadership for peace: United in respect of the UN Charter, in search of a secure future” under maintenance of international peace and security. 25 September 2024.
CHART 1
Number of Security Council meetings and consultations 1946-2024
* Informal consultations of the whole were held since the inception of the Security Council. This chart only includes data on informal consultations of the whole from 1988 onwards since prior records are not verifiable.
SOURCE: SCPCRB/SCAD Expand Chart 1
In 2024, the Presidency of the Council continued the practice of introducing the programme of work to the wider membership of the United Nations at the beginning of the month and conducting wrap-up sessions at the end of each month. Consistent with Note 507, most wrap-up sessions were held utilizing the “Toledo-style” format, whereby, in addition to the President, other Council members presented the activity of the Council for the month in an interactive manner.
Meetings and consultations
UN Photo / Loey Felipe Delegates in conversation ahead of the Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question. 31 July 2024.
CHART 2
Number of Security Council meetings and consultations by month in 2024
SOURCE: SCPCRB/SCAD Expand Chart 2
High-level meetings
UN Photo / Manuel Elías Cho Tae-yul, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, chairs the Security Council meeting on addressing evolving threats in cyberspace. 20 June 2024.
Representatives on the Council
UN Photo / Eskinder Debebe A wide view of the Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East. 2 October 2024.
CHART 3A
Permanent Representatives (PR) on the
Council 2020-2024
2023
2023
2022
2021
2020
CHART 3A
Permanent Representatives (PR) on the
Council 2020-2024
SOURCE: SCPCRB/SCAD Expand Chart 3a
CHART 3B
Deputy Permanent Representatives (DPR) on the
Council 2020-2024
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
CHART 3B
Deputy Permanent Representatives (DPR) on the
Council 2020-2024
SOURCE: SCPCRB/SCAD Expand Chart 3b
Invitations under rule 39 of the Provisional Rules of Procedure
UN Photo / Eskinder Debebe Beatriz Helena Quintero Garcia, co-founder of Red Nacional de Mujeres, Colombia, briefs the Security Council meeting on the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia. 15 October 2024.
UN Photo / Manuel Elías Danai Gurira, UN Women Goodwill Ambassador, briefs the Security Council meeting on women and peace and security, with a focus on preventing conflict-related sexual violence through demilitarization and gender-responsive arms control. 23 April 2024.
CHART 4A
Rule 39 invitees 2015-2024
- 500
- 450
- 400
- 350
- 300
- 250
- 200
- 150
- 100
- 50
CHART 4A
Rule 39 invitees 2015-2024
SOURCE: SCPCRB/SCAD Expand Chart 4a
CHART 4B
Rule 39 invitees 2015-2024 (by gender)
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
- 300
- 250
- 200
- 150
- 100
- 50
CHART 4B
Rule 39 invitees 2015-2024 (by gender)
SOURCE: SCPCRB/SCAD Expand Chart 4b
Informal consultations of the whole
In 2024, Council members held 124 consultations, including 30 discussions held under “Other matters” (also known as “Any Other Business” (AOB)). The most frequently discussed topics in consultations during 2024 were the Middle East, including the Palestinian question, Yemen and Sudan.
For further details, explore Figure 1 below.
FIGURE 1
Frequency of topics discussed in informal consultations of the whole in 2024
SOURCE: SCPCRB/SCAD Expand Figure 1
Informal interactive dialogues
UN Photo / Manuel Elías Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary General of the League of Arab States, briefs reporters following the informal interactive dialogue on cooperation between UN Security Council and the League of Arab States. 26 September 2024.
Arria-formula meetings
Arria-formula meetings are informal gatherings convened at the initiative of one or more Council members (in some instances, they are convened also by non-Council members) with the participation of all or some Council members. Arria-formula meetings do not constitute an activity of the Council and are not presided by the President of the Council. While in past practice Arria-formula meetings were closed to the public, since 2016, most of these meetings have been open to the public or even broadcast. In 2024, Council members organized 15 Arria-formula meetings in connection with both thematic and country-specific topics, a decrease compared to 2023 and the lowest number since 2017.
For further details, explore section III of the Annex and Chart 5.
Additional information about all Arria-formula meetings held since 1992 is available in a dedicated dashboard prepared by the Security Council Affairs Division.
CHART 5
Number of Arria-formula meetings 2015-2024
SOURCE: SCPCRB/SCAD Expand Chart 5
Other activities of the Council
In 2024, Council members held “sofa talks” at the level of Permanent Representatives during the July (Russian Federation) and September (Slovenia) presidencies, continuing the practice initiated in 2019 for Council members to raise issues of concern related to international peace and security in an informal setting.
Additionally, following the practice launched in 2007, the Council held its ninth informal joint seminar and 18th annual joint consultative meeting with the African Union Peace and Security Council in New York in October 2024.
UN Photo / Santiago Puentes Viana Security Council members meet with members of the Humanicemos Project, during the UN Security Council's visit to Colombia. Council members traveled there to learn first-hand about the implementation of the 2016 Final Peace Agreement and the new challenges and progress of peace efforts in the country. 9 February 2024.
In 2024, the Council conducted one mission to Colombia, co-led by Guyana, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
Missions in 2024
UN Photo / Santiago Puentes Viana Security Council members meet with members of the Humanicemos Project, during the UN Security Council's visit to Colombia. Council members traveled there to learn first-hand about the implementation of the 2016 Final Peace Agreement and the new challenges and progress of peace efforts in the country. 9 February 2024.
FIGURE 2
Security Council missions in 2024
CHART 6
Number of Security Council missions by region 2015-2024
- 5
- 4
- 3
- 2
- 1
CHART 6
Number of Security Council missions by region 2015-2024
SOURCE: SCPCRB/SCAD Expand Chart 6
UN Photo / Loey Felipe Linda Thomas-Greenfield, Permanent Representative of the United States, greets Fu Cong, Permanent Representative of China, ahead of the Security Council meeting on the question concerning Haiti. 3 July 2024.
In 2024, the Security Council considered 45 agenda items in meetings, compared to 47 the year before. Out of the 45 agenda items, 23 addressed country-specific or regional situations and 22 thematic and other issues.
45 agenda items
23 addressed country-specific or regional situations
22 addressed thematic and other issues
Overview
UN Photo / Loey Felipe Michael Imran Kanu (center), Permanent Representative of Sierra Leone to the United Nations and President of the Security Council for the month of August, chairs the Security Council meeting on threats to international peace and security. 8 August 2024.
CHART 7
Percentage of meetings on country-specific/regional situations and thematic and other issues in 2024
CHART 7
Percentage of meetings on country-specific/regional situations and thematic and other issues in 2024
SOURCE: SCPCRB/SCAD Expand Chart 7
UN Photo / Loey Felipe Mohamed Irfaan Ali (centre), President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, speaks at the Security Council meeting on climate change and food insecurity. To the left is UN Secretary-General António Guterres. 13 February 2024.
CHART 8
Number of meetings held and resolutions/PRSTs adopted by agenda item in 2024
SOURCE: SCPCRB/SCAD Expand Chart 8
Country-specific and regional situations
In 2024, the Council discussed country-specific or regional situations in 205 of its meetings. The Middle East accounted for 77 of those meetings, followed by Africa with 73, Europe with 23, the Americas with 17 and Asia with 15.
For further details, explore Chart 9 below.
CHART 9
Percentage of meetings by geographic region in 2024
CHART 9
Percentage of meetings by geographic region in 2024
SOURCE: SCPCRB/SCAD Expand Chart 9
UN Photo / Manuel Elías A wide view of the Security Council meeting on peace consolidation in West Africa. 11 January 2024.
Thematic and other issues
UN Photo / Loey Felipe Leonnie Kandolo Omoyi, Minister of Gender, Family and Children of the Democratic Republic of The Congo, addresses the Security Council meeting on "Women building peace in a changing environment" under the theme of Women and Peace and Security. 24 October 2024.
UN Photo / Loey Felipe A wide view of the Security Council Chamber as Security Council members vote during the Security Council meeting on the situation concerning Democratic Republic of Congo. 6 August 2024.
In 2024, the Security Council adopted 46 resolutions and seven presidential statements and issued nine notes by the President and 22 letters by the President. Council members also issued 43 press statements. The Council failed to adopt eight draft resolutions. The decision-making of the Council in 2024 registered an overall decrease in unanimity and an increase in the number of vetoes and procedural votes compared to recent years.
46 resolutions
9 notes by the President
7 presidential statements
22 letters by the President
Overview
UN Photo / Evan Schneider Permanent Representative of Japan briefs press on the adoption of revised Note by the President (S/2024/507) on the working methods of the Security Council. 20 December 2024
CHART 10
Number of resolutions, presidential statements, notes, and letters by the President 2015-2024
SOURCE: SCPCRB/SCAD Expand Chart 10
Decisions by geographic region
In 2024, 37 of the 46 resolutions and two of the seven presidential statements concerned country- or region-specific situations or conflicts. Africa accounted for 22 resolutions and two presidential statements, followed by the Middle East with eight resolutions, the Americas with four, Europe with two and Asia with one resolution.
For further details, explore Chart 11.
UN Photo / Loey Felipe Security Council unanimously adopts resolution 2755 (2024) extending until 31 January 2025 the mandate of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL). 31 October 2024.
CHART 11
Percentage of decisions by geographic region in 2024
CHART 11
Percentage of decisions by geographic region in 2024
SOURCE: SCPCRB/SCAD Expand Chart 11
Press statements
UN Photo / Mark Garten Journalists wait for press briefings at the Security Council media stakeout area. 25 September 2024.
FIGURE 3
Frequency of countries or regions referred to in press statements in 2024
SOURCE: SCPCRB/SCAD Expand Figure 3
Procedural votes
UN Photo / Loey Felipe Security Council members vote on the provisional agenda of the meeting on Non-proliferation/Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.28 March 2024
CHART 12
Procedural votes 2020-2024
| Date | Mtg # | Procedural Matters | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Oct 2020 | 8764 | Invitation to participate in the proceeding | Not adopted |
1 in 2020
| Date | Mtg # | Procedural Matters | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31 Jan 2022 | 8960 | Agenda adoption [Threats to international peace and security] | Adopted |
| 24 Aug 2022 | 9115 | Invitation to participate in the proceeding | Adopted |
2 in 2022
| Date | Mtg # | Procedural Matters | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Mar 2023 | 9286 | Invitation to participate in the proceeding [Rule 39] | Not adopted |
| 6 Jul 2023 | 9367 | Invitation to participate in the proceeding [Rule 37] | Adopted |
| 26 Jul 2023 | 9385 | Invitation to participate in the proceeding [Rule 39] | Not adopted |
3 in 2023
| Date | Mtg # | Procedural Matters | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 Mar 2024 | 9587 | Agenda adoption [Threats to international peace and security] | Not adopted |
| 26 Mar 2024 | 9589 | Agenda adoption [Non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction] | Adopted |
| 26 Mar 2024 | 9588 | Agenda adoption [The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question] | Adopted |
| 27 Mar 2024 | 9590 | Agenda adoption [The situation concerning the Democratic Republic of the Congo] | Adopted |
| 28 Mar 2024 | 9592 | Agenda adoption [Maintenance of international peace and security] | Not adopted |
| 28 Mar 2024 | 9591 | Agenda adoption [Non-proliferation/Democratic People's Republic of Korea] | Adopted |
| 12 Jul 2024 | 9798 | Agenda adoption [The situation in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea] | Adopted |
| 03 Dec 2024 | 9385 | Invitation to participate in the proceeding [Rule 39] | Adopted |
8 in 2024
- 8
- 6
- 4
- 2
CHART 12
Procedural votes 2020-2024
SOURCE: SCPCRB/SCAD Expand Chart 12
Additionally, in June, at the outset of a meeting held under the item entitled “The situation in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea”, the provisional agenda was put to a vote and was adopted (see S/PV.9653).
In December, the proposal to invite a civil society briefer in accordance with rule 39 to participate in the meeting on “The situation in the Middle East”, was also put to a vote and was adopted (see S/PV.9798).
For further details, see Chart 12.
Sponsorship
UN Photo / Loey Felipe Amar Bendjama, Permanent Representative of Algeria, speaks with Yamazaki Kazuyuki, Permanent Representative of Japan and President of the Security Council for the month of March, ahead of the Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question at which the Council adopted resolution 2728 (2024), submitted by the 10 elected members. 25 March 2024
CHART 13
Voting
In 2024, 65 per cent of resolutions (or 30 out of 46) were adopted unanimously compared to 70 per cent in 2023 and compared to 84 per cent over the previous decade (2014-2023). Three of the 15 resolutions not adopted unanimously related to sanctions regimes (Al-Qaida/ISIL (Da’esh), Sudan and South Sudan), three to the mandates of peacekeeping operations (UNMISS, MINURSO and UNISFA), while the remaining resolutions not adopted unanimously concerned a variety of topics, including maritime security in the Red Sea, calls for cessation of hostilities in Sudan, ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, protection of civilians in armed conflict, the renewal of authorizations to intercept vessels off the Libyan coast suspected of migrant smuggling and human trafficking, the appointment of the Prosecutor of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals, as well as the mandate of ATMIS/AUSSOM. In 2024, for the first time since 2003, one Council member did not participate in the voting (see S/PV.9771).
For further details, explore section VI of the Annex.
In 2024, the Council failed to adopt eight draft resolutions in connection with “The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian Question”, “Non-proliferation/Democratic People’s Republic of Korea”, “Admission of new members”, “Non-proliferation” and “Reports of the Secretary-General on the Sudan and South Sudan”. In addition, the Council failed to adopt seven sets of amendments in connection with draft resolutions submitted under the items “Maintenance of international peace and security” (see S/PV.9527), “The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question” (see S/PV.9586), “Non-proliferation” and “The situation concerning Western Sahara” (see S/PV.9771).
Out of the eight draft resolutions and seven sets of amendments not adopted in 2024, eight vetoes were cast on seven draft resolutions, four of which were under the items “The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question” and “Admission of new member,” while one was in relation to the renewal of the mandate of the Panel of Experts under the item “Non-proliferation/ Democratic People’s Republic of Korea”, one was in connection with the situation in Sudan, and one concerned the prevention of arms race in outer space under the item “Non-proliferation”. In connection with the latter, one draft resolution was not adopted having failed to garner the requisite number of votes. Moreover, for the first time since 2011, the Council considered a draft resolution recommending the admission of a new Member State to the United Nations (State of Palestine), which was not adopted owing to a veto cast by a permanent member (see, S/PV.9609).
UN Photo / Loey Felipe Security Council unanimously adopts Resolution 2741 (2024) on Somalia. 28 June 2024.
For further details, explore section VII of the Annex.
Between 2015 and 2024, a total of 47 vetoes were cast in connection with 37 draft resolutions and amendments. Chart 15 below shows the voting record for draft resolutions tabled in the period 2015 to 2024, illustrating the number of draft resolutions adopted unanimously and non-unanimously, as well as the number of draft resolutions vetoed or not adopted due to the failure to obtain the required number of votes. By way of comparison, a total of 17 vetoes were cast in the period 2005 to 2014. For a historic and up-to-date overview of vetoes at the Council, see Peace and Security Data Hub.
In accordance with General Assembly resolution 76/262 of 26 April 2022, the Council submitted seven special reports to the Assembly in 2024, after the casting of a veto by a permanent member.
CHART 14
Voting on draft resolutions in the period 2015-2024
| Date | Permanent member casting veto | Agenda item |
|---|---|---|
| 8 Jul 2015 | Russian Federation | The situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| 29 Jul 2015 | Russian Federation | Letter dated 28 February 2014 from the Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council (S/2014/136) |
201 11 58 28 2015
| Date | Permanent member casting veto | Agenda item |
|---|---|---|
| 8 Oct 2016 | Russian Federation | The situation in the Middle East (Syria) |
| 5 Dec 2016 | China, Russian Federation | The situation in the Middle East (Syria) |
201 23 76 27 2016
| Date | Permanent member casting veto | Agenda item |
|---|---|---|
| 28 Feb 2017 | China, Russian Federation | The situation in the Middle East (Syria) |
| 12 Apr 2017 | Russian Federation | The situation in the Middle East (Syria) |
| 24 Oct 2017 | Russian Federation | The situation in the Middle East (Syria) |
| 16 Nov 2017 | Russian Federation | The situation in the Middle East (Syria) |
| 17 Nov 2017 | Russian Federation | The situation in the Middle East (Syria) |
| 18 Dec 2017 | United States | The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question |
234 17 59 30 2017
| Date | Permanent member casting veto | Agenda item |
|---|---|---|
| 26 Feb 2018 | Russian Federation | The situation in the Middle East (Yemen) |
| 10 Apr 2018 | Russian Federation | The situation in the Middle East (Syria) |
| 1 Jun 2018 | United States | The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question |
226 11 71 42 2018
| Date | Permanent member casting veto | Agenda item |
|---|---|---|
| 28 Feb 2019 | China, Russian Federation | The situation in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela |
| 19 Sep 2019 | China, Russian Federation | The situation in the Middle East (Syria) |
| 20 Dec 2019 | China, Russian Federation | The situation in the Middle East (Syria) |
228 19 73 67 2019
| Date | Permanent member casting veto | Agenda item |
|---|---|---|
| 7 Jul 2020 | China, Russian Federation | The situation in the Middle East (Syria) |
| 10 Jul 2020 | China, Russian Federation | The situation in the Middle East (Syria) |
| 31 Aug 2020 | United States | Threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts |
44 13 4 3 2020
| Date | Permanent member casting veto | Agenda item |
|---|---|---|
| 13 Dec 2021 | Russian Federation | Maintenance of international peace and security |
48 9 1 1 2021
| Date | Permanent member casting veto | Agenda item |
|---|---|---|
| 25 Feb 2022 | Russian Federation | Letter dated 28 February 2014 from the Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council (S/2014/136) |
| 26 May 2022 | China, Russian Federation | Non-proliferation/Democratic People's Republic of Korea |
| 8 Jul 2022 | Russian Federation | The situation in the Middle East (Syria) |
| 30 Sep 2022 | Russian Federation | Maintenance of peace and security of Ukraine |
36 18 3 4 2022
| Date | Permanent member casting veto | Agenda item |
|---|---|---|
| 11 Jul 2023 | Russian Federation | The situation in the Middle East (Syria) |
| 30 Aug 2023 | Russian Federation | The situation in Mali |
| 18 Oct 2023 | United States | The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question |
| 25 Oct 2023 | China, Russian Federation | The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question |
| 8 Dec 2023 | United States | The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question |
| 22 Dec 2023 | United States | The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question |
35 15 8 6 2023
| Date | Permanent member casting veto | Agenda item |
|---|---|---|
| 22 Mar 2024 | China, Russian Federation | The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question |
| 28 Mar 2024 | Russian Federation | Non-proliferation/Democratic People's Republic of Korea |
| 18 Apr 2024 | United States | Admission of New Members |
| 24 Apr 2024 | Russian Federation | Non-proliferation |
| 18 Nov 2024 | Russian Federation | Reports of the Secretary-General on the Sudan and South Sudan |
| 20 Nov 2024 | United States | The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question |
30 16 8 7 2024
- 80
- 70
- 60
- 50
- 40
- 30
- 20
- 10
CHART 14
Voting on draft resolutions in the period 2015-2024
SOURCE: SCPCRB/SCAD Expand Chart 14
Cross-cutting issues in country-specific decisions of the Security Council
UN Photo / Loey Felipe Vanessa Frazier, Permanent Representative of Malta and President of the Security Council for the month of April, chairs the meeting on children and armed conflict focused on addressing the consequences of the denial of humanitarian access for children. 3 April 2024
CHART 15
Number of decisions adopted under country-specific or regional situations with provisions on POC, WPS or CAAC 2015-2024
SOURCE: SCPCRB/SCAD Expand Chart 15
Resolutions under Chapter VII
UN Photo / Rick Bajornas Domingos Estevão Fernandes, Deputy Permanent Representative of Mozambique and President of the Security Council for the month of May, chairs the meeting at which the Council adopted resolution 2731 (2024) on South Sudan sanctions. 30 May 2024
CHART 16
Resolutions adopted explicitly under Chapter VII of the Charter in 2024
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
CHART 16
Resolutions adopted explicitly under Chapter VII of the Charter in 2024
SOURCE: SCPCRB/SCAD Expand Chart 16
UN Photo / Eskinder Debebe Roza Otunbayeva, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), briefs reporters after the Security Council meeting on the situation in Afghanistan. 6 March 2024
In 2024, the Council adopted decisions concerning the mandate of eight peacekeeping operations (out of 11 active ones) and eight special political missions (out of 11 that were in operation), primarily extending their mandates.
8 peacekeeping operations
8 special political missions
UN Peacekeeping Operations and Special Political Missions
UN Photo / Nektarios Markogiannis Cheryl Pearce (left), Acting Military Advisor of the Office of Military Affairs (OMA) at UN Headquarters, visits the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) to meet with Mission leadership and peacekeepers. 16 May 2024.
In 2024, the Council adopted decisions concerning the mandate of eight peacekeeping operations (out of 11 that were in operation) and eight special political missions (out of 11 that were in operation), primarily extending their mandates.
The Council extended the mandates of eight peacekeeping operations (UNFICYP, UNMISS, UNDOF, UNIFIL, MINURSO, UNISFA, MINUSCA and MONUSCO), as well as eight special political missions (UNAMA, UNAMI, UNMHA, BINUH, UNOCA, UNSMIL, the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia and UNSOM/UNTMIS). In the case of UNAMI, the Council extended its mandate for a final 19-month period until 31 December 2025. The mandates of the three long-standing peacekeeping missions (UNMOGIP, UNMIK and UNTSO), and two special political missions (UNRCCA and UNSCOL) remained open-ended. The mandate of UNOCA was extended in 2024 by an exchange of letters until 2027 (see S/2024/648 and S/2024/649), while that of UNOWAS had been extended in 2023 until 2026.
Changes to mission configuration and mandates
In 2024, all peacekeeping operations maintained their previously authorized troop ceilings. The mandates of several peacekeeping operations, however, were modified. Specifically, MINUSCA and UNMISS were tasked with supporting electoral processing in the Central African Republic and South Sudan, with the latter mission also provided with new elements to its protection of civilians mandate. Furthermore, the Council authorized MONUSCO to provide support to the Southern African Development Community Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (SAMIDRC). In the case of special political missions, BINUH was called upon to develop a strategy in consultation with the Government of Haiti on how it would continue to support a Haitian-led and Haitian-owned political process through its good offices, complementing the efforts of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). By resolution 2753 (2024), the Council changed the name of UNSOM into the United Nations Transitional Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNTMIS), decided that UNTMIS would begin the formal two-year transition of its functions from 1 November 2024 with 31 October 2026 set as the anticipated termination of its mandate. Additional information on the mandates of peacekeeping operations and special political missions is available in the Field Missions Dashboard prepared by the Security Council Affairs Division.
UN Photo/Manuel Elías Bintou Keita, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of MONUSCO, briefs the Security Council on the situation concerning the Democratic Republic of the Congo. 30 September 2024.
In 2024, the Council adopted decisions concerning the mandate of eight sanctions committees and monitoring groups, teams and panels of experts that support the work of 10 of the 14 sanctions committees. While the Council did not renew the mandate of the Panel of Experts assisting the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1718 (2006) on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, it established a new subsidiary organ - an informal working group on general issues relating to sanctions.
Sanctions and other Committees and Working Groups
In 2024, the Council adopted decisions concerning the mandate of eight sanctions committees and monitoring groups, teams and panels that support the work of 10 of the 14 sanctions committees. The Council did not renew the mandate of the Panel of Experts supporting the work of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1718 (2006) concerning the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, which expired on 30 April. Having decided to lift the arms embargo on the Central African Republic, the Council also decided to rename the Committee and the Panel of Experts concerning the Central African Republic to be known as “pursuant to resolution 2745 (2024)”.
Concerning the investigative bodies established by the Council, the mandate of UNITAD expired in September and was not renewed. In resolution 2744 (2024), the Council established an informal working group on general issues relating to sanctions, with a mandate to examine various issues with a view to improving the effectiveness of sanctions imposed by the United Nations. In addition, for the first time since 2011, the Council convened the Committee on the Admission of New Members concerning the application of the State of Palestine for admission to membership in the United Nations which issued its report to the Council on 17 April (see S/2024/313).
The Committees and Working Groups established by the Council met a cumulative number of 135 times in 2024, in the context of both formal and informal meetings, as well as briefings, including joint briefings to Member States. In August, the Working Group on Peacekeeping Operations and the Ad Hoc Working Group on Conflict Prevention and resolution in Africa held a joint meeting draw lessons from United Nations peacekeeping transitions on the African continent and to discuss the role the Council could play in that regard. For further details, explore Chart 17 below.
CHART 17
Meetings and briefings per Sanctions and other Committees and Working Groups in 2024 press statements in 2024
- 5
- 10
- 15
- 20
- 25
CHART 17
Meetings and briefings per Sanctions and other Committees and Working Groups in 2024 press statements in 2024
SOURCE: SCPCRB/SCAD Expand Chart 17
Chairs of Sanctions and other Committees and Working Groups
UN Photo / Loey Felipe Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Permanent Representative of Guyana, addresses the Security Council meeting on the question concerning Haiti in her capacity as Chair of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 2653 (2022). 11 December 2024.
CHART 18
Chairs of Sanctions and other Committees and Working Groups 2020-2024
SOURCE: SCPCRB/SCAD Expand Chart 18
Individuals and entities on Security Council sanctions and restrictive measures lists
UN Photo / Manuel Elías The Security Council unanimously adopts resolution 2744 (2024) on Focal Point Mechanism, at the meeting on general issues relating to sanctions. 19 July 2024.
CHART 19
Individuals and entities listed as of 31 December 2024
- 350
- 300
- 250
- 200
- 150
- 100
- 50
CHART 19
Individuals and entities listed as of 31 December 2024
* Upon implementation of resolution 2231 (2015)
SOURCE: SCPCRB/SCAD Expand Chart 19
De-listings from Security Council sanctions committees’ lists in 2023
In 2024, four individuals and no entities were removed (also referred to as “de-listed”) from the respective sanctions lists. De-listing requests in relation to the ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions List are submitted directly to the ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee or the Office of the Ombudsperson. De-listing requests with respect to all other sanctions lists are submitted to the respective sanctions committees or through the Focal Point for De-listing in the Secretariat. Any Member State can propose the de-listing of an individual or an entity. The relevant committee then considers the proposal, often in consultation with the designating State, and makes a final decision on whether or not to de-list. Often those proposing de-listings are the State of citizenship or residence of a listed individual, the State of location or place of registration of a listed entity, the designating State itself, or a Council member. For further details, see Chart 20.
CHART 20
De-listings from Security Council Sanctions Committees in 2024
- 2
- 1
CHART 20
De-listings from Security Council Sanctions Committees in 2024
SOURCE: SCPCRB/SCAD Expand Chart 20
Activities of the Focal Point for De-listing and Office of the Ombudsperson
UN Photo / Eskinder Debebe The Security Council adopts resolution 2734 (2024) on threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts in relation to ISIL, Al-Qaida, and associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities. 10 June 2024.
In addition to the ability of Member States to de-list, two mechanisms have been established to strengthen the de-listing process: the Office of the Focal Point for De-listing and the Office of the Ombudsperson. In 2024, in its resolution 2744 (2024), the Council adopted a new delisting procedure, which replaced the one set out in resolution 1730 (2006), and expressed its intention to keep the mandate and tasks of the Focal Point under continuous review. Since its establishment in 2006, the Office of the Focal Point for De-listing has received a total of 124 requests to de-list individuals and/or entities. A total of 119 of these requests have been processed, while five are pending. As a result of this process, a total of 20 individuals and 17 entities have been de-listed and 59 individuals and 21 entities remain on the list. The Office of the Ombudsperson, established to serve as the de-listing mechanism for the ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee, has received a total of 111 requests to de-list individuals and/or entities since 2009, of which 108 have been processed and three are pending. As a result, a total of 66 individuals and 28 entities have been de-listed and 31 listings remain. The mandate of the Office of the Ombudsperson was also extended for an additional period of 36 months until June 2027 by resolution 2734 (2024), followed by the reappointment of the current Ombudsperson (S/2024/493). For further details, explore Charts 21 and 22 below.
CHART 21
De-listings by the Focal Point for De-listing as of the end of 2024
- 20
- 40
- 60
- 80
- 100
- 120
CHART 21
De-listings by the Focal Point for De-listing as of the end of 2024
* For details on the procedures of the Focal Point for De-listing and the Office of the Ombudsperson, visit the website.
SOURCE: SCPCRB/SCAD Expand Chart 21
CHART 22
De-listings by the Office of the Ombudsperson as of the end of 2024
- 20
- 40
- 60
- 80
- 100
- 120
CHART 22
De-listings by the Office of the Ombudsperson as of the end of 2024
* For details on the procedures of the Focal Point for De-listing and the Office of the Ombudsperson, visit the website.
SOURCE: SCPCRB/SCAD Expand Chart 22
Mandate extensions of Security Council Subsidiary Bodies
MINUSCA / Myriam Asmani Valentine Rugwabiza, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of MINUSCA, leads a high-level delegation in visit to Kaga-Bondoro in the Central African Republic. 3 October 2024.
CHART 23
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