S. Africa assumes monthly presidency of UN council

South Africa on Tuesday assumed the rotating monthly presidency of the United Nations Security Council.

During the month, South Africa will focus on strengthening cooperation between the African Union and the United Nations.

Naledi Pandor, South Africa’s international relations and cooperation minister, said the country’s participation in the council is a continuation of its ongoing approach to multilateralism.

“Serving on the UN Security Council has provided South Africa with an opportunity to meaningfully contribute toward the African Union’s goal of ending conflicts and silencing the guns on the continent by 2020, specifically during this year where we concurrently chair the African Union,” she said.

The country will emphasize the importance of a proactive approach to the maintenance of international peace and security, particularly in the form of drawing greater attention to “preventive diplomacy mechanisms”, Jerry Matjila, permanent representative of South Africa to the UN and president of the Security Council for the month of December, told journalists during a news conference.

This is South Africa’s second presidency during its two-year (2019-20) elected term on the council. December will also be the country’s final month on the council during its current term.

In December, there will be a ministerial-level debate on “Peacebuilding and Sustaining Peace: Security Sector Governance and Reform”, said Matjila, adding the country is organizing a high-level open videoconference debate on cooperation between UN and AU peace and security architectures.

In relation to other African issues, the mandate of the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is expected to be renewed, with a briefing and consultations ahead of the renewal.

On Iran, the council is scheduled to receive the secretary-general’s report on the implementation of Resolution 2231, which endorsed a 2015 landmark deal on Iran’s nuclear program.