We urgently call for the deployment of a protection force in Sudan to protect and deter attacks against civilians amid the escalating violence between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). A robust force is vital to protect women, children, and at-risk communities, ensuring their safety and facilitating humanitarian aid. Sign the petition and demand deployment of a Protection Force in Sudan now.
Archiv: United Nations Security Council (UNSC) / Sicherheitsrat der Vereinten Nationen
UN: Keep International Force in Lebanon to Protect Civilians
(August 13, 2026)
In August 2025, the Security Council unanimously decided to extend the mandate of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), which first deployed in 1978, one final time until the end of 2026, when it would begin a phased withdrawal. That decision came before the latest escalation of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah in March 2026âand before Israeli forces displaced hundreds of thousands of civilians and occupied large swathes of southern Lebanon. Deliberate acts of displacement may amount to the war crime of forced displacement.
âPulling the plug on UNIFIL without a robust international force in place would effectively abandon millions of Lebanese civilians to an uncertain and potentially disastrous fate,â said Louis Charbonneau, UN director at Human Rights Watch. âUN missions may not be a lasting solution, but the peacekeepers are a crucial deterrent against attacks on civilians and human rights abuses.â
President Aoun backs extending UNIFIL mandate, stresses need for international presence in south
President Joseph Aoun welcomed the parliamentary initiative and petition calling for an extension of the international forcesâ mandate in southern Lebanon.
He said UNIFILâs presence in the south is important for several reasons, including helping residents remain in their towns and villages and promoting stability in coordination with the Lebanese Army.
Lebanon‘s Aoun calls for extension of UNIFIL mandate
(August 17, 2026)
He said Israel had opposed UNIFIL‘s presence and „has been pressing in that direction for nearly a year,“ while Lebanon continued to call for the mission to remain.
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UNIFIL has been deployed since 1978 to monitor the ceasefire along the Lebanese-Israeli border and support the Lebanese Armed Forces in southern Lebanon.
Its current mandate is due to expire on December 31, 2026.
Statement of ICC Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan to the United Nations Security Council on the Situation in Darfur, pursuant to Resolution 1593 (2005)
(On 15 July 2026, ICC Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan addressed the United Nations Security Council on the Situation in Darfur, Sudan, virtually from The Hague. Below is a transcript of her remarks.)
Mr President, thank you for the opportunity to brief the Security Council today.
Please allow me to also express my thanks to his Excellency the Permanent Representative of Sudan to the United Nations for his attendance. Mr. President, Excellencies, last week I was in Eastern Chad, hearing directly from just a small fraction of the Darfuris affected by the harrowing cycles of suffering that continue to be inflicted upon them.
In refugee camps in Goz Beida and in Farchana, I sat with Darfuri women, men and children to hear their experiences, and to address how the process of justice can help stem the ongoing violations suffered by their communities. Those I met with included displaced Darfuris from the camps of Adre, Arkoum, Aboutengue, Metche, Alacha, Kerfi, Goz Amir, and Zabout, who travelled, despite their own difficult circumstances, to meet with me and my team.
These conversations were deeply impactful, and I must admit, difficult. The victims I spoke with continue to bear the consequences of being driven from their homes. Living in conditions of acute hardship, they struggle each day to provide food, water and education for their children, while longing to return in safety and dignity to their homeland.
There is real despair in those camps. A clearly and repeatedly-stated belief that they have been forgotten by much of the world. That their lives are not given equal value, that the depth of their suffering has not been met with a meaningful response.
And the specific, individual experiences of pain they shared with us reflected the collective agony of the people of Darfur, including:
– Those who saw their parents die, who saw their mothers raped in front of their very eyes;
– People who were sacrificed as if they were livestock;
– Men huddled into prisons and burnt or buried alive;
– Women who spoke of being raped repeatedly and;
– Children directly attacked, raped, and traumatized by what they have seen.
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I call on all States in this Council, all members of the United Nations, and all partners for accountability, to heed the voices of the victims that I have shared with you today, and to join us at this crucial moment for the people of Darfur.
CITY UNDER SIEGE, CHILDREN UNDER FIRE: RAPID SUPPORT FORCESâ CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY IN NORTH DARFUR
During nearly three years of brutal conflict, civilians in North Darfur have been unlawfully detained, tortured and killed on a massive scale. Women and girls have been raped and forced into sexual slavery. Children have not just been the collateral damage of this violence: very often, they are deliberate targets.
This report documents the Rapid Support Forcesâ (RSFâs) slow and violent takeover of North Darfur and its capital, El Fasher, after it began fighting the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) in April 2023. The abuses, which amount to crimes against humanity under international law, displaced hundreds of thousands of children, exposing them to death and injury during attacks or while fleeing. Countless children have been orphaned.
Sudanâs current crisis erupted against the backdrop of decades of armed conflict. When major violence escalated in April 2023 between the SAF and the RSF (a former government force), fighting was first concentrated in the capital, Khartoum. But it soon spread to other parts of the country, including Darfur, a region on the western border with Chad that has been wracked by cycles of conflict since the early 2000s. By November 2023, the RSF controlled four of the five state capitals in Darfur.
El Fasher was the lone holdout and last major stronghold in Darfur for the SAF and the allied Joint Forces (a coalition of local armed groups that draws heavily from the Zaghawa ethnic group). The area is of particular strategic importance due to its sizeable gold reserves and its position as a geographical hub linking Darfur to Libya and Chad along trans-Saharan trade routes. It became a prize the RSF seemed willing to take at any price â something made possible by the steady flow of weapons and other equipment from its foreign backers, most notably the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
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TO THE AFRICAN UNION PEACE AND SECURITY COUNCIL
– Apply sustained political pressure on the RSF, SAF and all other parties to the conflict in Sudan to immediately agree to and implement a nationwide ceasefire accompanied by a sustainable framework for longer-term security and stability, human rights protection, justice and accountability. Regardless of progress towards a ceasefire, use all available leverage to urge all parties to immediately end attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, ensure safe and unfettered humanitarian access into North Darfur, and urgently facilitate the scaling up of humanitarian funding and response commensurate with the scale of civilian need.
– In line with the recommendation of the ACHPRâs Joint Fact-Finding Mission on the Human Rights Situation in the Republic of the Sudan, and given the ongoing risk to civilians, urgently establish and deploy a protection force to Sudan with a mandate to protect and deter attacks against civilians, prevent atrocities, create the security conditions conducive to the delivery of humanitarian assistance, and monitor and publicly report on attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure. Ensure the protection force is adequately resourced, equipped and supported to operate effectively, including through predictable and sustainable financing.
Sudan: RSF atrocities in El Fasher âa stain on the conscience of humanityâ â new report
The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) committed crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing during its campaign to seize El Fasher in North Darfur state in Sudan, Amnesty International concluded in a major new report. The organization is now calling for an immediate ceasefire in Sudan, and for the urgent deployment of an international force to protect civilians.
âEmbarrassingâ: pressure on Merz after Germanyâs failure to win UN security council seat
In an awkward rivalry among EU partners, Portugal took 134 votes and Austria 131 while Germany garnered just 104, significantly below the required 127 votes despite Berlinâs expressed confidence just hours before that it would prevail.
Both winners were seen to represent the interests of smaller countries, while Austria could benefit from its perceived neutrality as a non-Nato member and Portugal touted its strong ties in Africa and Latin America.
UN Security Council to Hold Emergency Closed-Door Session on Palestine
According to the Palestinian letter, several recent Israeli measures in both the West Bank and the Gaza Strip are described as efforts by Israel to further consolidate what the letter characterizes as the annexation of Palestinian territories.
Did Germany lose its UNSC seat because of support for Israel?
Wadephulâs bid won 104 votes in the UN General Assembly, falling 23 short of the two-thirds majority required for election.
This is the first time Germany has failed to win a rotating seat on the Security Council after decades of successfully securing one of the Western European seats every eight years.
Kein Sitz im UN-Sicherheitsrat: Katerstimmung und Fehlersuche
„FĂŒr uns alle ist das eine wirkliche EnttĂ€uschung. Das muss man sagen. Daran will ich nicht vorbeireden“, sagt Wadephul spĂ€ter im Interview mit den ARD-Tagesthemen. In der deutschen Delegation herrscht Katerstimmung. Bis zuletzt war man zuversichtlich, dass die vielen Last-Minute-GesprĂ€che, die Wadephul seit Freitag in New York gefĂŒhrt hatte, ausreichen wĂŒrden. Die Liste der vermeintlichen UnterstĂŒtzer-Staaten schien lang genug zu sein.
Five countries elected to UN Security Council; Germany misses out
The United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday elected Austria, Kyrgyzstan, Portugal, Trinidad âand Tobago and Zimbabwe to the 15-member U.N. Security Council for âtwo-year terms starting on January 1, 2027.
Germany, which had lobbied hard for a seat, came third for the two places contested by the Western European and âOthers Group, with 104 votes, against 134 for Portugal âand 131 for Austria.
Cuba Denounces U.S. Energy Blockade at UN, Warns of Humanitarian Catastrophe
In a special appeal, FM RodrĂguez addressed U.S. citizens, particularly their youth, invoking their human values and pacifist sentiments. He urged them to seek the truth and resist manipulation by what he described as an âelitist, corrupted and powerful clique in Miami.â According to the Cuban diplomat, this faction does not represent the U.S. people nor the majority of Cubans residing in the United States, many of whom reportedly oppose the âbarbarity of war and the blockade.â
Global Sumud Flotilla Departs Marmaris for Gaza: Legal Team Places International Community on Formal Notice
The Flotilla serves as a critical test for the international community and the current „Board of Peace“ architecture. Legal experts argue that such frameworks cannot be used as colonial gatekeepers to convert the legal right of humanitarian access into a foreign-administered permission regime which perpetuates the denial of Palestinian self-determination. There is a growing demand for United Nations member states to seek an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice regarding whether the Security Council may lawfully endorse a regime that displaces Palestinian self-determination. By sailing, the Flotilla forces a choice upon international institutions to either uphold the rule of law or be complicit in a system that conditions life-saving relief on political approval.
Iran Urges UN to Secure Release of Seized Touska Vessel and Crew
The Iranian envoy, acting on instructions from Tehran, described the operation as a âblatant violationâ of legal norms, including the prohibition of aggression, and argued that it displayed characteristics akin to piracy.
He further stated that the incident violated a ceasefire agreement reached on April 8 and amounted to an act of aggression as defined under UN General Assembly Resolution 3314 (1974), warning that it poses a risk to both regional and global stability.
Tehran strongly condemned the U.S. action, calling on the UN Security Council and the secretary-general to adopt a firm and immediate position, explicitly denounce the incident, ensure accountability, and compel Washington to release the vessel, its crew, and all affected individuals without conditions.
Iravani also requested that the letter be formally recorded and circulated as an official document of the UN Security Council.
Safety and security of Peacekeepers
JOINT STATEMENT BY ALGERIA, ARMENIA, AUSTRALIA, AUSTRIA, BAHRAIN, BANGLADESH, BELGIUM, BRAZIL, BRUNEI, CAMBODIA, CANADA, CHINA, COLOMBIA, CROATIA, CYPRUS, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO, DENMARK, EGYPT, EL SALVADOR, ESTONIA, FINLAND, FRANCE, GERMANY, GHANA, GREECE, GUATEMALA, HUNGARY, INDONESIA, IRELAND, ITALY, JORDAN, LATVIA, LIBERIA, LUXEMBOURG, MALAYSIA, MALTA, MOLDOVA, MONGOLIA, MOROCCO, NEPAL, THE NETHERLANDS, NORTH MACEDONIA, PAKISTAN, PANAMA, THE PHILIPINES, POLAND, PORTUGAL, QATAR, REPUBLIC OF KOREA, ROMANIA, RUSSIA, SIERRA LEONE, SLOVAKIA, SLOVENIA, SPAIN, SRI LANKA, SWEDEN, TANZANIA, THAILAND, TIMOR LESTE, TURKEY, UNITED KINGDOM, URUGUAY, ZAMBIA AND THE EUROPEAN UNION
New York, 9 April 2026
We, the troop-contributing countries to the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), joined by several other Member States and the European Union, express deep concern over the escalation of tension in Lebanon since 2 March 2026 and its impact on the safety and security of peacekeepers. We condemn in the strongest terms the persistent attacks against UNIFIL, including the latest grave attacks which cost the lives of three Indonesian peacekeepers and injured several other peacekeepers from France, Ghana, Indonesia, Nepal and Poland. We also firmly condemn the unacceptable aggressive behaviour towards UNIFIL personnel and leadership recently observed.
We recall that peacekeepers must never be the target of attack and that attacks on them are prohibited while they enjoy protection under international law and relevant UN Security Council resolutions, and may constitute a war crime. The safety and security of UN peacekeepers is non-negotiable, and we urge the UN and the Security Council to exert all tools available at its disposal to strengthen the protection of UN peacekeepers in an increasingly dangerous environment.
We reaffirm our full support for UNIFIL and its mandate, as set out in relevant Security Council resolutions, and urge all parties, under all circumstances, to take all measures to ensure the safety and security of peacekeeping personnel and premises, in accordance with international law.
We call on the UN to continue investigating all attacks against peacekeepers in a prompt, transparent and comprehensive manner, and keep the relevant troop-contributing country informed of the progress, consistent with Security Council resolutions 2518 (2020) and 2589 (2021). Those responsible for these attacks must be held accountable.
We express deep concerns over the humanitarian situation in Lebanon, especially the significant civilian casualties, the extensive destruction of civilian infrastructure and the mass displacement of more than one million people.
We call on parties to urgently return to the cessation of hostilities arrangement of 2024 and respect the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701 (2006). We call for a cessation of hostilities in Lebanon, de-escalation of tensions, and for all parties to return to the negotiating table. We reiterate our strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and unity of Lebanon.
We pay tribute to the dedication and service of all United Nations peacekeepers who risk their lives in the cause of international peace and security and express our deep appreciation to all troop-contributing countries.
Dozens of states condemn attacks on UN peacekeepers in Lebanon
While reaffirming their full support for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), the countries urged the U.N. and its Security Council „to strengthen the protection of U.N. peacekeepers in an increasingly dangerous environment.“
The statement called on all parties to return to negotiations and reiterated „strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and unity of Lebanon.“
Hadi said there were indications that more countries would sign the statement. Israel, Lebanon and the U.S. were not among those he read out.
The situation in the Middle East – Security Council, 10130th meeting
Production Date
07 Apr 2026
Video Length
02:51:06
Audio Language
Arabic
Chinese
English
French
Russian
Spanish
Original
Russia, China veto UN resolution on reopening Strait of Hormuz
The draft resolution prepared by Bahrain and supported by the United States received 11 votes in favor, two against and two abstentions.
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In 2011, NATO obtained the green light to intervene in Libya when Russia abstained from a vote. Moscow later fumed that this had led to the fall of Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi.
‚Stop This Madness‘: Former IAEA Chief Urges Gulf, UN To Act Before ‚Madman‘ Trump Turns Region Into ‚Ball Of Fire‘
In his post in Arabic, he implored regional leaders to take immediate diplomatic action. „Please, once again, do everything in your power before this madman turns the region into a ball of fire,“ the former IAEA chief wrote, directing his remarks at the neighbouring Gulf states.
The warning follows a sharp pivot in Washington‘s rhetoric, where Trump threatened the destruction of essential Iranian infrastructure and the forced reopening of the Strait of Hormuz if a peace agreement is not reached within the specified deadline.
ElBaradei also questioned the role of international institutions in preventing an all-out war. In a separate post written in English and addressed to the United Nations, he asked if „nothing can be done to stop this madness?“
A Bid to Use Force to Open Strait of Hormuz Hits Roadblocks at U.N. Security Council
The actual vote on the resolution, which was drafted by Bahrain with the support of the Arab countries in the Persian Gulf, is expected to be scheduled for Friday. But it remained unclear whether extra hours of diplomacy would bring the three veto-holding countries on board.
Russia, China and France are among the five permanent members of the council with veto power. There were also divisions over the resolution among the 10 nonpermanent members, according to diplomats.
Russia, China, France veto UNSC resolution to reopen Strait of Hormuz
Arab nations, led by Bahrain, seeking UN Security Council authorisation for military intervention to reopen the Strait of Hormuz have faced a major setback as Russia, China and France vetoed the proposed resolution.
The strategic Strait of Hormuzâthrough which approximately 20 per cent of the worldâs oil and gas supplies transitâwas closed by Iran on 28 February 2026 amid escalating conflict with the United States and Israel.
UN Security Council split over Bahrain draft calling for âall necessary meansâ to secure Strait of Hormuz
The initial draft, seen by The National, explicitly cited Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, which grants the Security Council authority to impose measures ranging from sanctions to military action.
Indonesia calls for UN investigation into killing of peacekeepers in Lebanon
Speaking during an emergency session of the U.N. Security Council, Indonesiaâs representative to the U.N., Omar Hadi, said: âWe demand a direct investigation by the United Nations, not merely Israeli excuses.â
Charter Chapter VII: Action with respect to threats to the peace, breaches of the peace and acts of aggression
Article 42
Should the Security Council consider that measures provided for in Article 41 would be inadequate or have proved to be inadequate, it may take such action by air, sea, or land forces as may be necessary to maintain or restore international peace and security. Such action may include demonstrations, blockade, and other operations by air, sea, or land forces of members of the Renewed United Nations, when peaceful solutions to the conflict, leading to freedom, personal responsibility, self-determination, increased prosperity and further implemenations of fundamental rights and freedoms for the population of the territory are simultaneously proposed or put into effect.