UN Security Council extends mandate of the committee monitoring UNSC Resolution 1540; Security Council calls for dialogue to resolve differences between Northern and Southern Sudan; Counter-Terrorism Committee meets to discuss fight against terrorism;
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  • The Security Council extended the mandate of a committee tasked with monitoring UN resolution 1540 (2004) on the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction for 10 years and requested it to carry out a comprehensive review of the implementation of the text. The mandate was extended by an unanimous decision until April 25, 2021. The Council requested the committee to conduct a comprehensive review on the status of the implementation of the resolution, thereafter the Council if found necessary would recommend adjustments to the mandate and report on the conclusions of those reviews.1

    In another development, the Security Council has urged the northern and southern Sudan to iron out outstanding issues before southern Sudan becomes a separate country in July and also encouraged them to enter into dialogue with the UN on the future of its presence there. The Council expressed its concern over increased tensions, violence and displacement in the Abyei areas and urged government of Sudan and the government of Southern Sudan to implement and stick to recent security agreements by withdrawing from the territory all forces other than the Joint Integrated Units and Joint Integrated Police Units. The Council demanded the Government of Sudan and the armed movements to cease their hostilities and ensure full and unhindered access for humanitarian workers and UNAMID to provide assistance.2 Meanwhile, the Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee held a three-day meeting with regional organizations to accelerate and unify international strategies to defeat the scourge of terrorism.3

    In other developments, discussing the violence in Yemen for the first time, the UN Security Council members called for restraint and political dialogue. However, the 15-member body failed to agree on a public statement on Yemen. The meeting came as Yemeni police opened fire on protestors in two cities as the campaign to end President Ali Abdullah Saleh’s rule escalated.4

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