CAR: The SG issued a statement today on the situation in CAR, welcoming the declaration of principle, the ceasefire agreement, and the political agreement on the resolution of the crisis signed in Libreville on January 11.
Mali: The SC was briefed by USG for DPA, Jeffrey Feltman, on the situation in Mali today, followed by closed consultations. The SG spoke with French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius yesterday, where Fabius informed the SG of recent French military operations in the country at the Malian Government’s request.
Syria: UNHCR announced today that the Za’atri camp has been affected by heavy rainfall in Jordan. UNHCR and its partners are working to drain the section of the camp affected, mitigate the effects of further rainfall, and has relocated some of those affected to pre-fabricated housing.
Syria: Joint Special Representative for Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi, will meet with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov and US Deputy Secretary of State William Burns at UN HQ in Geneva on Friday.
Bahrain: The SG “deeply regrets” yesterday’s decision of Bahrain’s Court of Cassation to uphold the harsh sentences, including life imprisonment, against 20 Bahraini political activists.
Syria: In response to a speech given by Syrian President Bashar al Assad yesterday, the SG was “disappointed” that the speech did not contribute to a solution to the two-year conflict in the country.
UNICEF: UNICEF announced today that it has received credible reports that rebel groups and pro-government militias are increasingly recruiting and involving children in armed conflict in the CAR.
The SC: The SC met this morning to discuss its program of work for January. Pakistani Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar also briefed the press this afternoon, as Pakistan takes over the presidency of the Security Council for the month of January.
