With India in its eighth two-year tenure as an elected-member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), following is the sixteenth analysis in the ICWA series of ‘India in the UN Security: Monthly Recap’ by Professor. Suranjan Das, Vice-Chancellor, Jadavpur University and Professor. Shantanu Chakrabarti, Department of History, University of Calcutta
Amidst global tensions over issues ranging from war and aggression to terrorism, the United Kingdom (UK) assumed the presidency of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in April 2022.
Briefing the journalists and other representatives during a press conference organised on 4th April, 2022, Ambassador Barbara Woodward, Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the United Nations and President of the Security Council for the month of April, highlighted the key priorities of the UNSC under the UK presidency. She stated that the issues resulting from the Ukraine conflict would be of primary concern and as President, her country would ensure that the Council plays a role in working to resolve the crisis and in ensuring a quick withdrawal of the Russian forces from Ukraine. The other key concerns mentioned were conflict-related sexual violence in the conflict zones in Myanmar, Syria, Ethiopia and Iraq and the Covid-19 vaccination gaps in the less developed areas in the global South. The issues highlighted by her indicated the myriad and inter-linked nature of the contemporary global problems requiring careful attention and scrutiny by the UNSC.
Earlier, on 1st April 2022, the Council President issued a press statement expressing anxiety of the UNSC members over the crash of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) helicopter that occurred on 29 March 2022 in North Kivu, resulting in the death of eight peacekeepers from Pakistan, the Russian Federation and the Republic of Serbia. Urging the Congolese authorities for a quick investigation to find the reasons behind the crash, the press statement reiterated condemnation of all armed groups operating in the country, including the M23, the Coopérative pour le développement du Congo (CODECO) and the Allied Democratic Forces. She called upon all concerned to end violence and violations of international human rights and humanitarian laws. In another press release of 5th April, the Council President strongly condemned another attack on the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) in Ituri, causing the loss of life of one peacekeeper from Nepal.
The Council President also issued two press statements on Yemen on 4th April 2022: the first welcoming the 1 April call by UN Special Envoy [Hans] Grundberg for a two-month truce announcement on Yemen which had evoked a positive response from the involved parties, and the second condemning the cross-border terrorist attacks by the Houthis against Saudi Arabia on 20 March and 25 March, which severely damaged critical civilian infrastructure. On 13 April 2022 another press statement of the announcement of the peaceful transfer of power in Yemen from the President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi and the constitution of the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) that included an array of the country’s political players was welcomed.
Afghanistan once again attracted the UNSC’s attention with a series of terror strikes across the country in April. In two press statements issued by the Council President on 20th and 22nd April, the terror attacks on the Abdul Rahim-e Shahid High School and Mumtaz Education Centre in the Dasht-e-Barchi area of Kabul and the Seh Dokan Mosque in Mazar-e-Sharif and Kunduz - both claimed by the Islamic State in Khorasan Province (ISKP), an entity affiliated with the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da’esh) - were strongly condemned.
Terrorism in South Asia came under focus with the terror attack in the Karachi University, Pakistan on 26 April 2022. The attack, which was claimed by the Majeed Brigade of the Baloch Liberation Army, resulted in the deaths of three Chinese nationals and one Pakistani citizen and several injured. This was censured by the UNSC President in a press statement on 28th April 2022.
In press statement of 28 April, the Council President highlighted the latest developments in the Great Lakes region (Africa) which had been discussed in the UNSC meeting on 27th April. The UNSC members particularly welcomed the intensification of regional diplomacy in the Great Lakes region and efforts to improve and strengthen bilateral and multilateral relations and cooperation. They recognized the progress made in the implementation of national and regional commitments under the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework and reiterated their call to all signatories to fulfil promptly, fully and in good faith their respective commitments under this Framework.
India’s role in the UNSC activities (April 2022)
India, as a non-permanent member of the Council, conveyed its viewpoints on all these issues taken up by UNSC in April 2022.
Libya
Political instability in Libya today stems from the contending claims to power since the fall of Gaddafi in 2011 by the two warring factions - the House of Representatives (HoR) based in the eastern city of Tobruk and the High Council of State (HCS) located in Tripoli, the national capital. The situation in Libya, however, got complicated with several local leaders trying to create their own strongholds. In April 2022 the Special Advisor to the UN Secretary-General on Libya Ms Stephanie Williams held consultations with both the HCS and the HoR in Cairo to create a constitutional basis for credible, transparent and inclusive elections. The UNSC in its meeting held on 29th April 2022, extended the mandate of the UNSMIL till 31st July 2022 under Resolution 2629. The concerned Resolution reiterated the UN’s commitment to a Libyan-led and Libyan-owned political process for a free Presidential and Parliamentary elections in Libya. At the same time the UNSC urged full compliance by all Member States with the arms embargo imposed under Resolution 1970 (2011).
Responding to the UNSC briefing on Libya by the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court on 28th April, 2022, India hoped that the warring parties of Libya would sincerely work towards restoration of peace and stability. India, further, expressed satisfaction with the implementation of the ceasefire concluded in October 2020. Pointing to its traditionally close ties with Libya, India hoped that the efforts of the international community will yield fruits in the form of unity, peace, security and stability, ensuring an inclusive national reconciliation in the country.
Another concern on Libya that figured in the UNSC discussions was the political and administrative vacuum making the country a safe haven for such Islamist terror groups such as the ISIS and Al-Qaida. India, during the discussions, particularly drew attention to the terrorist activities in Sahel region of Africa by the Al-Qaida affiliates.
Syria
Syria has been engulfed by a civil war that began with anti-Assad protests in 2011. The UNSC had constituted a Syrian Constitutional Committee to facilitate the peace process through reconciliation between the Bashar al-Assad regime and the opposition. In the UNSC meeting held on 28th April, India cautioned against external involvement since it would be detrimental to Syria’s political interest in the long run, as only Syrians could properly understand and decide what would be beneficial and a workable solution for their own country. India, thus, welcomed Syria’s recent efforts to begin negotiations for resolving the ongoing crisis.
Taking advantage of the ongoing civil war in Syria, the UN designated terrorist groups like the ISIL and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham regrouped themselves in the region. In this context, India drew the Council’s attention to the need for a collective global fight against terrorism without considering narrow political gains. The UNSC had established the UNITAD or UN Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Da’sh/ISIL to assist the Iraqi government to fight the ISIL under Resolution 2379 (2017), and India reminded the UNSC of India’s contribution of US$200,000 to support the UNITAD, indicating New Delhi’s support for such activities in Syria. At the same time, India expressed dissatisfaction at inadequate funding for the UN humanitarian mission to provide the Syrians with access to health and basic public services, reiterating India’s support for continued developmental and humanitarian assistance to Syrians to ensure a return to lasting peace and stability.
Another issue raised by India was the reported use of chemical weapons in the Syrian conflict since 2012. In April 2022, UNSC was briefed by UN officials of the continuing use of chemical weapons in the Syrian conflict. The official also accused the Syrian government of not providing information to the OPCW and urged Syria not to obstruct OPCW’s work in the country. The OPCW had also established a Declaration Assessment Team in 2014 to evaluate whether Syria’s declaration of its chemical programme was correct and a Technical Secretariat was constituted to engage the relevant Syrian authorities for addressing the identified gaps and inconsistencies in the Syrian declaration.
India has steadily called for a full, effective and non-discriminatory implementation of Chemical Weapons Convention (officially called Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and the Use of Chemical Weapons and their Destruction of 1997). At the UNSC meeting of 29 April 2022, India stressed on the need for continued engagement between Syria and OPCW and expressed hope that the 25th round of consultation between Declaration Assessment Team and the Syrian National Authority would enable an early inspection of Barzah and Jamrayah facilities of Scientific Research Centre. India also insisted on collective international efforts for developing an effective monitoring system to ensure that the terror groups did not have access to chemical weapons.
Yemen
India, having historical links with Yemen, hailed the truce in the Arab country at the 14th April meeting of UNSC as the first step towards a peaceful resolution of the conflict. India expressed the hope that the ceasefire would create conditions for providing humanitarian relief to the war-torn people. India also appreciated the steps taken by Yemen to permit specified number of fuel ships into Hodeida Port and limited number of commercial flights a week in and out of capital Sanaa.
India also voiced its concerns about the security of its own nationals in Yemen. In January 2021, the Houthi rebels had seized the UAE-flagged merchant vessel Rwabee which had 7 Indian sailors on board who were still in Houthi captivity. Raising this matter at the Council meeting, India reiterated its demand for the release of the crew members, including the 7 Indian nationals. India also demanded that Houthi rebels should arrange for regular access to the captive Indian nationals and provide regular updates on their safety and well-being until they were released.
India also informed the Council that the hospitals in India regularly receive Yemeni patients for medical treatment and many Yemeni students are pursuing their studies in India. The Council was informed that in 2021, India issued 6000 medical visas and 400 student visas to Yemeni nationals.
India has always favoured solution of any crisis through dialogue. Accordingly, it welcomed the Riyadh Consultations that took place in April at the invitation of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The key outcome of the meeting was the formation of Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) comprising Yemeni leaders representing different political groups. India complemented the role played by the GCC in arranging the meeting and hoped that recommendations made in the Final Declaration of the Consultations would be implemented in a timely manner. India also welcomed the deposed president Hadi’s transfer of power to the PLC to facilitate fruitful negotiations with the Houthis. India reiterated its commitments to a united, sovereign and independent Yemen, and as in the cases of Libya and Syria, stressed on a Yemeni-led and Yemeni-centred political process to address the legitimate aspirations of the Yemenis.
Palestine
Jerusalem was back in the headlines when the Palestinians clashed with the Israeli police at the Al-Aqsa Mosque during the holy month of Ramzan in April. India has strongly disapproved of all kinds of violence, vandalism and desecration of holy places and, therefore, condemned the violence at the holy places of Jerusalem, including the Haram al-Sharif/ Temple Mount (in the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound).
India also criticised the terror attacks and violence in Israel and in the West Bank, sparked off by the mass shooting by a Palestinian youth on April 7, 2022 in Tel Aviv. As it has insisted on the settlement of the issue through negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians, India was of the view that in the absence of direct dialogue the risk of recurrence and escalation of violence will only increase. Accordingly, India insisted on the UN’s prioritization of the revival of such negotiations, reminding the Council at its April meeting of its stand for a two-nation state with an independent and sovereign Palestine coexisting in peace with Israel. India’s concern for the Palestinians was further expressed in the Council when it expressed anxiety over the precarious financial situation of the UN Relief and Work Agency (UNRWA) on which the Palestinian refugees depended for survival. To tide over this crisis, India pledged US$ 5 million to UNRWA’s 2022 budget in addition to its contribution of US$ 20 million over the last four years.
Ukraine
While India’s primary concern in the ongoing Ukraine War has been the security of and safe exit of some 20,000 Indian nationals, majority being students, from the war-torn country, it has not been oblivious to the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine caused by the conflict. At the 5 April meeting of the UNSC, India’s Permanent Representative expressed his anxiety over the news that millions of Ukrainians have been either displaced or forced to flee as refugees to neighbouring countries.
At the 11th April meeting, India particularly highlighted the plight of the women and children caught in the Ukrainian conflict, who form the bulk of the refugees and displaced persons. Nearly two thirds of Ukrainian children have been internally displaced and reduced to the status of refugees. Citing UN reports, India at the meeting referred to the destruction of 900 facilities in Ukraine and noted how the collapse of the education system in Ukraine had affected the Indian students studying in Ukraine, as they were forced to return to India in harsh conditions without completing their courses. India also expressed deep concern about the reported Bucha massacre and called for an independent investigation. At the same time, India praised Ukraine’s neighbouring countries for sheltering the Ukrainian refugees and treating women and children with compassion and called for a victim-centred approach in preventing sexual violence in armed conflicts. India informed the Council on 19th April how its Operation Ganga, involving 90 flights, ensured safe return of 22,500 Indian nationals (along with foreign students also) from Ukraine and also assisted nationals from 18 countries in that process.
Underscoring the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Ukraine, India at the 5th April meeting of the Council had urged the international community to positively respond to the civic needs of the war-ravaged people and supported the call for a safe passage to deliver essential humanitarian and medical supplies to Ukraine. India informed the Council about her own humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and its neighbours with medical supplies and other essential relief materials. At the UNSC, India called for immediate cessation of violence and hostilities in Ukraine.
In its submission to the Council, India also underlined the adverse impact of the Ukraine War on world economy, triggering the largest commodity price shock since the 1973 oil crisis. Russia and Ukraine are the two biggest suppliers of agricultural products and raw materials-from wheat and sunflower oil to crude oil and iron and steel. Consequently, after the outbreak of the War energy prices rose to 448 per cent and prices of food and fertilizer increased by 84 per cent and 222 per cent, respectively. At the April meetings on Ukraine in the Council, India underscored the urgency of working constructively both inside and outside of the UN to find an early resolution of the conflict.
Terrorism
At the 7th April meeting of the Council, India highlighted that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations poses the most serious threat to international peace and security. Referring to the ISIL (Islamic State of Iraq and Levant), India warned that such terror groups have their eyes on South Asia since the region contains more Muslim population than in West Asia and Africa. As these Islamist groups tend to recruit radicalised Muslim youth who nurture politico-economic grievance against their home governments or their societies, India referred to the operations of ISIL in Africa’s Sahel region, West Africa and Lake Chad Basin regions that is posing existential threats to South and Southeast Asia. India, thus, urged for universal zero tolerance against terrorism in accordance with the Security Council Resolution 1566 of 2004.
Another issue underlined by India was the growing access of terrorist groups to modern technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) to spread propaganda, transfer funds, and raise finances for their units in a clandestine manner. India also pointed to the use of drones by the terrorists to conduct surveillance over international security forces and peacekeepers, making them easily exposed to terror attacks. Citing the terror attack in Mali in March 2022, as a precedent, on the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission (MINUSMA), resulting in the death of two Egyptian peacekeepers, India stressed the need for the implementation of the 2021 UNSC Resolution 2589 on “Protecting the Protectors” to enhance international accountability to fight crimes against UN peacekeepers. Simultaneously, India also warned about the nexus between the traffickers, transnational criminal groups and the terror groups in the Sahel region of Africa and in East and Central Africa, which was not only enabling the terrorists to mobilise fund but also helping them in recruiting their cadres. Such developments, India stated, would reverse any process of political democratization in the region.
In this context, India commended the role of regional security forces like Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF, founded by Sahel countries like Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria in 1994), Southern African Development Community (SADC), African Union Mission for Somalia (AMISOM) and the joint force–created in 2017 by the Sahel countries of Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger- to counter terrorism in the Sahel region. India urged the international community to help such regional initiatives. India also suggested that the African countries should collectively prepare and share the list of terror organisations in accordance with the UNSC Resolution 2610 to restrict their movements and freeze their assets.
At the 27th April meeting of the UNSC, India also applauded the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) of Africa for taking initiatives to strengthen regional cooperation, which India suggested, required international encouragement. It particularly appreciated the comprehensive approach adopted by the regional leaders for eliminating threats of armed groups through military and non-military means and pursuit of the two-track approach of security enforcement and accelerating of the political process for securing a lasting peace in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
India also drew attention to the continuing uncertainty in Afghanistan and reminded the members of the UNSC Resolution 2593 which stipulated that Afghan territory should not be used to threaten or attack any country or be used to shelter any terror group.
Covid Pandemic
Covid has continued to remain a global threat even after nearly three years since the pandemic made its presence felt. Underscoring this grim reality, India in the Council meeting of 11 April referred to regional and global imbalances in the vaccination mission. While several developed countries have rolled out booster dozes, many developing and underdeveloped countries are yet to complete the process of administering double doses for their citizens, especially in the conflict zones. India cited the country’s own timely initiative in providing vaccines to people across its borders under the Vaccine Maitri initiative. The UNSC was also informed of India’s readiness to expand its domestic vaccine production for dedicated supply to partner countries, stressing the need to substitute vaccine nationalism with a coordinated global effort for a balanced distribution of vaccines across the world which alone would be able to contain the pandemic.
Miscellaneous
Yet another challenge for the UNSC was the issue of food insecurity. Between 720 million and 810 million people in the world still remained hungry in 2020. Referring to Global Report on Food Crisis 2021, India reminded the Council that nearly 100 million people across the world were suffering from conflict-induced food insecurity. In the Council meeting on 21 April, India warned of the spiralling energy and commodity prices and disruption of global supply chains following the pandemic and the Ukraine crisis which would inevitably push significantly more people towards poverty line. Restoration of peace and stability in the troubled areas and strengthening of governance and developmental programmes in such regions was the need of the hour. In this connection, India recalled India’s contribution to the UN’s Central Agency Response Fund and its food aid to Myanmar, Afghanistan, Lebanon, Sudan, South Sudan, among others, during the Covid pandemic.
*****
All Rights for the article are reserved. The content of the article must not be copied, cited, reproduced, or distributed without the explicit permission of the Institution or the Author.