UNJournal Jon Lee | The United Nations Security Council held 16 formal meetings, six consultations and three Arria-formula meetings in July 2026 under the presidency of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, according to the monthly newsletter published by the Security Council Practices and Charter Research Branch and Security Council Affairs Division (SCPCRB/SCAD).

The Council adopted two decisions during the month, down from six in July 2025, and issued no press statements.

Signature events under DRC presidency

The Democratic Republic of the Congo's presidency featured two signature events. The first was an open debate on women, peace and security, focused on honoring the promise of international law to survivors of conflict-related sexual violence, held on 8 and 10 July and presided over by the Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The second was a high-level open debate on the maintenance of international peace and security, centered on natural resources governance as a foundation for peace, security and prosperity, held on 22 July. That meeting was presided over by the DRC's Minister for Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Francophonie, with a briefing delivered by the UN Secretary-General.

Key topics

The Middle East was the most frequently discussed country- or region-specific item on the Council's agenda in July, addressed in both open and closed discussions on 2, 13, 16 and 21 July. Ukraine was also discussed more than once, on 9 and 27 July.

Other country- and region-specific items considered during the month included West Africa (14 July), Colombia (15 July), Sudan and South Sudan (15 July), Cyprus (16 July), Haiti (20 July), the Middle East including the Palestinian question (28 July), peace and security in Africa (29 July), and the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (29 July).

The Council also held a thematic open debate on strengthening mechanisms for the peaceful settlement of disputes, as a follow-up to resolution 2788 (2025), on 23 July, along with a briefing on non-proliferation on 10 July.

Procedural developments and decisions

During the 10 July non-proliferation briefing, the Council held a procedural vote on adoption of the agenda at the request of the Russian Federation, under rule 9 of its provisional rules of procedure; the agenda was adopted with the required number of votes.

On 14 July, the Council adopted resolution 2826 (2026), extending through 15 January 2027 a reporting requirement related to Houthi attacks on merchant and commercial vessels in the Red Sea, originally established under resolution 2722 (2024). The resolution passed with 13 votes in favor and two abstentions.

On 29 July, acting under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, the Council unanimously adopted resolution 2827 (2026), extending until 31 July 2027 the sanctions regime targeting non-state armed groups and individuals in the Central African Republic, originally established under resolution 2745 (2024). The Council also extended the mandate of the associated Panel of Experts until 31 August 2027.

Other Council activities

Council members convened three Arria-formula meetings in July: one on the normative gap regarding natural resources and peace, organized by the Democratic Republic of the Congo on 13 July; one on alleged actions by Ukrainian authorities, organized by the Russian Federation on 17 July; and one on transitional justice and missing persons in Syria, co-organized by Colombia, Denmark, Luxembourg and Syria on 21 July.

The Council also held informal dialogues with four candidates for UN Secretary-General during the month: Macky Sall, nominated by Burundi, and Rafael Mariano Grossi, nominated by Argentina, both on 7 July; Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, nominated by Guyana, on 9 July; and María Fernanda Espinosa, nominated by Antigua and Barbuda, on 27 July.

On 25 July, the President of the Security Council and the President of the General Assembly informed member states that Uganda had nominated Olara Otunnu as a candidate for Secretary-General. On 30 July, Council members conducted the first round of straw polls among the declared candidates.