Adopting Resolution 2798 (2025) by Recorded Vote of 13 in Favour, 2 Abstentions, Security Council Extends UN Verification Mission in Colombia for One Year
The Security Council decided today to extend the mandate of the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia for one year, even as most Council members decried the reduction of its scope.
Speaking before the vote, the representative of the United Kingdom — the penholder on this issue — said that the Mission’s mandate "should evolve in line with the situation on the ground so that it can fully fulfil its primary objective of monitoring implementation of the peace process". He noted that the text "focuses the Mission’s tasks on fundamental drivers of conflict in Colombia while continuing to call for full implementation of the [2016 Final Peace Agreement for Ending the Conflict and Building a Stable and Lasting Peace]".
The Council then adopted resolution 2798 (2025) (to be issued as document S/RES/2798(2025)) by a vote of 13 in favour to none against, with 2 abstentions (Russian Federation, United States). While renewing the Mission’s mandate until 31 October 2026, the organ decided to discontinue the expansion of that mandate to monitor ceasefires as set out in resolution 2694 (2023) and its associated resources. (For background, see Press Release SC/15376 of 2 August 2023.)
After the vote, the representative of the United States said: "All of our Governments — all of us here — have given many speeches about these missions often lasting too long, trying to do too much, costing too much and being financially unsustainable and not being tied to a true and realistic political process." Urging that actions meet words, he added: "Let’s enable the United States — excuse me, let’s enable the United Nations — to reclaim that mantle of actually driving the world towards peace and security." He therefore welcomed efforts to reduce the Mission’s mandate, "which has expanded well beyond its original intended scope".
"For some time now, a certain country — following the yardstick of putting its own interests first and pursuing its own strategic goals — has been treating UN peacekeeping operations and special political missions like items on the menu of an all-you-can-eat buffet," noted China’s representative. He stressed: "Such simplistic, crude and irresponsible practices will only undermine the Security Council’s unity and authority, impact the stability and continuity in the work of the UN and serve no one’s interests." He therefore urged "this country" to "rise above selfish interest and fulfil the commitment to maintain international peace and security through concrete actions".
The representative of the Russian Federation, Council President for October, spoke in his national capacity to observe: "Everyone understands that the threat of the veto and the arguments having to do with the savings of the Verification Mission — which, by the way, is one of the low-cost missions of the United Nations — reflects just bilateral differences between Washington and the country." He stressed that Council decisions should not be held hostage because of this, and that "those who prepare draft resolutions should not be lenient towards such emotions".
Mandate Stripped of Key Elements
"This Mission means so much more than verification," urged Denmark’s representative, expressing regret that "important parts" of the Mission’s mandate were not renewed. She recalled that the Special Jurisdiction for Peace issued its first restorative sentences in September — "a historic step in the pursuit of justice and accountability". She underscored: "Now is not the right time for the Security Council to turn away."
The representatives of France and Slovenia also expressed regret over the reduction in scope of the Mission’s mandate, with the latter adding: "We remind the Council that the [Final Peace Agreement] itself envisaged such verification [of the Special Jurisdiction for Peace’s sentences]." For his part, the representative of the Republic of Korea stressed that "full implementation of the [Final Peace Agreement] is a prerequisite for achieving lasting peace in Colombia".
"Peace in Colombia is peace in Panama and peace in the whole region," said the latter country’s representative. While he welcomed the extension of the Mission’s mandate, he stressed that "we do have to express our lack of agreement" with excluding verification related to the Special Jurisdiction for Peace from its scope. Nevertheless, he expressed hope that that the international community’s broad support for the Final Peace Agreement’s framework for truth, justice, reparations and non-repetition "will ensure that other organizations will be able to move into the space that, unfortunately, today has been left open".
Another key missing element, noted the representative of Guyana — also speaking for Algeria, Sierra Leone and Somalia — is the mandate to monitor implementation of the Ethnic Chapter of the Final Peace Agreement. Relatedly, she expressed regret that references to Indigenous and Afro-Descendant communities — "who are most impacted by the conflict" — could not be retained. "The text adopted today will result in the Mission being less effective in monitoring this aspect of the Peace Agreement," she underscored. Greece’s representative, similarly, expressed concern that such communities "bear the brunt of armed violence", underlining the need for their full protection.
"A peace that does not address historical grievances and structural inequalities will be fragile," observed Pakistan’s representative, adding: "By softening our collective voice on these fundamental issues, we risk undermining the foundations of the [Final Peace Agreement]." Pointing out that the positions and concerns of "the vast majority of Council members" were ultimately set aside to enable the passage of today’s resolution, he said: "It is disappointing to lose the unity that has been the bedrock of our collective engagement on this file."
Colombia Vows to Continue Implementing Transitional Justice, Ethnic Chapter
For her part, Colombia’s representative said that the Verification Mission is "possibly the best evidence of the important work carried out by the UN’s special political missions around the world, as well as of the positive impact that the Security Council can have in peacebuilding, working hand in hand with States and communities". She also emphasized that her country’s wish — "shared by the vast majority of members" — was to preserve both transitional justice and the Ethnic Chapter within the extended mandate. "We will, in any case, continue implementing these commitments," she said.
"As an Indigenous woman and representative of the Government of Colombia before this Council, I know that peace is only sustainable when it’s inclusive," she stated. Welcoming the Mission’s work over the years, she underscored that the Council’s support is of special importance at a time when, as the world speaks of war, "Colombia chooses to speak the language of peace".
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