This page covers missions undertaken or authorized by the Security Council that were featured as subsidiary organs of the Security Council in the Repertoire. These include both Missions that are made up of members of the Security Council itself, as well as those in which the Secretary-General was requested to undertake a mission on behalf of the Security Council. Below is a list of all such missions established by the Security Council that have been included, with a short description prepared on the basis of the content of the Repertoire, as well as links to the sections covering them. They are organized by region, and then under relevant areas or subregions, placed chronologically starting with those established most recently.

Missions consisting of representatives of members of the Security Council visiting the field have been happening since 1964, and in recent years many of these Missions have consisted of representatives of all fifteen members of the Council. Not all of these have been covered as subsidiary organs in the Repertoire. From 2000 onwards, the Security Council missions consisting of Council members that visited specific countries and regions can be found under here for 2000-2003 and under pacific settlement of disputes for 2004-2007.

Africa

Benin

Special Mission to the People's Republic of Benin established under resolution 404 (1977)

The dispatch of the Security Council’s Special Mission, composed of three members of the Council, was decided on 8 February 1977 to investigate the armed mercenary aggression of 16 January 1977 at Cotonou and to report on their findings.

Botswana

Mission of the Secretary-General to Botswana under Security Council resolution 568 (1985)

Following the attack on Gaborone by South Africa on 14 June 1985, the Secretary-General was requested to dispatch a mission on 21 June 1985 for the purposes of assessing the damage caused by South Africa’s acts of aggression, proposing measures to strengthen Botswana’s capacity to receive and provide assistance to South African refugees and determining the consequent level of assistance required by Botswana.

Mission to Botswana under resolution 403 (1977)

In connection with the complaint by Botswana concerning violations of its territorial sovereignty by the illegal apartheid regime in Southern Rhodesia, the Security Council decided on 13 January 1977 to dispatch a Mission to assess the needs of Botswana in carrying out its development projects under the circumstances.

Guinea

Special Mission to the Republic of Guinea

In connection with the situation created by armed attacks alleged to have been committed by Portuguese forces against the territory of Guinea, the Security Council dispatched a Special Mission of the Security Council to the Republic of Guinea on 22 November 1970 to report on the situation there.

Lesotho

Mission of the Secretary-General under resolution 527 (1982)

As a first step towards the implementation of resolution 527 (1982) which requested the Secretary-General to engage in consultations with Lesotho and United Nations agencies to ensure the welfare of the refugees in Lesotho and to monitor the implementation of the resolution, the Secretary-General visited Lesotho in January 1983 to consult with the Government of Lesotho.

Namibia

Mission of the Secretary-General under resolution 309 (1972)

In accordance with resolution 309 (1972) of 4 February 1972 by which the Secretary-General was requested to initiate contacts with all parties concerned to establish the necessary conditions to enable the people of Namibia to exercise their right to self-determination and independence, the Secretary-General visited South Africa and Namibia between 6 and 10 March 1972 and continued his contacts until December 1973.

Senegal

Special Mission of the Security Council established in accordance with resolution 294 (1971)

In connection with the complaint by Senegal concerning alleged violations of Senegal’s territorial integrity by Portuguese regular armed forces based in Guinea-Bissau, the Security Council dispatched the Mission on 15 July 1971. The Special Mission was tasked to carry out an inquiry into the facts of which the Council has been informed, to examine the situation along the border between Guinea (Bissau) and Senegal and to report to the Council, making any recommendations aimed at guaranteeing peace and security in this region.

Western Sahara

Mission of the Secretary-General under resolution 377 (1975)

In accordance with resolution 377 (1975) of 22 October 1975 by which the Secretary-General was requested to enter into immediate consultations with the parties in order to enable the Security Council to adopt appropriate measures to deal with the present situation concerning Western Sahara, the Secretary-General visited Morocco, Mauritania, Algeria and Spain between 25 and 28 October 1975 with a view to facilitating the peaceful settlement of the situation concerning Western Sahara.

Zambia

Special Mission established under resolution 326 (1973)

In view of provocations and aggressive actions by Southern Rhodesia as well as the continued military interventions in Southern Rhodesia by South Africa, the dispatch of the Special Mission of the Security Council, consisting of four Council members, was decided on 2 February 1973, to assess the situation in the area and the needs of Zambia, in maintaining alternative systems of road, rail, air and sea communications for the normal flow of traffic.

Asia

Cambodia/Vietnam

Security Council Mission to the Kingdom of Cambodia and the Republic of Viet-Nam

Following the incidents caused by the penetration of the Army of the Republic of Viet-Nam into Cambodian territory, the Security Council decided on 4 June 1964 to dispatch a Mission, consisting of three Council members, to the Kingdome of Cambodia and the Republic of Viet-Nam and to the places where the most recent incidents had occurred, in order to consider such measures as may prevent any recurrence of such incidents.

Middle East

Middle East

Mission under resolution 298 (1971) concerning Jerusalem

In accordance with resolution 298 (1971) of 25 September 1971, the Secretary-General decided to nominate a mission of the Security Council, consisting of three Council members, in connection with the situation created by alleged illegal measures taken by Israel in Jerusalem designed to change the status and character of the Holy City. In light of Israel’s failure to abide by the decision of the Security Council, the Secretary-General was unable to fulfil his mandate under that resolution.  

Iran/Iraq

The Secretary-General's mission of specialists to investigate allegations of the use of chemical weapons under resolution 620 (1988)

The mission of the Secretary-General of specialists was dispatched a number of times between 1985 and 1988 in connection with repeated allegations concerning the use of chemical weapons by Iran and Iraq in the Iran-Iraq War, to carry out on-site investigations in Iran and Iraq in order to collect and examine evidence and report to the Secretary-General accordingly.