Security Council resolution 2722 (2024) [on attacks by Houthis on merchant and commercial vessels]
Symbol: S/RES/2722 (2024)
Date: 2024-01-10
Status: adopted
Agenda: S/79 [58] YEMEN--POLITICAL CONDITIONS
S/ X Maintenance of international peace and security.
Subjects: Houthis|MARITIME SECURITY|ARMS EMBARGO|SANCTIONS COMPLIANCE|YEMEN|RED SEA|FREEDOM OF NAVIGATION|LAW OF THE SEA|RED SEA REGION
Votes in favour: 11
Votes against: 0
Abstentions: 4
Voting record:
country: ALGERIA
vote: abstention
country: CHINA
vote: abstention
country: ECUADOR
vote: yes
country: FRANCE
vote: yes
country: GUYANA
vote: yes
country: JAPAN
vote: yes
country: MALTA
vote: yes
country: MOZAMBIQUE
vote: abstention
country: REPUBLIC OF KOREA
vote: yes
country: RUSSIAN FEDERATION
vote: abstention
country: SIERRA LEONE
vote: yes
country: SLOVENIA
vote: yes
country: SWITZERLAND
vote: yes
country: UNITED KINGDOM
vote: yes
country: UNITED STATES
vote: yes

               United Nations                                                                    S/RES/2722 (2024)
               Security Council                                                  Distr.: General
                                                                                 10 January 2024




               Resolution 2722 (2024)
               Adopted by the Security Council at its 9527th meeting, on
               10 January 2024

                    The Security Council,
                     Reaffirming its primary responsibility under the Charter of the United Nations
               for the maintenance of international peace and security, as well as its commitment to
               uphold the purposes and principles of the Charter,
                     Reaffirming that international law, as reflected in the United Nations
               Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 (UNCLOS), sets out the legal
               framework applicable to activities in the oceans, including countering illicit activities
               at sea,
                    Expressing its concern over the threat that unlawful acts against the safety of
               navigation posed to seafarers and other persons,
                     Underscoring the importance of the exercise of navigational rights and
               freedoms of vessels of all States in the Red Sea, including for merchant and
               commercial vessels transiting the Baab al-Mandab, in accordance with international
               law, and further underscoring that the transit passage of merchant and commercial
               vessels through the Red Sea must continue unimpeded,
                     Stressing that the stability and prosperity of the coastal states of the Red Sea
               contributes to international peace and security,
                    Emphasizing that increased cost of transportation of essential goods will have a
               negative impact on the economic and humanitarian situation worldwide, including of
               the Yemeni civilian population,
                    Recalling its resolutions regarding Yemen, and also previous attacks against oil
               terminals under the control of the Government of Yemen,
                     Affirming its respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the coastal
               States of the Red Sea, and reiterating that States in the region have a leadership role
               to play, in close cooperation with regional and sub–regional organizations, in
               contributing to peace and security,
                     1.   Condemns in the strongest terms the at least two dozen Houthi attacks on
               merchant and commercial vessels since November 19, 2023, when the Houthis
               attacked and seized the Galaxy Leader and its crew;




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S/RES/2722 (2024)

                    2.    Demands that the Houthis immediately cease all such attacks, which
               impede global commerce and undermine navigational rights and freedoms as well as
               regional peace and security, and further demands that the Houthis immediately release
               the Galaxy Leader and its crew;
                     3.   Affirms the exercise of navigational rights and freedoms by merchant and
               commercial vessels, in accordance with international law, must be respected, and
               takes note of the right of Member States, in accordance with international law, to
               defend their vessels from attacks, including those that undermine navigational rights
               and freedoms;
                     4.   Commends the efforts by Member States within the framework of the
               International Maritime Organization, to enhance the safety and secure transit of
               merchant and commercial vessels of all States through the Red Sea;
                     5.    Encourages Member States to support capacity building efforts of the
               Yemeni Coast Guard to effectively implement the measures imposed by paragraph 14
               of resolution 2216 (2015), with full respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity
               of Yemen;
                     6.   Encourages also that Member States continue building and strengthening
               their capacities and to support capacity building for coas tal and port States in the Red
               Sea and Baab al-Mandab to enhance maritime security including by providing, as
               appropriate, technical assistance through relevant UN entities within their respective
               mandates and upon request by those States;
                     7.    Emphasizes the need to address the root causes, including the conflicts
               contributing to regional tensions and the disruption of maritime security in order to
               ensure a prompt, efficient, and effective response, and in this regard reiterates the
               need for all Member states to adhere to their obligations, including the targeted arms
               embargo contained within its resolution 2216 and the designation of the Houthis as a
               group subject to the arms embargo, pursuant to resolution 2624 (2022), and recalls
               that the Council’s Panel of Experts report from October 2023 ( S/2023/833) noted
               large-scale violations of the arms embargo;
                     8.    Further condemns the provision of arms and related materiel of all types
               to the Houthis, in violation of its resolution 2216 (2015), and calls for additional
               practical cooperation to prevent the Houthis from acquiring the materiel necessary to
               carry out further attacks;
                     9.    Urges caution and restraint to avoid further escalation of the situation in
               the Red Sea and the broader region, and encourages enhanced diplomatic efforts by
               all parties to that end, including continued support for dialogue and Yemen’s peace
               process under the UN auspices;
                     10. Requests the Secretary-General provide written monthly reports, through
               July 1, 2024, to the Security Council on any further Houthi attacks on merchant and
               commercial vessels in the Red Sea to inform the Council’s future consultations;
                    11.   Decides to remain actively seized of this matter.




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