United Nations, Jan. 8, 2026 — The A3 members of the United Nations Security Council—Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia and Liberia—on Thursday reiterated their firm condemnation of the use of chemical weapons and urged sustained cooperation between Syria and the world’s chemical weapons watchdog to fully resolve outstanding disarmament issues.
Delivering a joint statement during the Council’s 10,086th meeting under the agenda item “The Situation in the Middle East,” Liberia’s Ambassador Lewis Brown said the A3 remained “unwavering” in their commitment to the full implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention and stressed that accountability, verification and cooperation are essential to preserving its integrity.
The group welcomed a recent letter from the UN Secretary-General noting continued progress under Resolution 2118 (2013), including enhanced cooperation between Syria and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). The A3 highlighted confidence-building measures such as the OPCW Director-General’s visit to Damascus, the reorganization of Secretariat activities through the Office of Special Missions, and agreements on privileges and immunities for OPCW personnel, all of which have facilitated improved engagement on the ground.
The statement also praised successful OPCW deployments that resulted in unprecedented access, cooperation, and the collection of new documents and samples. The A3 described Syria’s submission of a Concept Plan for the destruction and verification of remaining chemical weapons as a “constructive basis” for further technical engagement and called for sustained international support to ensure its implementation.
At the same time, the group underscored the need to address outstanding issues identified by the Secretary-General, including concerns related to potentially undeclared chemical warfare agents, munitions, and reports that additional sites may have been involved in chemical weapons-related activities. The A3 stressed that these matters should be pursued through impartial, professional, and technically grounded OPCW mechanisms.
Expressing deep concern over recent security incidents—particularly those reported in July 2025—that disrupted OPCW activities, the A3 warned that such actions undermine international verification efforts and risk delaying the closure of the long-running chemical weapons file in Syria. The group called for restraint, respect for Syria’s territorial integrity, and actions that reduce tensions and protect civilians.
The A3 also highlighted the continued threat posed by terrorist groups such as Da’esh, emphasizing the importance of preventing chemical weapons from falling into the hands of non-state actors.
In closing, the A3 said lasting progress toward the complete elimination of chemical weapons in Syria depends on halting actions that impede verification, ensuring full and sustained cooperation between Syrian authorities and the OPCW, securing adequate international funding and technical assistance, and upholding international humanitarian law.
The group encouraged continued dialogue between Syria and the OPCW, backed by international support, to bring the issue to a permanent conclusion.
