Bosnia's two-year mandate as a nonpermanent member in the Security Council began on 1 January 2010. It was elected to this post according to a regional key, succeeding Croatia.
The Council is composed of five permanent members — China, France, Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States — and ten nonpermanent members (with year of term's end).
Former Bosnian ambassador to the UN Mirza Kusljugic was quoted by the Radio Free Europe as saying that it is paradoxical that the Security Council is being chaired by a country that is awaiting the establishment of its government and where a strong UN mission still exists. The general elections in Bosnia were held on 3 October 2010 and consultations on forming ruling majorities at the state and entity levels are still under way.
A referendum on the independence of south Sudan is the most important topic on the agenda of the Security Council's meeting in January.
Croatia was a nonpermanent member from 1 January 2008 to 31 December 2009, and was at the rotating helm of the Council in December 2008.