At the request of Baghdad, the United Nations Security Council has unanimously decided that the United Nations political mission in Iraq will conclude at the end of 2025, bringing an end to more than two decades of presence in the country.
This decision was prompted by a letter sent earlier this month by Iraqi Prime Minister Mohamed Shia al-Sudani, urging the council to close the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI).
In his letter, Prime Minister al-Sudani highlighted that UNAMI had successfully navigated numerous “great and varied challenges” and asserted that the conditions necessitating a political mission in Iraq are no longer present.
As a result, the Security Council resolution passed on Friday extends the mission’s mandate for a final 19-month period, culminating on December 31, 2025, when UNAMI will officially cease all operations and activities, NDTV Report.
UNAMI was initially established in 2003 through a UN Security Council resolution at the behest of the Iraqi government, following the US-led invasion and subsequent overthrow of Saddam Hussein.
Since its inception, the mission has played a crucial role in advising the Iraqi government on matters of political dialogue and reconciliation, assisting with electoral processes, and supporting security sector reforms.
During the mission’s last renewal in May 2023, the Security Council requested a strategic review of UNAMI’s operations. This review was conducted under the guidance of German diplomat Volker Perthes.
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The findings contributed to the decision to wind down the mission, reflecting a significant milestone in Iraq’s post-conflict recovery and its evolving relationship with the international community.
In a March report, German diplomat Volker Perthes suggested that ending the UN mandate in Iraq could be feasible, stating that the two-year period requested by the Iraqi government should suffice for further progress.
This timeframe, he noted, would reassure Iraqis that the transition would not undermine democratic achievements or peace and security.
With UN missions requiring host nation consent, Russia, China, Britain, and France expressed support for transitioning the Iraq-UN partnership.
However, the United States was less definitive. UN Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield highlighted UNAMI’s ongoing role in organizing elections and promoting human rights, without directly addressing Baghdad’s request to conclude the mission.
The UN Security Council’s unanimous decision extends UNAMI’s mandate for a final 19 months, concluding on December 31, 2025, after more than 20 years of operation.