ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraq’s Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani has requested UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres to permanently end the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) by the end of 2025.
In a letter submitted to Guterres on Wednesday through the temporary Charge d'Affaires of Iraq’s Permanent Mission to the UN in New York, Abbas Kazem Obaid, and seen by Rudaw, Sudani requested that the UN end UNAMI's mandate on December 31, 2025.
“Based on the sovereign rights of the Republic of Iraq, as the host state, and taking into account the size of the UNAMI mission … we call for permanently ending the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) on December 31, 2025," read the letter.
The Iraqi premier emphasized that the United Nations mission "represents a form of bilateral cooperation between Iraq and the United Nations that must be based on bilateral consultation and respect for Iraq's will and sovereignty, and is dependent on the mission's achievement of its objectives and the need for its continuation."
In May 2023, members of the UN Security Council (UNSC) unanimously extended the mandate of UNAMI until May 31, 2024. The UNSC has yet to convene to discuss extending the mandate for another year.
“After more than 20 years since the democratic transition and overcoming numerous significant challenges, the justifications for having a political mission in Iraq are no longer valid,” Sudani told Guterres, adding that UNAMI has “completed its tasks and mandate as required, specifically at the political level.”
In the letter, Sudani stressed that during the remaining time, UNAMI’s efforts “should be limited to completing its work solely on issues such as economic reform, service delivery, sustainable development, climate change, and other developmental aspects, as well as finishing the winding down and a responsible shutdown processes during 2025."
Sudani added that the Iraqi government is ready to "fully cooperate and offer support" as well as sending a technical team to discuss and agree on a mechanism to shutdown the mission.
UNAMI was established in August 2003 at the request of Iraq under the UNSC resolution 1500, to support Baghdad’s developmental efforts. The mandate of the body has been extended annually since then.
Although UNAMI does not directly implement developmental and humanitarian programs, it plays a significant role in facilitating partnership and technical cooperation between the Iraqi government and the 20 United Nations agencies, funds, and programs operating in the country.
Updated at 2:52 pm
