Iraq
New UNAMI chief Mohamed Al-Hassan and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Photo: UNAMI
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced the appointment of Mohamed Al-Hassan as the new special representative for Iraq and head of the mission on Monday, succeeding Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert.
Hassan, who is from the Sultanate of Oman, is set to become the new chief of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), according to a statement from Guterres’ office.
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) unanimously voted in May to extend the mandate of UNAMI until the end of 2025, as requested by Iraq. The extension was the final ahead of ending the mission upon a request by the Iraqi government.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani had requested UNAMI wrap up its mission on December 31, 2025. He made the request through a letter submitted to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on May 8 via the temporary Charge d'Affaires of Iraq’s Permanent Mission to the UN in New York, Abbas Kazem Obaid.
“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, which was seen by Rudaw.
The Iraqi premier said 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."
UNAMI was established in August 2003 at the request of Iraq under the Security Council Resolution 1500 to support Baghdad’s developmental efforts. Its mandate was extended annually.
The Iraqi government cited greater security and stability for why it wants UNAMI’s mission brought to a close.
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.
"Iraq is now poised to play the pivotal role it is destined to play in the region, and regaining its sovereignty is the first step. Ending international missions such as UNAMI will strengthen Iraq further by relying on its own institutional capacities to tackle the various challenges it continues to face," Farhad Alaaldin, advisor on foreign affairs for the prime minister and chairman of the Iraq Advisory Council, said in an op-ed published on May 26.
Hassan, who is from the Sultanate of Oman, is set to become the new chief of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), according to a statement from Guterres’ office.
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) unanimously voted in May to extend the mandate of UNAMI until the end of 2025, as requested by Iraq. The extension was the final ahead of ending the mission upon a request by the Iraqi government.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani had requested UNAMI wrap up its mission on December 31, 2025. He made the request through a letter submitted to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on May 8 via the temporary Charge d'Affaires of Iraq’s Permanent Mission to the UN in New York, Abbas Kazem Obaid.
“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, which was seen by Rudaw.
The Iraqi premier said 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."
UNAMI was established in August 2003 at the request of Iraq under the Security Council Resolution 1500 to support Baghdad’s developmental efforts. Its mandate was extended annually.
The Iraqi government cited greater security and stability for why it wants UNAMI’s mission brought to a close.
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.
"Iraq is now poised to play the pivotal role it is destined to play in the region, and regaining its sovereignty is the first step. Ending international missions such as UNAMI will strengthen Iraq further by relying on its own institutional capacities to tackle the various challenges it continues to face," Farhad Alaaldin, advisor on foreign affairs for the prime minister and chairman of the Iraq Advisory Council, said in an op-ed published on May 26.
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