UN to conclude political mission in Iraq by 2025

The UN Security Council unanimously voted on Friday, at Baghdad’s request, that the UN political mission in Iraq will withdraw after more than 20 years, by the end of 2025.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohamed Shia al-Sudani demanded earlier this month that the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) be shut down in a letter to the council.

Al-Sudani declared that “the grounds for having a political mission in Iraq” were no longer valid, citing UNAMI’s victory against “great and varied challenges”.

The mission’s mandate was extended by the UNSC resolution that was approved on Friday for “a final 19-month period until 31 December 2025 after which UNAMI will cease all work and operations.”

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The Iraqi government requested the mission be constituted by a UN Security Council resolution in 2003 following the US-led invasion and overthrow of Saddam Hussein.

It assists with elections and security sector reform, and it counsels the government on political discourse and reconciliation.

Volker Perthes, a German diplomat, oversaw the secretary-general’s strategic assessment that was requested by the Council during the mission’s previous renewal in May 2023.

In a report released in March, Perthes made a suggestion that the mission might be terminated, saying that “the two-year period identified by the government for the mission’s drawdown can be a sufficient time frame to make further progress.”

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Moreover, the length of time will allow for the assurance to hesitant Iraqis that the change “won’t threaten peace and security or lead to a reversal of democratic gains.” according to him.

Considering that UN operations may only take place with the consent of the host country, last month Russia, China, Britain, and France all voiced support for a change in the relationship between Iraq and the UN.

US ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield stated that UNAMI still had “important work to do,” without mentioning Baghdad’s request, giving the US a more evasive response.

Even though Iraq requested that the mission concentrate more on economic matters, she underlined the mission’s responsibility in arranging elections and advancing human rights.