Iraq has asked for the United Nations Assistance Mission (UNAMI), set up after the 2003 US led invasion, to conclude its work by the end of 2025. Iraqi officials argue that the mission, known as UNAMI, is no longer required due to significant progress towards stability.
UNAMI, headquartered in Baghdad’s fortified Green Zone, was established with a broad mandate to support Iraqi institutions, political dialogue, elections, and human rights.
However, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has suggested that Iraq no longer needs the mission’s political support, though it seeks continued collaboration with other UN agencies.
In a letter to the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Sudani highlighted Iraq’s progress in areas covered by UNAMI’s mandate.
The head of UNAMI in Iraq often mediates between political, judicial, and security leaders. While supporters see the mission’s involvement as crucial to conflict resolution, critics have sometimes accused it of interference.
Since 2023, Iraq’s government has been winding down international missions, including the US led coalition formed in 2014 to combat the Islamic State and the UN mission promoting accountability for crimes committed by the jihadist group.
Iraqi officials insist the country has recovered from sectarian violence following the invasion and from the Islamic State’s attempt to establish a caliphate, making international assistance less essential.
Despite this progress, some diplomats and critics are concerned about the fragile state of Iraq’s young democracy, given frequent conflicts involving heavily armed political-military groups and human rights challenges.
Critics argue that freedom of expression has declined, while Iraqi authorities claim they are tackling corruption and protecting fundamental freedoms.
Similarly, Somalia’s government has also called for ending a UN political mission. In a letter to the Security Council, the foreign minister requested the termination of the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), which has advised on security reforms, peace-building, and democracy for over a decade.
With Inputs From Reuters
