UN chief in Iraq to mark the end of UN mission

The UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has arrived in Baghdad to mark the end of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), reports Ahram Online on 12th December.

UNAMI was originally created in 2003, following the US invasion of Iraq that ended Saddam Hussein’s 24-year regime. It was established by a Security Council resolution, and its goals were to support the Iraqi people as they navigated war and its aftermath, to promote human rights, to advise governments on political dialogue, and to ensure security and stability.

At the request of Baghdad’s regime, the UN has now decided to end its mission at the end of 2025, after over 2 decades of work, although it will continue to support Iraqis on pressing issues such as education and health.

At the closing ceremony, Guterres noted that “there is one thing the world must understand, Iraq is now a normal country”, praising the country’s progress towards democracy and peace.

In response, Iraq’s Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani said that the closure marked “the beginning of a new chapter of cooperation” with the UN. He recognised the UNAMI mission’s essential role in meeting Iraq’s needs and supporting it towards self-reliance, acknowledging that its goals had been largely fulfilled.

Al-Sudani’s coalition group Reconstruction and Development has just emerged as the winner of parliamentary elections held in November, but it didn’t obtain an overall majority. It is likely that al-Sudani will have to make concessions to create a coalition government. However, there are reports of disagreements within his own group, which might lead to defections. Voting turnout has improved at 56%, which indicates growing confidence in the election process.

Antonio Guterres is currently on a short Middle East tour: he met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed ben Salman earlier this week to discuss regional issues and the situation in Gaza, and he is expected to visit Oman next.

Ahram Online, BBC