WASHINGTON

The head of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) delivered his final briefing to the Security Council on Tuesday, marking the approaching end of the mission’s 22-year mandate on Dec. 31 and reflecting on what he called “hard-won gains” for Iraq.

Mohamed Al Hassan opened the session by thanking Council members for their “invaluable support and guidance” and expressed profound gratitude to the government of Iraq for hosting the mission since its establishment in 2003. He also acknowledged the cooperation of both Iraq and Kuwait, noting that their partnership had been central to UNAMI’s long-running mandate.

“Today is a great day for the international community to witness an honorable and dignified closure of a UN mission,” he said.

Al Hassan urged the Council to remember the conditions under which UNAMI was created: an Iraq reeling from dictatorship, wars, foreign occupation and the emergence of ISIS (Daesh). He paid tribute to all those who lost their lives in the years since, including the 22 UN personnel killed in the 2003 bombing of the Canal Hotel in Baghdad which housed UN headquarters in Iraq.

He praised Iraq’s resilience, highlighting milestones that included the adoption of a new constitution and 13 electoral processes.

“I can hardly think of a more fitting final chapter to UNAMI’s activities than the scenes witnessed…as Iraqis from diverse backgrounds lined up in orderly queues, eager to cast their ballots,” Al Hassan said.

Despite noting substantial political progress, he warned that key issues remain unresolved, including the stalled formation of both the federal government and the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG).

He also emphasized the ongoing humanitarian crisis. Nearly one million Iraqis remain internally displaced, including more than 100,000 Yazidis from Sinjar who continue to live in camps 11 years after fleeing ISIS.

The envoy praised Iraq’s leadership in accelerating the return of nationals from northeast Syria. Approximately 20,800 Iraqis have been repatriated this year, with the final transfers expected before the end of 2025.

On Iraq’s relationship with Kuwait, he urged the two countries to maintain strong diplomatic ties grounded in good-neighborliness and international law.

Al Hassan stressed that the end of UNAMI does not signify the end of the UN’s partnership with Iraq. Instead, he said, it marks the beginning of a “new chapter” in which Iraq will increasingly lead its own development, with continued support from the UN Country Team on economic growth, climate resilience, human rights, displacement and inclusivity.

"The United Nations will continue standing by Iraq to build on its hard-won gains, through the provision of technical expertise, advice and programmatic support by the UN Country Team on matters such as inclusive economic growth, climate resilience, human rights, displacement and the full and meaningful participation of women, youth and minorities," he said.

In closing, Al Hassan described serving Iraq as a “distinct privilege,” praising the determination of its people and leaders. He urged Iraq to continue building bridges of trust at home and across the region.

"I wish to reaffirm my full confidence in the resilience of the Iraqi people and the determination of their leaders to tackle whatever challenges may lie ahead, as they have so commendably done over the last 20 years.

"I call on them to strive to build bridges of trust and friendship, promote common interests with all the neighboring countries and to regain the glory of Iraq as the cradle of civilization," he said.