UN envoy warns of sectarian tensions, highlights progress in Iraq

NEWSROOM –  The head of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, has cautioned against policies favoring one sectarian group over another, warning that such measures breed feelings of exclusion and marginalization.

Speaking at the United Nations Security Council briefing on Iraq’s situation, Hennis-Plasschaert highlighted significant hurdles facing the country, including corruption, impunity, sectarianism, and armed groups operating outside state control.

UNAMI chief’s remarks came just days after the Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani’s sent a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, requesting the termination of UNAMI’s mission by the end of 2025. Al-Sudani cited Iraq’s progress toward stability but criticized some of UNAMI’s operations and circumvention of official channels.

Concerns have been raised over the potential consequences of UNAMI’s departure, particularly amid efforts by Iran-aligned groups to exert influence over Iraqi institutions.

In her Security Council speech, Hennis-Plasschaert emphasized a growing sense of exclusion and marginalization among various groups.

“If left unaddressed, they risk fanning the flames of intra- and inter-community tension,” she warned, pointing to attempts to seize power and the adoption of unjust policies that may benefit one segment of society at the expense of others.

Hennis-Plasschaert also urged for the return of residents to the Sunni-dominated Jurf Al-Sakhr district, currently under the control of Iranian-linked Iraqi armed factions. Locals have been prevented from returning to their homes despite the district having being liberated from the Islamic State (ISIS)  since late 2014.

Expressing concern over increased unannounced executions under anti-terrorism laws, Hennis-Plasschaert stressed the importance of upholding the fundamental rights and freedoms of all Iraqis.

The UN envoy also emphasized Iraq’s progress in services and reconstruction, expressing hope for the election of a new parliament speaker during Saturday’s session. “Today we are, so to speak, witnessing an Iraq on the rise,” Hennis-Plasschaert remarked. “True, past decades of turmoil still impact the present. And yes, the challenges are manifold, with state institutions still fragile. But we do believe it is high time to judge the country on progress made and to turn the page on the darker images of Iraq’s past.”

Regarding the Kurdistan Region, Hennis-Plasschaert expressed hope for a swift resolution to the impasse delaying regional elections, emphasizing the importance of “desperately needed” inclusive, transparent, and credible elections for the region’s stability.

The UNAMI head also called attention to the situation in the Yazidi-dominated district of Sinjar, which remains devastated years after its liberation from the Islamic State (ISIS), and urged authorities to use the upcoming anniversary of the genocide against the Yazidis as an opportunity to unite and address the area’s challenges.

“Anyone traveling to Sinjar today would be forgiven for thinking that time has stood still. The city continues to lie in ruins,” Hennis-Plasschaert observed.

She added that the imprint the country and its people have made on her will be a lasting one, concluding her remarks by saying, “Long Live Iraq.”