Iraqi PM meets new UNAMI head, affirms continued cooperation as mission winds down

BAGHDAD — Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani met with Mohamed Al Hassan, the newly appointed Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq, on Sunday to discuss Iraq’s ongoing relationship with the United Nations following the conclusion of UNAMI’s mandate. Al-Sudani reaffirmed Iraq’s commitment to cooperating with international institutions as the mission enters its final phase.

In mid-July, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres appointed Mohamed Al Hassan, a diplomat from the Sultanate of Oman with over thirty years of experience, as the new Special Representative for Iraq and Head of UNAMI. He succeeds Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert in the role.

UNAMI was established in 2003 through UN Security Council Resolution 1500 at Iraq’s request, serving as a special political mission. Its mandate includes supporting inclusive political dialogue, national reconciliation, electoral processes, and the protection of human rights.

In May 2024, Prime Minister Al-Sudani formally requested that UN Secretary-General Guterres conclude the UNAMI mission by December 2025, citing Iraq’s substantial progress toward stability as a reason for ending the mission.

The United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 2732 on May 31, 2024, which extends the mandate of UNAMI for a final 19-month period. UNAMI is set to cease its operations on December 31, 2025, except for any remaining liquidation activities.

Full statement from PM Al-Sudani’s media office:

Prime Minister Mohammed S. Al-Sudani met today, Sunday, with the new Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) and the Special Representative of the United Nations, Mr. Mohamed Al Hassan.

The meeting discussed the nature of the relationship between Iraq and the United Nations, particularly following the issuance of UN Security Council Resolution No. 2732, which ended the mission of UNAMI in Iraq. This decision came in response to the letters sent by the Prime Minister to the UN Secretary-General and the President of the Security Council, affirming the government’s progress in enhancing stability and completing the political and security developments. The Prime Minister expressed appreciation for the efforts made by UNAMI over the past years and emphasized that Iraq’s relationship with all international institutions and organizations will continue.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister condemned the Zionist aggression against the UNIFIL forces in Lebanon, which resulted in the injury of several service members. He noted that this attack demonstrates the Zionist entity’s disregard for international laws and norms, stressing the need for an international response in light of recent calls to ban arms supplies to the Zionist entity in order to end the devastating war being waged against Lebanon and Gaza.