The Iraq’s government spokesperson, Basem Al-Awadi
Iraq names UN deputy envoy to coordinate ties after UNAMI mission ends
BAGHDAD – The Iraqi government said Sunday that Ghulam Mohammad, the deputy special representative of the U.N. secretary-general in Iraq, will coordinate future engagement between Iraq and the United Nations after the U.N. Assistance Mission for Iraq ends later this month.
Government spokesperson Basem Al-Awadi told the Iraqi News Agency that ending UNAMI’s mission marks “an important step in Iraq’s path to restoring full sovereignty.” He said UNAMI’s core mission was political, but it also supported political and social reconciliation and regional dialogue.
“Everyone now agrees that Iraq has reached a stage of maturity and strength, and must take full control of its decisions and manage its affairs independently,” Al-Awadi said.
He said Iraq and the United Nations will shift to a new coordination mechanism centered on the resident coordinator and that Mohammad will handle coordination on developmental and humanitarian matters only, without political involvement. Al-Awadi said future relations with the United Nations, including in areas such as development, humanitarian aid, human rights and election monitoring, will be managed through the resident coordinator.
“The political role of the United Nations will officially end with the conclusion of UNAMI’s mission within the next two weeks,” Al-Awadi said.
UNAMI was established in 2003 under U.N. Security Council Resolution 1500 and had its mandate expanded in 2007 under Resolution 1770. Al-Awadi said UNAMI employed 648 personnel at its peak in Iraq, about half of them Iraqi.
U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres arrived in Baghdad on Saturday as Iraqi officials highlighted the transition away from UNAMI and said cooperation with the United Nations will continue under new arrangements.
In May 2024, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani asked Guterres to conclude the mission by December 2025, citing what he described as Iraq’s progress toward stability. The Security Council adopted Resolution 2732 on May 31, 2024, extending UNAMI’s mandate for a final 19-month period. Under the resolution, the mission is set to cease operations on Dec. 31, 2025, except for any remaining liquidation activities.