UN Mission in Iraq Concludes 22-Year Chapter, Shifting Focus to Technical Cooperation

On Saturday, December 13, 2025, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres formally marked the conclusion of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) in Baghdad. This ceremony signaled the beginning of the drawdown process, with the official termination set for December 31st. This event signifies the end of a two-decade-long political presence for the mission within the nation, a presence established at the request of Iraqi authorities and in alignment with UN Security Council Resolution 2732.

UNAMI was initially established on August 14, 2003, via Security Council Resolution 1500, with the mandate to support national development endeavors. This mandate was subsequently extended through to the end of 2025. Speaking at the closing ceremony in Baghdad, António Guterres emphasized that the mission's conclusion ushers in a phase of relationship “normalization” between Baghdad and the UN. Crucially, support in vital areas such as peacebuilding, sustainable development, and human rights will continue. Mohamed Al-Hussein, the Head of Mission and Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq, aptly described this transition as an “honorable, dignified, and well-deserved conclusion.”

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al-Sudani asserted that the international community must now recognize Iraq as a “normal country,” signaling the commencement of a new era of partnership and the phasing out of international oversight. A significant element of this shift involves altering the structure of international engagement. Key UN agencies, including UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), will maintain their operations. However, the emphasis is moving away from direct humanitarian aid toward technical cooperation in critical sectors like climate response, public health infrastructure, and educational advancement.

Over its 22 years of operation, UNAMI played a pivotal role in facilitating six national elections and provided crucial consultation during the drafting of Iraq’s 2005 Constitution. Furthermore, since 2017, the mission has been actively involved in investigating atrocities committed by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), against which Iraq formally declared final victory in December 2017. The scale of UNAMI’s operations was reflected in its staffing numbers, which stood at over 700 personnel by the close of 2023.

The winding down of this political mission, originally established in the aftermath of the 2003 invasion, represents a significant diplomatic milestone, reaffirming Iraq’s sovereignty. While the political oversight component is being dismantled, the focus is now pivoting toward strengthening indigenous institutional capacity and backing national priorities set by the government in Baghdad. This evolution, moving from direct international monitoring to a model of technical partnership, marks a fresh chapter in Iraq’s engagement with the global community.