At the request of Baghdad, the UN Security Council unanimously decided Friday that the United Nations political mission in Iraq will leave the country at the end of 2025 after more than 20 years.
The Iraqi government welcomed the decision, saying it reflected progress and stability in the country since the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) was established in 2003 after the US-led invasion and fall of Saddam Hussein.
But analysts say the mission has struggled to make an impact in areas such as impunity, and that its exit is part of a trend for host nations to reject UN missions.
The UNSC resolution adopted on Friday extended the mission鈥檚 mandate until聽 December 31, 2025 鈥榓fter which UNAMI will cease all work and operations.鈥�
The mission has about 700 staff, with tasks including advising the government on political dialogue and reconciliation.
An Iraqi government spokesman said the UNSC decision marked 鈥榯he completion of the political building process initiated in 2003 after the fall of the dictatorial regime.鈥�
Earlier this month, in a letter to Security Council, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohamed Shia al-Sudani said UNAMI had overcome 鈥榞reat and varied challenges鈥� and that 鈥榯he grounds for having a political mission in Iraq鈥� no longer exist.
During the mission鈥檚 previous renewal in May 2023, the Council asked the secretary-general to launch a review, which was overseen by German diplomat Volker Perthes.
In a report issued in March, Perthes signaled that the closing schedule would reassure reluctant Iraqis that the transition 鈥榳ill not lead to a reversal of democratic gains or threaten peace and security.鈥�
Given that UN missions can only operate with the host nation鈥檚 consent, Russia, China, Britain and France this month all voiced support for the change.
鈥楾he people of Iraq are now ready to assume full responsibility for the country鈥檚 political future,鈥� said Russia鈥檚 deputy UN ambassador Anna Evstigneeva.
鈥榃e express our firm support for Iraq sovereignty and oppose any interference in the country鈥檚 internal affairs.鈥�
The United States drafted the resolution, after initially being more wary.
鈥榃e all recognize that Iraq has changed dramatically in recent years, and UNAMI鈥檚 mission needed to be realigned as part of our commitment to fostering a secure, stable, and sovereign Iraq,鈥� deputy US ambassador to the UN Robert Wood said on Friday.
Analysts say Iraq鈥檚 prime minister was seeking a political win, and that the UN was not pulling out of Iraq.
鈥楾his does not mean they want to end UN programs,鈥� Renad Mansour, senior research fellow at Chatham House, said.
鈥楾his is all part of Prime Minister Sudani鈥檚 attempts to show Iraq as a country entering a new phase, one he hopes can be defined by sovereignty.鈥�
Mansour added UNAMI had some limited successes but had struggled 鈥榯o ensure accountability and create the space for a thriving and independent civil society.鈥�
The UN has been facing hostility in recent years, in Africa in particular.
Several countries have forced UN missions to depart, including in Mali where MINUSMA pulled out last year. December also saw the Security Council end the political mission to Sudan at the request of authorities.
鈥楥ouncil members now seem resigned to the fact that many states which have hosted UN missions for a long time want them gone,鈥� Richard Gowan of the International Crisis Group told AFP.
鈥楾he Council鈥檚 default position was to keep UN missions in place indefinitely. Now the new default is to let them go quietly.鈥�