Iraq Should Consider Extending the Mandate of the United Nations Mission
Ali Al-Mawlawi
Iraq is scheduled to see the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) end this year, marking 22 years since its establishment. This decision comes amid escalating tensions between Israel on one side, and Iran and Hezbollah on the other, especially since last summer. With increasing regional tensions, Iraqi leaders should reconsider extending the mission’s mandate.
UNAMI was established in August 2003 by UN Security Council Resolution 1500, just months after the appointment of a Special Representative of the Secretary-General to Iraq following the fall of the Baath regime. The mission’s primary role was to support the Coalition Provisional Authority, led by Paul Bremer, and the Iraqi Governing Council in their efforts to establish democratic governance and restructure state institutions.
