Iraq has unique cultural and religious diversity. INTERVIEW | “Iraq is a success story” – the head of the ending UN Mission in the country Peace and Security
The United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) will end its work on December 31, 2025, 22 years after its creation. Head of Mission Mohamed Al Hassan spoke to UN News about the key achievements achieved over two decades and how the UN will continue to support the country.
According to the head of UNAMI, the decision to complete the work reflects new realities. “When this Mission started in 2003, Iraq was a completely different country,” Al-Hasan noted. Thanks to the dedicated efforts of the Iraqis themselves, as well as the support of the international community, he continued, Iraq is ready to move “to the next stage – strengthening sovereignty and territorial integrity.” extended her work, highly appreciated the results of her activities, noted the representative of the Mission.
He added that the successful completion of UNAMI’s work is reflected in the upcoming trip of the UN Secretary-General to Baghdad. António Guterres will travel there on Saturday, December 13, “to take part in a ceremony where the Iraqis and the diplomatic community will say ‘thank you’ to the UN for the work it has done.”
The UN mission, Al-Hassan explained, assessed the security situation and the performance of institutions during the 2024-2025 electoral processes, including elections in the Kurdistan Region and parliamentary elections on November 11: “These were the most fair, free and peaceful elections [in the country’s history].”
In addition, he said, the UN, with the support of the international community and the coalition, helped the Iraqis defeat ISIS (Da’esh).
Another achievement is progress in the field of human rights. In 2026, Iraq will become a member of the UN Human Rights Council, a move that Al-Hasan called “a huge achievement for a country that has survived the dictatorship and terror of ISIS.”
Progress is being made, but challenges remain
He also listed remaining challenges: preventing child marriage and gender-based violence, and also the protection of minority rights.
The head of UNAMI noted that the UN has deliberately sought to ensure that the promotion of women’s rights becomes an internal Iraqi process: “What comes from outside can be perceived as an imposition. We wanted the Iraqis to push these issues forward.”
In addition, one of the most problematic topics remains the situation with internally displaced persons, of whom there are more than a million people. The nearly one hundred thousand Yazidis remaining in the camps are in a particularly difficult situation.
Al-Hasan recalled that this community “survived horrors at the hands of Daesh: girls were sold, many survived kidnappings, rapes, forced marriages.” He expressed hope that the government and international partners will help people “return to the homes from which they were expelled, particularly in Sinjar.”
UN remains in Iraq
The UNAMI representative clarified that the winding down of the Mission does not mean that the UN is leaving Iraq.
“All specialized UN agencies will remain: UNICEF, the World Health Organization, the International Organization for Migration, the Office of Human Rights, the UN Development Program… Even new offices are opening – the World Bank and the IMF,” he noted.
The Head of the Mission emphasized that Iraq has significant economic potential, including large oil fields, and therefore the country does not need charity, but the support and cooperation of the international community.
Success story
“Iraq is a success story,” said Al-Hasan.
The country, the cradle of civilization, has unique cultural and religious diversity, he said. He noted that Iraq is home to Christians, Shia and Sunni Muslims, Yazidis, Sabians, Zoroastrians, Jews and representatives of many other communities.
“This is a country that can become a model for the Middle East – an example that others can follow. Therefore, my message to the international community and neighboring states is to give Iraq and the Iraqis a chance to prove that they are worthy of the freedom for which they paid a very high price,” the head of UNAMI emphasized.