UN chief visits Iraq to mark end of assistance mission set up after 2003 invasion

UN Mission in Iraq Concludes After Two Decades of Post-War Support

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres visited Baghdad on Saturday to mark a significant milestone in Iraq’s post-war history: the conclusion of the UN political mission established in the aftermath of the 2003 U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein’s regime.

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI), which has operated for over two decades, will wind down its operations by the end of 2025 following a UN Security Council vote last year that came at Iraq’s own request. The mission was originally established to coordinate post-conflict humanitarian and reconstruction efforts and to support the restoration of representative government in the war-torn nation.

During the ceremony in Baghdad, Iraqi caretaker Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani expressed appreciation for the mission’s contributions, stating that Iraq “highly values” UNAMI’s work in a region “that has suffered for decades from dictatorship, wars, and terrorism.” Al-Sudani emphasized that the mission’s conclusion represents Iraq’s achievement of “full self-reliance.”

“Iraq emerged victorious thanks to the sacrifices and courage of its people,” the Prime Minister declared in a joint statement with Guterres.

Al-Sudani was quick to clarify that the end of UNAMI does not signal the end of Iraq’s partnership with the United Nations, but rather marks the beginning of a new chapter focused on development and inclusive economic growth. As a gesture of gratitude, the Prime Minister announced that a street in Baghdad would be renamed “United Nations Street” to honor the organization’s work and to memorialize the 22 UN staff members killed in the August 19, 2003 truck bomb attack on the Canal Hotel, which housed the UN headquarters in Baghdad.

Guterres, for his part, praised “the courage, fortitude and determination of the Iraqi people” and acknowledged the country’s persistent efforts to restore security and stability after years of sectarian violence and the rise of extremist groups like the Islamic State following the 2003 invasion.

“Iraqis have worked to overcome decades of violence, oppression, war, terrorism, sectarianism and foreign interference,” the Secretary-General noted. “And today’s Iraq is unrecognizable from those times.”

The UN chief characterized the transition as a normalization of relations between Iraq and the international community. “Iraq is now a normal country, and relations between the UN and Iraq will become normal relations with the end of UNAMI,” Guterres stated. He also expressed appreciation for Iraq’s commitment to repatriating its citizens from the al-Hol camp, a sprawling facility in northeastern Syria housing thousands of people—predominantly women and children—with alleged ties to the Islamic State.

In a related development highlighting Iraq’s evolving role in international affairs, Guterres recently recommended former Iraqi President Barham Salih to lead the UN refugee agency, marking the first such nomination from the Middle East in half a century. Salih served as president from 2018 to 2022, during the critical period following the Islamic State’s territorial defeat in Iraq.

The transition comes as Iraq continues to address the lingering humanitarian challenges of the conflict. At least 2.2 million Iraqis were displaced during the Islamic State’s offensive, with many—particularly members of the Yazidi minority from the northern Sinjar district—still residing in displacement camps.

As UNAMI prepares to conclude its mission, its departure symbolizes Iraq’s progress toward stability and self-governance after two turbulent decades of conflict, sectarian violence, and reconstruction efforts. The next phase of Iraq’s relationship with the United Nations will focus on sustainable development goals and economic integration with the global community, moving beyond the post-conflict recovery framework that has defined their partnership since 2003.