Baghdad: The Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the official handover of the Integrated United Nations Compound in the capital, Baghdad, as part of the Iraqi government’s decision to conclude the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI).

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the handover was conducted in line with UN Security Council Resolution No. 2732 (2024), which mandates the complete termination of UNAMI’s presence in Iraq by December 31, 2025. The Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Mohammed Hussein Bahr Al-Uloom, and the Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, Claudio Cordone, signed the official handover protocol. This was followed by an inspection tour of the compound’s facilities.

Ambassador Bahr Al-Uloom acknowledged the role of UNAMI over the past twenty years, highlighting the mission’s contributions to stability and development in Iraq, particularly in areas such as democracy, human rights, and social justice. He also honored the memory of UN mission members who lost their lives in the line of duty since 2003, including Sergio de Mello, the first Special Representative of the Secretary-General. The Ambassador expressed Iraq’s gratitude towards all the Special Representatives of the Secretary-General, mentioning the current Special Representative, Ambassador Mohammed Al-Hassan.

The statement stressed that the conclusion of UNAMI’s mandate is not the end of cooperation between Iraq and the United Nations. Instead, it marks the beginning of a new phase of developmental partnership led by the UN Country Team, aligning with Iraq’s national priorities and building on the achievements accomplished so far.