On December 3, 2025, Mohamed Al Hassan, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), delivered a poignant final briefing to the UN Security Council. This marked the closing chapter of a mission that has spanned more than two decades, guiding Iraq through some of its most turbulent and transformative years. As UNAMI prepares to conclude its mandate on December 31, the sense of both achievement and unfinished business loomed large over the proceedings.
"Today, indeed, is a great day for the international community and the United Nations to witness an honourable and dignified closure of a UN mission," Al Hassan told the Council, according to the United Nations. His words reflected a mix of satisfaction and solemnity, as he recalled the mission’s establishment in 2003, when Iraq was still reeling from decades of dictatorship, regional wars, internal conflict, and the terror wrought by Da’esh (ISIS).
The path to stability was anything but straightforward. As Al Hassan reminded the Security Council, "The road to peace, security and stability was long and difficult. However, with the support of the international community Iraq came out victorious, but with untold sacrifices." The memory of the 22 UN staff killed in the 2003 Canal Hotel bombing—a day that remains among the darkest in the UN’s history—hung heavy in the room, a reminder of the personal cost paid by many in pursuit of Iraq’s recovery.
Despite these hardships, Iraq has made significant strides. Since the adoption of a new Constitution, the country has managed to hold 13 electoral processes, each one a step toward consolidating a fragile but persistent democracy. The most recent parliamentary elections, held on November 9, 2025, were described by Al Hassan as "one of the most free, orderly, and credible elections to be conducted in Iraq so far," as reported by Rudaw. The turnout, a notable 56 percent of registered voters, signaled renewed faith in the democratic process. The Reconstruction and Development Coalition (RDC), led by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani, emerged with 46 seats in the 329-member parliament, while the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) garnered over 1.1 million votes and secured 27 seats.
In the Kurdistan Region, parliamentary elections held in October 2024 saw the KDP take 39 of 100 seats, with the rival Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) following at 23 seats. Yet, despite electoral successes, the formation of new governments—both at the federal level in Baghdad and in the semi-autonomous Kurdistan Region—remains mired in protracted negotiations. As Al Hassan put it, "I would be remiss not to note that the formation of a new Kurdistan Regional Government remains pending after over a year of protracted negotiations." The stalled talks, largely due to disputes over governance mechanisms and key positions, have left the region in a state of political limbo.
Al Hassan underscored the importance of these government formations, not only for internal stability but also for strengthening the critical partnership between Baghdad and Erbil. "The Baghdad-Erbil relationship is a crucial partnership that requires cooperation and a more open dialogue on the basis of the Iraqi Constitution [of 2005]," he stressed.
But politics is only part of Iraq’s ongoing story. Humanitarian challenges remain daunting. Approximately one million Iraqis are still internally displaced, including over 100,000 predominantly Yazidis from Sinjar. These Yazidis, survivors of the 2014 ISIS genocide campaign, continue to live in precarious conditions in displacement camps, especially in the Kurdistan Region’s Duhok province. As Rudaw detailed, the return of these families is hampered by security concerns and the lingering presence of armed groups in Sinjar. Al Hassan called for "the adoption of a comprehensive national plan to ensure the implementation of durable solutions" to accelerate their return, emphasizing the need for adequate resources to support reintegration and access to basic services.
The mission’s humanitarian focus also extended beyond Iraq’s borders. Since the start of 2025, about 20,800 Iraqis have been repatriated from northeast Syria’s al-Hol camp, with the most recent return occurring just a day before Al Hassan’s briefing. This effort, lauded as a significant achievement, is seen as vital for national reconciliation and the prevention of future radicalization. Still, as Al Hassan cautioned, "it remains essential for adequate resources to be directed towards ensuring dignified and sustainable reintegration, including reliable access to basic services, livelihoods, and community-level support."
Yet, even as Iraq moves forward, it faces persistent threats to its infrastructure and stability. Al Hassan expressed "deep concern" over repeated attacks on energy facilities, including a mid-November 2025 attack on the Khor Mor gas field in Chamchamal district, Sulaimani province. The assault, which Kurdish officials condemned as a "terrorist attack," targeted a storage tank and caused a fire that burned for hours, resulting in power outages lasting more than three days across the Kurdistan Region. The attack specifically crippled the Kurdistan Regional Government’s flagship Runaki project, which provides 24/7 electricity to around six million people. At its peak, 80 percent of the region’s power was lost, and Iraq as a whole lost approximately 1,200 megawatts of power exported from the KRG due to the disruption. Thankfully, gas production returned to normal on November 30, 2025, restoring electricity to millions.
No group has claimed responsibility for the Khor Mor attack, but Kurdish authorities have often blamed Iran-backed Iraqi armed groups operating outside Baghdad’s control. Al Hassan was unequivocal in his condemnation: "This has to stop and those responsible must be brought to justice," he said at the Security Council, according to Rudaw.
Alongside these immediate crises, Iraq faces the enduring task of upholding human rights and fostering inclusive governance. Al Hassan congratulated Iraq on its election to the UN Human Rights Council, reminding leaders that this honor comes with "a corresponding responsibility to uphold the highest standards in the promotion and protection of human rights." He pointed to continuing challenges, "notably for ensuring full protection and fulfillment of the rights of minorities, women and youth, and continuing to uphold freedom of expression as a cornerstone of open public dialogue in a strong democratic society."
As UNAMI draws to a close, its legacy is one of both hard-won gains and ongoing challenges. Al Hassan was clear that "UNAMI’s departure does not mark the end of the Iraq-UN partnership; rather, it represents the beginning of a new chapter, rooted in Iraq’s leadership of its own future." The United Nations, he affirmed, will continue to offer technical expertise, advice, and support as Iraq navigates the next phase of its journey.
"I wish to reaffirm my full confidence in the resilience of the Iraqi people and the determination of their leaders to tackle whatever challenges may lie ahead, as they have so commendably done over the last 20 years," Al Hassan concluded. His words, echoing through the halls of the Security Council, underscored both the fragility and the promise of Iraq’s future—a nation still striving to reclaim its place as the cradle of civilization, even as it faces the headwinds of change.
