UN Security Council Poised to Extend UNAMA Mission Until 2027 with Strategic Review
The United Nations Security Council is set to vote on Monday to extend the mandate of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) until June 17, 2027. If approved, this move will return the mission to its usual one-year renewal cycle while initiating a strategic review of its operations.
According to a report by the New York-based research organization Security Council Report, the draft resolution from UN Secretary-General António Guterres calls for a strategic assessment of UNAMA’s structure and functions to enhance its effectiveness, with specific recommendations to be provided.
In March this year, contrary to the usual practice, the Security Council extended UNAMA’s mandate for only three months. This decision followed calls, especially from the United States, to evaluate the mission’s effectiveness and capacity in the current Afghan context.
The US has emphasized the need to clarify whether UNAMA’s tasks remain realistic, prioritized, and feasible or if adjustments and simplifications are necessary. However, Russia questioned the necessity of such a review and opposed language that could highlight debates over the mission’s continuation and future.
In the final agreed text, the Secretary-General is requested to conduct the strategic review “in support of the effective implementation of the UNAMA mandate.” Some contentious issues among members during negotiations have been removed from the resolution.
The approach of the international community toward Afghanistan was also a focal point of disagreement. Several Western countries insisted on maintaining references to the Doha process as the main framework for international engagement with Afghanistan, while Russia sought greater attention to regional initiatives and criticized the emphasis on the Doha process.
The manner of referring to the Taliban administration was also debated. The US, UK, and France opposed the use of the term “authorities in power,” viewing it as conferring legitimacy. In the final version, the phrase was replaced with “relevant authorities.”
Human rights, especially the rights of women and girls, were central to the negotiations. The draft resolution urges UNAMA to continue documenting the human rights situation, including that of women, children, and cases of gender-based violence. This issue has become a major concern for the international community following the Taliban administration’s extensive restrictions on women’s education, work, and social participation.
Established in 2002, UNAMA is the UN’s most significant political mission in Afghanistan. Since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, it has played a key role in coordinating humanitarian aid, monitoring human rights, and facilitating communication between Afghanistan and the international community.
If the resolution is adopted, UNAMA’s mandate will be extended until June 2027, marking the beginning of one of the most comprehensive reviews of the mission’s priorities and working methods in recent years.
