UN Security Council Set to Vote on Extending UNAMA Mandate Until June 2026
The United Nations Security Council is scheduled to vote today on a draft resolution that would extend the mandate of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) for an additional three months. According to the draft released on Saturday, March 13, the mission’s term would continue from March 16 until June 17, 2026.
Reports indicate that during Security Council negotiations, there were disagreements regarding the length of the extension. China, responsible for drafting the resolution, initially proposed a one-year extension, while the United States called for a shorter, three-month renewal.
Washington stated that this shorter period would provide an opportunity for a comprehensive review of UNAMA’s role and mission before deciding on a longer extension. Conversely, several other Council members warned that a short-term renewal could send signals of instability and uncertainty about the mission’s future, potentially impacting its activities in Afghanistan.
The draft expresses deep concern about the human rights situation in Afghanistan, particularly the extensive restrictions imposed on women and girls. It calls on the Taliban administration to lift its restrictive policies against women, including in education, employment, and participation in public life—restrictions that in recent years have faced widespread domestic and international criticism and have deprived millions of women and girls of their fundamental rights.
UNAMA is among the UN’s most significant political missions in Afghanistan, tasked with monitoring human rights conditions, coordinating humanitarian aid, and engaging with domestic and international bodies. Since 2025, the mission has been operating without a new UN special representative, a factor that has added sensitivity to ongoing discussions about its future.
