UN Security Council extends mandate of Afghanistan mission

The United Nations Security Council on Monday unanimously adopted a resolution extending the mandate of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, or UNAMA, for one year, as the country continues to face a severe humanitarian crisis.

Resolution 2822, submitted by China, extends the mandate of the mission until June 17, 2027. It also requests the UN secretary-general to conduct a strategic assessment of UNAMA and submit a written report to the council by the end of March next year.

Afghanistan remains one of the world's largest humanitarian crises, with 21.9 million people requiring humanitarian assistance in 2026, according to the United Nations. The situation has been further strained by economic difficulties, restrictions on women and girls, and the return of large numbers of Afghans from neighboring countries.

Speaking after the vote, Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to the UN, said the resolution expresses concern over Afghanistan's economic and humanitarian situation, and reiterates concern over the human rights situation in Afghanistan, particularly the rights of women and girls.

Fu called for continued international assistance to help address the humanitarian crisis, support the reintegration of returnees, promote economic recovery and strengthen the country's capacity for development.

He said China called on relevant countries to return the assets of Afghanistan's Central Bank as soon as possible and lift the unilateral sanctions imposed on Afghanistan.

Fu said UNAMA should continue engaging with the Afghan authorities and other relevant stakeholders to encourage the protection of basic rights, including women's and girls' equal access to education, healthcare, employment, justice and participation in public life.

"We hope that the Afghan government will heed the reasonable aspirations of the Afghan people and the international community, take more positive steps to protect human rights, particularly the rights of women and girls, and demonstrate an image of openness, inclusiveness and responsibility," Fu said.

Earlier this month, Georgette Gagnon, the UN deputy special representative currently leading UNAMA, told the Security Council that each year approximately 250,000 more girls are permanently excluded from secondary education pathways, "creating a lost generation of talent and potential".

The resolution also empathizes the importance of countering terrorism and calls for continued dialogue and engagement between Afghanistan and the international community.

Fu said UNAMA "should continue to play its role as a bridge" in that process, while encouraging Afghanistan to pursue inclusive governance, fulfill its international obligations and reintegrate into the international community.

Fu said China looks forward to the UN Secretariat consulting the Afghan authorities, regional countries and other relevant stakeholders during the strategic assessment, and putting forward "practical and actionable recommendations" on UNAMA's future work.

UNAMA is a special political mission established by the Security Council in March 2002 to support Afghanistan. The council renews the mission's mandate annually, and its scope has been adjusted over time to reflect changing conditions in the country.

In March, the council extended UNAMA's mandate for only three months. Fu said then that some council members wanted changes to the mandate and that the shorter extension would allow more time for discussion. The United States had called for a review of UN assistance in Afghanistan, citing concerns over the Taliban's restrictions on women's rights, obstruction of aid operations and the detention of American citizens.

minluzhang@chinadailyusa.com