United Nations Assistance Mission for Afghanistan

United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan

Official logo of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA)
Abbreviation	UNAMA
Formation	28 March 2002
Type	Political mission
Legal status	UN Security Council Resolution 2344 (2017), extended until 17 March 2018
Head	Tadamichi Yamamoto
Parent organization	United Nations Security Council
Website	http://unama.unmissions.org/

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) is a political UN mission established at the request of the Government of Afghanistan to assist it and the people of Afghanistan in laying the foundations for sustainable peace and development. UNAMA was established on 28 March 2002 by United Nations Security Council Resolution 1401. Its original mandate was to support the Bonn Agreement (December 2001). Reviewed annually, this mandate has been altered over time to reflect the needs of the country and was extended for another year on 17 March 2017, by Resolution 2344 (2017).

The Security Council welcomed the completion at the end of 2014 of the Transition (Inteqal) Process and the initiation of the Transformation Decade (2015-2024). Furthermore, the Council recognised that transition not only is a security process but also entails the full assumption of Afghan leadership and ownership in governance and development, and affirmed that the United Nations support in Afghanistan takes full account of the completion of the transition process in the country.

The Security Council also welcomed the inauguration on 29 September 2014 of the new President of Afghanistan, marking the first democratic transition of power in the country’s history, as well as the establishment of a Government of National Unity, and reaffirmed its support for the Government and people of Afghanistan as they rebuild their country and strengthen the foundations of sustainable peace and development and constitutional democracy.

The 15-member body also welcomed the government reform programme entitled “Realizing Self-Reliance: Commitments to Reforms and Renewed Partnership,” which identifies strategic policy priorities for Afghanistan for the Transformation Decade, with the goal of improving security and political stability, stabilizing the economy, advancing good governance, and promoting the rule of law and respect for human rights, particularly in relation to women and girls.

The Council stressed the crucial importance of advancing regional cooperation as an effective means of promoting security, stability and economic and social development in Afghanistan, and called attention to the important role that the United Nations is expected to play in supporting Afghanistan’s initiatives in this regard.

Within the context of the overall role of the United Nations, the Security Council expressed its appreciation for the organisation’s long-term commitment, including throughout the Transformation Decade, to support the Government and the people of Afghanistan. Moreover, the Council reiterated its support for the work of UNAMA and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, and stressed the need to ensure continued adequate resourcing for UNAMA to fulfil its mandate.