The United Nations Security Council is convening to discuss the extension of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), with its current mandate set to expire on 17 March 2025.
Established on 28 March 2002 under UN Security Council Resolution 1401, UNAMA’s primary mission is to support the people of Afghanistan. The Security Council reviews its mandate annually, assessing Afghanistan’s evolving needs before granting an extension.
Afghanistan has been a member of the United Nations since 1946, with UN agencies such as UNICEF operating in the country since 1949.
UNAMA’s headquarters are in Kabul, with regional offices across Afghanistan, as well as in Iran and Pakistan. The mission employs approximately 1,187 staff, including 799 Afghan nationals and 293 international personnel.
Since the Taliban’s return to power, the group has imposed severe restrictions on women’s participation in public life. This includes a ban on female UNAMA staff working with the mission, further complicating the UN’s efforts to assist the Afghan people.
Currently, Roza Otunbayeva serves as the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan and heads UNAMA.
