UN Envoy Roza Otunbayeva Ends Mission In Afghanistan
Roza Otunbayeva, the UN Secretary-General’s special representative for Afghanistan, has concluded her mission, the United Nations said Friday.
Roza Otunbayeva, the UN Secretary-General’s special representative for Afghanistan, has concluded her mission, the United Nations said Friday.
Otunbayeva, who also headed the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), met with Taliban refugee minister Abdul Kabir in Kabul for a farewell meeting. Kabir thanked her for her efforts during her tenure and praised the UN’s work in the country.
The Taliban’s Ministry of Refugees said the meeting was held to mark the end of her assignment. According to the ministry, Otunbayeva reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to humanitarian aid, noting that 25 UN teams have been deployed to quake-hit areas and will begin distributing relief once assessments are complete.
The UN Security Council has announced that Otunbayeva’s mandate ends in September. She will deliver her final report at a council session on Afghanistan this month, where a civil society representative and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights are also expected to speak.
During her meeting with Kabir, Otunbayeva highlighted a $23 million project to address migration challenges in northern Afghanistan, with a second phase planned for Nimroz and Farah provinces.
Kabir reiterated that the Taliban have formed a committee to coordinate relief for earthquake victims and called for closer cooperation between international agencies and Taliban authorities. He also said his ministry has drafted a strategy to address the root causes of migration, pending technical review.
International organisations, however, continue to deliver aid through humanitarian partners rather than directly through the Taliban, citing sanctions and concerns about misuse. Reports have indicated that the Taliban have diverted or seized portions of humanitarian assistance.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres appointed Otunbayeva as his special representative in September 2022. She previously served as president of Kyrgyzstan from 2010 to 2011 and held several terms as the country’s foreign minister.
