(United Nations) The UN Security Council on Thursday renewed the United Nations mission in Afghanistan (Manua) for one year, ordering a report from the secretary-general on how the international community can continue its work in the country headed by the Taliban.
A resolution passed unanimously by the 15-member council “stresses the critical importance of maintaining the presence of Manua” and UN agencies in the country where the Taliban returned to power in August 2021.
The text, which extends the mission until March 17, 2024, does not modify Manua’s mandate as defined a year ago, which established a formal and lasting relationship with Taliban Afghanistan, underlining the important role of the UN to “promote peace and stability” in the country.
However, a second resolution also adopted unanimously on Thursday asks Secretary General Antonio Guterres to carry out an “independent assessment” by November 17, 2023 to provide “forward-looking recommendations for an integrated and coherent approach by all political actors, humanitarian and development”.
This assessment should in particular look at “the current challenges of Afghanistan, including, but not limited to, humanitarian, human rights and in particular the rights of women and girls, religious and ethnic minorities, security and terrorism, drugs, development , economic and social challenges, dialogue, governance and rule of law”.
“We know that the situation in Afghanistan is very difficult and our options are very limited but the status quo is not sustainable,” commented UAE Ambassador Lana Zaki Nusseibeh, who co-authored the text. Japan.
“So in commissioning this independent assessment, the Council is taking a careful and measured step to respond to a difficult crisis with outside expertise and fresh ideas,” she added, noting that in the face of restrictions on women’s rights and girls by the Taliban, some actors accuse the international community “of lacking a coordinated political strategy”.
