16 March، 2026
Al-Rafidain Center for Dialogue (RCD) held a discussion session titled, "The Role of the United Nations in Iraq Twenty Years After the Political Change." During the event, held at the Center's Sérgio Vieira de Mello Hall in Najaf, Dr. Hassan Latif Al-Zubaidi, Executive Director of RCD, delivered a scholarly lecture on the evolving roles of the UN Mission in Iraq. The session was moderated by Dr. Ahmed Sami Al-Mamouri, the Center's Deputy Executive Director, and was attended by a large audience of academics, specialists, and media professionals.

Dr. Al-Zubaidi began by focusing on the developments that the UN mission in Iraq has undergone from the political change in 2003 to the present day. He also noted the solemn anniversary of the passing of Mr. Sérgio Vieira de Mello, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Iraq, who was killed on that same day twenty years prior in a terrorist bombing that targeted the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad.

Dr. Al-Zubaidi highlighted the various roles the United Nations has played in Iraq, beginning with the constitution-writing process, progressing through its support for periodic elections, and its role in mediating between political factions. He also noted its effectiveness in supporting the Iraqi fight against terrorist organizations like ISIS.

The lecture also covered the mission's tasks during the October 2021 elections and their subsequent political and security repercussions, in addition to the advisory and humanitarian functions carried out by the UN mission in Iraq.

The seminar included a diagnosis of the positive and negative aspects that have accompanied the work of the UN mission in Iraq since the political change. Like all international organizations, its work has had both successes and shortcomings. In this context, Dr. Al-Zubaidi specifically recalled the heroic role of the late Mr. Sérgio Vieira de Mello in assisting the Iraqi people with state-building.

This session is part of the periodic meetings hosted by Al-Rafidain Center for Dialogue (RCD), aligning with its scientific and research activities and its mission to discuss the most prominent political, economic, social, cultural, and religious issues.