What's In Blue

Latest post: Fri 13 Mar 2026

Insights on the work of the UN Security Council

Afghanistan: Vote on Draft Resolution Renewing UNAMA’s Mandate

On Monday morning (16 March), the Security Council is expected to vote on a draft resolution extending the mandate of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) for three months, until 17 June.

On 3 March, China, the penholder on the file, circulated to all Council members the initial draft of the resolution, which sought a one-year renewal of the mission’s mandate. Following an expert-level meeting on 5 March, one revised draft, and two rounds of comments, the penholder placed a second revised draft under silence procedure on Tuesday (10 March) until the following day (11 March). The US subsequently broke silence, requesting a shorter extension of the mandate. China then engaged in bilateral consultations with Council members before placing a third revised draft under silence procedure on 12 March until later that day, which was again broken by the US. A further revised draft was subsequently placed under silence procedure until this morning (13 March). The draft text passed silence and was put in blue earlier today.

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