Afghanistan: an extension of the mandate of the United Nations mission in the country
The Taliban authorities in power in Afghanistan welcomed the news: Manua, the United Nations Assistance Mission in the country, has just been unanimously extended until March 2025. And this, despite the measures increasingly retrograde measures taken by the Taliban authorities since their return to power almost three years ago.
Afghan men distribute food to women while waiting to break their fast during the month of Ramadan, in Kabul, March 12, 2024 (Illustrative image).
AFP - WAKIL KOHSAR
By: RFI Follow
Advertisement
Read more
The Security Council voted unanimously on Friday to extend this mandate until March 17, 2025, citing “
the important role that the United Nations would continue to play for (...) peace and stability in
Afghanistan
”.
The spokesperson for the Taliban government, Zabihullah Mujahid, told state radio RTA that “
the country needed to be in contact with the international community and that
Manua
could strengthen such links
”.
However, he denounced “
unjust pressure against Afghanistan
” and called for “
an end to the freezing
” of billions of dollars of the country’s assets.
The most optimistic will say that with its eleven regional offices scattered throughout Afghanistan, Manua remains as close as possible to the field.
And that the UN strategy is the right one: in exchange for the distribution of humanitarian aid, gain the trust of political actors and convince them to adopt a more inclusive approach by emphasizing the place of women in society.
No concrete concession
The most cynical will respond that this beautiful idea has crashed against the wall of reality, that nearly 1.5 million girls remain excluded from secondary education, that the Taliban have made no concrete concessions and that When it comes to civil liberties, the situation has only gotten worse.
Because everything feminine has disappeared from public space.
Which is difficult to contradict.
On the other hand, Manua is trying to alleviate the famine, drought and extreme poverty which are ruining Afghanistan.
More than half of the population needs support.
And the funding does not follow.
The UN had planned $3 billion in donations for Afghanistan in 2023. It only received half of them, analyzes
Vincent Souriau
, of RFI's international service.
Since its return to power in August 2021, the Taliban government has not been recognized by any country due in particular to drastic restrictions on women's participation in public life and their right to study.
The UN and Kabul are currently at odds over the appointment of a special envoy to Afghanistan, requested by the Security Council last December to promote more effective dialogue and better coordinated aid.
Newsletter
Receive all the international news directly in your inbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
Share :
Continue reading on the same themes:
Afghanistan
Taliban
UN