UN Extends Oversight of Kuwaiti Missing Persons File Until 2030

UN Extends Oversight of Kuwaiti Missing Persons File Until 2030
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The UN Security Council has unanimously adopted a resolution extending its oversight of the case of missing Kuwaitis and third-country nationals in Iraq, as well as the return of Kuwaiti property, including national archives, until 2030.

The decision revives international attention to a humanitarian issue dating back to Iraq’s 1990 invasion of Kuwait. While the move is presented as humanitarian, it has sparked debate in Iraq, where some view the continued handling of the case as a political tool.

Families of the missing Kuwaitis have sought closure since the 1991 Gulf War, though significant progress has stalled since 2004, when the remains of 236 individuals were identified. Iraqi officials stress their cooperation with the UN and Red Cross, including opening mass grave sites and sharing available information.

Observers warn, however, that extending UN oversight risks keeping Iraq under political pressure instead of fostering reconciliation. They emphasize that both Kuwaitis and Iraqis remain victims of conflict and deserve an approach grounded in humanitarian principles rather than recurring political disputes.