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What’s next for Kuwait’s missing persons file after UNAMI ends?

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KUWAIT: As the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) enters its final phase—set to expire on  December 31, 2025—the long-standing humanitarian file concerning missing Kuwaiti persons and stolen property remains unfinished. In response, both Kuwait and Iraq have voiced diverging visions for the way forward. On May 31, 2024, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 2732, granting UNAMI a final 19-month extension and instructing the UN Secretary-General António Guterres to recommend a follow-on mechanism should critical Iraq–Kuwait issues remain unresolved. This move reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to a file that has persisted since the 1990 Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. Kuwait Times has relied on the recommendations, submitted by Guterres nearly a year later on May 23, 2025, in addition to previously published news articles to produce this report.

Since being tasked with this responsibility under Resolution 2107 (2013), UNAMI has supported bilateral and multilateral efforts to address two central issues: the fate of missing Kuwaiti and third-country nationals, and the return of Kuwaiti national archives and property seized during the invasion. UNAMI’s contributions over the past decade have included the recovery and identification of 59 missing individuals, in coordination with the Tripartite Commission chaired by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The mission also helped facilitate the return of hundreds of thousands of cultural items—such as books and artefacts—with limited progress on retrieving the national archives. In addition, UNAMI has provided technical support, organized training for forensic experts, coordinated excavation missions, assisted in cross-border transfers of remains and property, and participated as an observer in commission meetings, regularly briefing the UN Security Council on developments. Despite these efforts, 315 individuals remain unaccounted for—308 of whom are on Kuwait’s official list—and substantial portions of Kuwait’s archival and state property remain missing.

Kuwait has consistently stressed that the issue of missing persons and national archives is both symbolic and deeply human, and maintains that the UN should continue overseeing the file after UNAMI’s mandate ends. In a formal communication to the Secretary-General, Kuwait urged the reappointment of a High-Level Coordinator, citing the mechanism’s success between 1999 and 2013, when 236 missing persons were identified and property returned. Kuwait maintains that this issue should not be relegated to bilateral talks alone, but rather remain subject to periodic reporting to the Security Council. It argues that continued international oversight is essential to ensuring accountability and transparency.

Speaking at a Security Council session this week, Kuwait’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Tareq Al-Bannai said that past decades have shown that the absence of international oversight can lead to stagnation and delay—“a scenario that is no longer acceptable after this long road of suffering.”

While expressing its commitment to resolving the file, Iraq has advocated for a bilateral approach. It has opposed the establishment of any new UN mechanism, suggesting instead the formation of national committees or liaison stations to facilitate progress. It has also requested UN support in locating Iraqis missing from the 1991 Gulf War. On Wednesday, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani said his government “places great importance on Iraq’s relations with Kuwait” and is working to address “the file of missing Kuwaiti persons and lost Kuwaiti property, including the national archives.” The Prime Minister emphasized Baghdad’s approach to resolving the issue “in the framework of bilateral cooperation.”

In March 2025, following high-level meetings in Kuwait, the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs notified UNAMI that both countries had agreed to reactivate the Iraq–Kuwait joint committee on missing property and archives—a body inactive since 2014. Iraq subsequently requested from Kuwait a detailed inventory of remaining property. The Iraqi foreign ministry confirmed in April that a new shipment of recovered items was being prepared for return. Iraq also announced a joint summer 2025 excavation at the Muradiyah site in Diyala Governorate with an Iranian field team. Under a bilateral agreement, any remains found will be reported to the ICRC and Kuwait before being transferred to Iran, ensuring that all findings relevant to the Tripartite Commission’s mandate are properly reviewed and shared.

In March and April 2025, Head of UNAMI Mohamed Al-Hassan visited Kuwait for high-level meetings with senior officials, including Foreign Minister Abdullah Al-Yahya and His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, to discuss follow-up mechanisms for unresolved issues between Kuwait and Iraq. The Crown Prince welcomed updates on progress regarding missing persons and property and urged Iraq to take further concrete actions.

Recognizing that these sensitive issues are unlikely to be resolved before the end of UNAMI’s mandate, the Secretary-General has proposed two options for continued UN involvement: Appointment of a senior UN representative to oversee the file or assigning the mandate to a relevant UN Secretariat department. The UN has made clear that while progress has been made, the humanitarian stakes remain high. The remains of hundreds are still unaccounted for, and the symbolic significance of returning stolen state archives remains a priority for Kuwait.

“I believe that, absent an agreement between Iraq and Kuwait to establish a bilateral mechanism on this important file, continued United Nations assistance could help ensure further progress towards settling this long-standing humanitarian issue,” said Guterres in the report. 

Kuwait has welcomed his recommendation at a Security Council session held in New York this week. “Kuwait believes bilateral cooperation with Iraq remains essential,” Al-Bannai said on Wednesday. “But UN follow-up through the Security Council is indispensable.”

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Kuwait signs military deal with France, holds talks with CENTCOM

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KUWAIT: Kuwait’s defense and security institutions stepped up regional coordination on Thursday with back-to-back high-level meetings and agreements involving the United States and France. In separate engagements, the Kuwaiti Armed Forces and National Guard both held talks with international counterparts to strengthen joint efforts on military training, intelligence sharing, and regional stability.

The Kuwait National Guard signed a memorandum of understanding with the French Gendarmerie to boost coordination in military and security fields, including joint training and the exchange of expertise. The agreement was signed by Lt Gen Hashem Al-Rifaie, Undersecretary of the National Guard, and Olivier Gauvin, French Ambassador to Kuwait.

Lt Gen Sabah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah meets with US Central Command Commander Gen Michael Kurilla.

Lt Gen Sabah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah meets with US Central Command Commander Gen Michael Kurilla.

According to a statement from the National Guard, Al-Rifaie emphasized the Kuwaiti leadership’s commitment—under His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, and His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah—to deepening ties with France across multiple sectors. Al-Rifaie conveyed the National Guard’s appreciation and highlighted the “long-standing, distinguished historical relations” between Kuwait and France.

Separately, Lt Gen Sabah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Deputy Chief of General Staff of the Kuwait Armed Forces, met with US Central Command (CENTCOM) Commander Gen Michael Kurilla to discuss “a number of issues of mutual interest,” according to a statement from the Kuwaiti General Staff. The meeting, held at Lt Gen Al-Sabah’s office, covered regional and international developments, and ways to expand bilateral military cooperation. The two sides also “exchanged views on evolving security challenges in the region and how to strengthen joint military action to achieve regional security and stability,” the statement said. Both leaders praised the deep-rooted partnership between Kuwait and the United States, which they said reflects “decades of collaboration and continuous coordination.” They stressed the importance of “continued coordination and intensified joint efforts to face security challenges.” — KUNA

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Indian mango festival showcases uncommon varieties in Kuwait

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KUWAIT: Kuwait ranks among the top five importers of Indian mangoes, with trade valued at $3 million last year, according to Indian Ambassador to Kuwait Dr Adarsh Swaika. His remarks came during a buyer-seller meet (BSM) hosted at the Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) on Thursday.

The event aimed to strengthen agri-food trade between the two countries by introducing new varieties of Indian mangoes and other value-added agro-products to the Kuwaiti market.

While varieties such as Alphonso, Badami, and Sindoori are already well-known in Kuwait, Ambassador Swaika emphasized the festival’s goal of spotlighting lesser-known yet premium varieties from the Indian states of Uttar Pradesh—the country’s largest mango-producing state—and West Bengal.

Among the featured fruits were Chausa, Mallika, Amrapali, Dussheri, Langra, and the distinctive Fazli mango, which holds a Geographical Indication (GI) tag for its unique origin and characteristics.

The promotional campaign was organized by the Embassy of India in Kuwait in collaboration with the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA).

A ten-member delegation of Indian exporters participated in the two-day program from Wednesday to Thursday, which included retail activations, B2B meetings, and public outreach events.

One of the highlights was Mango Mania, a large-scale showcase held at Lulu Hypermarket in Al Rai, where shoppers sampled an array of mangoes flown in specially for the occasion.

On Thursday, the Mango Festival at The Avenues mall drew a diverse crowd including Kuwaiti officials, foreign diplomats, members of the Indian diaspora, business leaders, and families. Visitors enjoyed live tastings and a curated menu of Indian mango-based recipes, celebrating India’s rich culinary heritage.

From July 25–27, the campaign continues across branches of the popular Indian restaurant chain Asha’s, further promoting mango appreciation among local and expatriate diners in Kuwait.

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UK envoy condemns civilian killings in Gaza, hails strong Kuwait ties

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KUWAIT: British Ambassador to Kuwait Belinda Lewis strongly condemned on Thursday the killing of civilians attempting to access humanitarian aid in Gaza. She made the remarks during a meeting with journalists at her residence as she approaches the end of her posting. Lewis called for “an immediate end to the conflict,” referring to the joint statement released by the UK and 27 other countries on July 21, 2025.

She also detailed the Embassy’s initiatives to fund specialist training for Kuwaiti medics deploying to Gaza, and its collaboration with the Palestinian Embassy and the British Consulate in Jerusalem to help small Palestinian businesses export their goods to Kuwait- with Lulu Hypermarket making a large order of foodstuffs earlier this year.

Reflecting on the past four years, Lewis lauded Kuwait’s “special and long-standing” partnership with the UK — noting that 2025 marks 250 years of bilateral trading ties. She also thanked the Kuwaiti people for their warm hospitality, recalling Ramadan diwaniyas and the Al-Qaffal ceremony marking the end of the pearl diving season as especially memorable cultural experiences.

Lewis highlighted February 2024’s rollout of the UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation scheme to Kuwaiti nationals as significant in strengthening people-to-people links between the two countries. Kuwaiti nationals made 162,000 trips to Britain in 2024 — a 6 percent increase from 2023, with Kuwait Airways now offering 19 direct flights a week to London and Manchester. She also expressed delight that an ever-growing number of Kuwaitis are choosing to study at UK universities, with over 10,000 currently undertaking courses there.

Lewis reflected on the success of joint celebrations to mark 125 years of official UK-Kuwait diplomatic relations, rounded off by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah’s trip to Scotland to meet His Majesty King Charles III and discuss Kuwait’s partnership with the King’s Foundation. She also recalled His Highness’ August 2023 Guest of Government visit to London marking 70 years since the establishment of the Kuwait’s sovereign wealth fund, during which he oversaw the signing of a landmark investment partnership.

Lewis noted that His Highness had travelled to the UK five times across her tenure, while Kuwait welcomed four UK Cabinet Ministers, including most recently the UK’s Foreign Secretary David Lammy, in addition to numerous Ministers of State, senior officials and the Duke of Edinburgh.

She said Britain was now “close” to concluding a landmark Free Trade Agreement with the GCC, while praising the UK and Kuwait’s burgeoning international humanitarian partnership that has seen the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development announce lifesaving joint funding for communities in Gaza, Yemen, Sudan and Somalia.

Lewis expressed confidence that her successor Qudsi Rasheed, who will arrive in September, would thoroughly enjoy his time in Kuwait, and that UK-Kuwait collaboration — be it in trade and investment; defence and security; education and culture; or climate and environment — would continue to go from strength-to-strength under his guidance.

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