NEW YORK: Kuwait and Iraq have reaffirmed this week their commitment to resolving the long-standing humanitarian issues stemming from the 1990 Iraqi invasion of Kuwait—specifically the cases of missing persons and lost national archives—while expressing differing views on the best path forward. In a meeting with ambassadors of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and the European Union, 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,” according to a statement from his office.

His remarks followed a Security Council session in New York, during which Kuwait’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Tareq Al-Bannai, called for continued UN engagement on the file. “These issues are not political disputes or bilateral disagreements, but humanitarian matters,” Al-Bannai said. “The families of the missing and victims deserve justice and answers regarding the fate of their loved ones.”

Al-Bannai added: “An entire nation is awaiting the return of its national archives, which are integral to restoring Kuwait’s historical memory. This is not just symbolic—it is a cornerstone for preserving Kuwait’s collective memory. Any delay in this matter undermines the historical justice we are seeking.”

The council session also featured a briefing by the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Iraq, Mohamed Al-Hassan, who welcomed “the increase in field operations and the use of advanced technology to locate possible burial sites of missing Kuwaitis,” and called for “intensified efforts and enhanced coordination—including the search for witnesses to help locate the remains of 315 individuals still missing.”

Al-Hassan also noted the importance of accelerating the return of missing Kuwaiti property, including the archives, in light of “the recently welcomed decision to reactivate the joint Kuwait-Iraq committee on missing Kuwaiti property.”

In his remarks to the council, Al-Bannai underlined that the matter requires continued international attention. “These are inalienable rights that do not expire with time and should not be subject to political calculations or procedural delays,” he said. “Ending this suffering requires genuine will—turning words into tangible actions, free from procrastination and stalling.”

Al-Bannai also reiterated Kuwait’s support for the Secretary-General’s recommendation to appoint a senior UN official to follow up on these files after the UNAMI mandate ends in December 2025. He stated that such a mechanism “would yield more effective and concrete results, maintain momentum, and ensure sustained efforts toward the desired outcomes.” “Kuwait believes bilateral cooperation with Iraq remains essential,” Al-Bannai said, “but UN follow-up through the Security Council is indispensable.” As of now, both Iraq and Kuwait have expressed their commitment to resolving the files, but continue to differ on the appropriate mechanism. Iraq has favored bilateral arrangements, while Kuwait has stressed the role of the UN and the Security Council in ensuring progress on what it describes as a humanitarian matter. — Agencies

KUWAIT: From July 1, 2025, expatriate workers in Kuwait’s private sector will need an exit permit from their sponsor to leave the country. The regulation aims to streamline departures and protect both employer and employee rights. Reactions to the new measure have been mixed. Speaking to Kuwait Times, employer Adel Suliman voiced support for the decision, while emphasizing the need for further system enhancements. “I hope leave types can be categorized into ‘internal’ and ‘external’. Some workers request annual leave but remain in the country, and in such cases, sponsors should not be held legally responsible,” he said, calling for a digitalized process to minimize administrative burdens on employers.

Employer Homoud Al-Ajmi also praised the move, highlighting its importance for business owners. “This is an excellent step, which many responsible employers have long awaited. We also hope the regulation will include mandatory return dates for expatriate workers, with clear consequences such as residency cancellation if they overstay without employer and ministry of interior approval. Some workers take a one-month leave and return late, which causes delays in company operations. Deducting from salaries is not enough — the sponsor should be allowed to protect his business and prevent such people from coming back to the country,” he said.

Al-Ajmi further suggested that Kuwait follow the example of other Gulf countries, where overstaying a vacation can result in a five-year entry ban. “This is vital to protect national economic interests, preserve job opportunities for citizens and reduce the financial burden on the state budget,” he added.

On the other hand, business owner Abu Ali criticized the decision, suggesting it should only apply to sensitive positions such as managers, accountants or cashiers. “Why all this hassle for regular jobs? This just adds to the daily load and stress for employers. Unfortunately, this may also give visa traders an excuse to demand more money in exchange for approving workers’ leaves,” he pointed out. He advised the minister to focus more on the issue of runaway domestic workers. “There are many labor violations and financial losses due to runaway workers. There should be a way to prevent them.”

Meanwhile, expatriate workers expressed concern that the decision could be misused by employers to exert further control. “This will give more power to the sponsor to mistreat employees. I’ve been trying to get medical leave for surgery for months, but my manager keeps refusing. This policy may worsen such cases,” Salem Oudeh warned.

One worker proposed a system where the state, rather than employers, acts as the legal sponsor of expatriate workers, handling residency renewals while companies function purely as contracting entities. “This could reduce exploitation, bribery, and unjust practices against workers,” Othman Osama said.

Mohammad Saed suggested the system be applied selectively. “Instead of applying it to everyone, there should be a feature where an employer can flag a specific employee who shouldn’t be allowed to travel without their approval. Emergencies happen, and some people need to leave immediately — especially in cases of family deaths.”

As for Ahmad Aziz, overly strict regulations could stifle economic growth and flexibility. “While the move to enforce a mandatory exit permit may help regulate the labor market and protect employers’ rights, I must emphasize that strict laws and excessive red tape hinder market growth. We all want a flourishing and flexible economy — only then will the benefits truly reach everyone: workers, employers, and the country,” he said.

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.”