UN Security Council adopts resolution on return of Kuwaiti missing persons due to 1990 Iraq invasion

Representatives vote on a draft resolution during a Security Council meeting at the UN headquarters in New York, Sept. 17, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

The United Nations Security Council on Wednesday adopted a resolution on the return of Kuwaiti and third-country missing persons as a result of the 1990 Iraqi invasion.

Resolution 2792, unanimously adopted by the 15-member council, requests that the UN Secretary-General appoint a senior representative to support and facilitate continued cooperation between Iraq and Kuwait on the issue, as well as to address missing Kuwaiti property.

It requests the Secretary-General to keep the Security Council informed of any progress by March 31, 2026, and every six months thereafter.

The resolution says that the Security Council will consider the continued need for UN oversight on missing persons and property no later than Dec. 31, 2030.

The facilitation of the repatriation of Kuwaiti and third-country missing persons and Kuwaiti property is currently in the hands of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq, whose mandate ends on Dec. 31, 2025. The new resolution enables the continuation of the facilitation.

According to a report by the Secretary-General in May, 315 Kuwaitis and third-country nationals remained unaccounted for. The return of the national archives and other missing Kuwaiti property was still pending.