diff --git a/src/ui/config-store.ts b/src/ui/config-store.ts
index 109af78..222eab9 100644
--- a/src/ui/config-store.ts
+++ b/src/ui/config-store.ts
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ export type LimitSettings = {
   topologyMaxDepth: number;
   topologyMaxRetries: number;
   relationshipMaxChildren: number;
+  mergeConflictMaxAttempts: number;
   portBase: number;
   portBlockSize: number;
   portBlockCount: number;
@@ -88,6 +89,7 @@ function toLimits(config: Readonly<AppConfig>): LimitSettings {
     topologyMaxDepth: config.orchestration.maxDepth,
     topologyMaxRetries: config.orchestration.maxRetries,
     relationshipMaxChildren: config.orchestration.maxChildren,
+    mergeConflictMaxAttempts: config.orchestration.mergeConflictMaxAttempts,
     portBase: config.provisioning.portRange.basePort,
     portBlockSize: config.provisioning.portRange.blockSize,
     portBlockCount: config.provisioning.portRange.blockCount,
@@ -170,6 +172,7 @@ export class UiConfigStore {
       AGENT_TOPOLOGY_MAX_DEPTH: String(input.topologyMaxDepth),
       AGENT_TOPOLOGY_MAX_RETRIES: String(input.topologyMaxRetries),
       AGENT_RELATIONSHIP_MAX_CHILDREN: String(input.relationshipMaxChildren),
+      AGENT_MERGE_CONFLICT_MAX_ATTEMPTS: String(input.mergeConflictMaxAttempts),
       AGENT_PORT_BASE: String(input.portBase),
       AGENT_PORT_BLOCK_SIZE: String(input.portBlockSize),
       AGENT_PORT_BLOCK_COUNT: String(input.portBlockCount),
diff --git a/src/ui/public/app.js b/src/ui/public/app.js
index a21b54b..f52e67d 100644
--- a/src/ui/public/app.js
+++ b/src/ui/public/app.js
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ const state = {
   config: null,
   manifests: [],
   sessions: [],
+  sessionMetadata: [],
   runs: [],
   selectedSessionId: "",
   selectedManifestPath: "",
@@ -29,6 +30,11 @@ const dom = {
   runValidationNodes: document.querySelector("#run-validation-nodes"),
   killRun: document.querySelector("#kill-run"),
   runStatus: document.querySelector("#run-status"),
+  sessionForm: document.querySelector("#session-form"),
+  sessionProjectPath: document.querySelector("#session-project-path"),
+  sessionCreate: document.querySelector("#session-create"),
+  sessionClose: document.querySelector("#session-close"),
+  sessionCloseMerge: document.querySelector("#session-close-merge"),
   nodeInspector: document.querySelector("#node-inspector"),
   eventsLimit: document.querySelector("#events-limit"),
   eventsRefresh: document.querySelector("#events-refresh"),
@@ -78,6 +84,7 @@ const dom = {
   cfgTopologyDepth: document.querySelector("#cfg-topology-depth"),
   cfgTopologyRetries: document.querySelector("#cfg-topology-retries"),
   cfgRelationshipChildren: document.querySelector("#cfg-relationship-children"),
+  cfgMergeConflictAttempts: document.querySelector("#cfg-merge-conflict-attempts"),
   cfgPortBase: document.querySelector("#cfg-port-base"),
   cfgPortBlockSize: document.querySelector("#cfg-port-block-size"),
   cfgPortBlockCount: document.querySelector("#cfg-port-block-count"),
@@ -137,6 +144,8 @@ const LABEL_HELP_BY_CONTROL = Object.freeze({
   "run-flags": "Optional JSON object passed in as initial run flags.",
   "run-runtime-context": "Optional JSON object of template values injected into persona prompts (for example repo or ticket).",
   "run-validation-nodes": "Optional comma-separated node IDs to simulate validation outcomes for.",
+  "session-project-path": "Absolute project path used when creating an explicit managed session.",
+  "session-close-merge": "When enabled, close will merge the session base branch back into the project branch.",
   "events-limit": "Set how many recent runtime events are loaded per refresh.",
   "cfg-webhook-url": "Webhook endpoint that receives runtime event notifications.",
   "cfg-webhook-severity": "Minimum severity level that triggers webhook notifications.",
@@ -152,6 +161,7 @@ const LABEL_HELP_BY_CONTROL = Object.freeze({
   "cfg-topology-depth": "Maximum orchestration graph depth permitted by topology rules.",
   "cfg-topology-retries": "Maximum retry expansions allowed by topology orchestration.",
   "cfg-relationship-children": "Maximum children each persona relationship can spawn.",
+  "cfg-merge-conflict-attempts": "Maximum merge-conflict resolution attempts before emitting unresolved conflict events.",
   "cfg-port-base": "Starting port number for provisioning port allocations.",
   "cfg-port-block-size": "Number of ports reserved per allocated block.",
   "cfg-port-block-count": "Number of port blocks available for allocation.",
@@ -1036,6 +1046,7 @@ async function loadConfig() {
   dom.cfgTopologyDepth.value = String(limits.topologyMaxDepth);
   dom.cfgTopologyRetries.value = String(limits.topologyMaxRetries);
   dom.cfgRelationshipChildren.value = String(limits.relationshipMaxChildren);
+  dom.cfgMergeConflictAttempts.value = String(limits.mergeConflictMaxAttempts);
   dom.cfgPortBase.value = String(limits.portBase);
   dom.cfgPortBlockSize.value = String(limits.portBlockSize);
   dom.cfgPortBlockCount.value = String(limits.portBlockCount);
@@ -1067,11 +1078,28 @@ function statusChipClass(status) {
   return `status-chip status-${status || "unknown"}`;
 }
 
+function getSessionLifecycleStatus(sessionId) {
+  const metadata = state.sessionMetadata.find((entry) => entry?.sessionId === sessionId);
+  if (!metadata) {
+    return undefined;
+  }
+
+  const status = metadata.sessionStatus;
+  if (status === "active" || status === "suspended" || status === "closed" || status === "closed_with_conflicts") {
+    return status;
+  }
+  return undefined;
+}
+
 function renderRunsAndSessionsTable() {
   const rows = [];
 
   for (const session of state.sessions) {
-    const sessionStatus = session.status || "unknown";
+    const lifecycleStatus = getSessionLifecycleStatus(session.sessionId);
+    const sessionStatus =
+      lifecycleStatus === "closed" || lifecycleStatus === "closed_with_conflicts"
+        ? lifecycleStatus
+        : session.status || lifecycleStatus || "unknown";
     rows.push(`
       <tr data-session-id="${escapeHtml(session.sessionId)}">
         <td>${escapeHtml(session.sessionId)}</td>
@@ -1099,6 +1127,7 @@ function renderRunsAndSessionsTable() {
 async function loadSessions() {
   const payload = await apiRequest("/api/sessions");
   state.sessions = payload.sessions || [];
+  state.sessionMetadata = payload.sessionMetadata || [];
   state.runs = payload.runs || [];
 
   if (!state.selectedSessionId && state.sessions.length > 0) {
@@ -1511,6 +1540,17 @@ async function startRun(event) {
     simulateValidationNodeIds: fromCsv(dom.runValidationNodes.value),
   };
 
+  const selectedSessionMetadata = state.sessionMetadata.find(
+    (entry) => entry?.sessionId === state.selectedSessionId,
+  );
+  if (
+    selectedSessionMetadata &&
+    (selectedSessionMetadata.sessionStatus === "active" ||
+      selectedSessionMetadata.sessionStatus === "suspended")
+  ) {
+    payload.sessionId = selectedSessionMetadata.sessionId;
+  }
+
   if (manifestSelection === RUN_MANIFEST_EDITOR_VALUE) {
     const manifestFromEditor = parseJsonSafe(dom.manifestEditor.value, null);
     if (!manifestFromEditor) {
@@ -1566,6 +1606,64 @@ async function cancelActiveRun() {
   }
 }
 
+async function createSessionFromUi() {
+  const projectPath = dom.sessionProjectPath.value.trim();
+  if (!projectPath) {
+    showRunStatus("Project path is required to create a session.", true);
+    return;
+  }
+
+  try {
+    const payload = await apiRequest("/api/sessions", {
+      method: "POST",
+      body: JSON.stringify({
+        projectPath,
+      }),
+    });
+
+    const created = payload.session;
+    if (created?.sessionId) {
+      state.selectedSessionId = created.sessionId;
+      showRunStatus(`Session ${created.sessionId} created.`);
+    } else {
+      showRunStatus("Session created.");
+    }
+    await loadSessions();
+    if (state.selectedSessionId) {
+      dom.sessionSelect.value = state.selectedSessionId;
+      await refreshGraph();
+      await refreshEvents();
+    }
+  } catch (error) {
+    showRunStatus(error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error), true);
+  }
+}
+
+async function closeSelectedSessionFromUi() {
+  const sessionId = state.selectedSessionId || dom.sessionSelect.value;
+  if (!sessionId) {
+    showRunStatus("Select a session before closing.", true);
+    return;
+  }
+
+  try {
+    const payload = await apiRequest(`/api/sessions/${encodeURIComponent(sessionId)}/close`, {
+      method: "POST",
+      body: JSON.stringify({
+        mergeToProject: dom.sessionCloseMerge.checked,
+      }),
+    });
+
+    const nextStatus = payload?.session?.sessionStatus || "closed";
+    showRunStatus(`Session ${sessionId} closed with status ${nextStatus}.`);
+    await loadSessions();
+    await refreshGraph();
+    await refreshEvents();
+  } catch (error) {
+    showRunStatus(error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error), true);
+  }
+}
+
 async function saveNotifications(event) {
   event.preventDefault();
   const payload = {
@@ -1611,6 +1709,7 @@ async function saveLimits(event) {
     topologyMaxDepth: Number(dom.cfgTopologyDepth.value),
     topologyMaxRetries: Number(dom.cfgTopologyRetries.value),
     relationshipMaxChildren: Number(dom.cfgRelationshipChildren.value),
+    mergeConflictMaxAttempts: Number(dom.cfgMergeConflictAttempts.value),
     portBase: Number(dom.cfgPortBase.value),
     portBlockSize: Number(dom.cfgPortBlockSize.value),
     portBlockCount: Number(dom.cfgPortBlockCount.value),
@@ -1737,6 +1836,12 @@ function bindUiEvents() {
   dom.killRun.addEventListener("click", () => {
     void cancelActiveRun();
   });
+  dom.sessionCreate.addEventListener("click", () => {
+    void createSessionFromUi();
+  });
+  dom.sessionClose.addEventListener("click", () => {
+    void closeSelectedSessionFromUi();
+  });
 
   dom.notificationsForm.addEventListener("submit", (event) => {
     void saveNotifications(event);
diff --git a/src/ui/public/index.html b/src/ui/public/index.html
index 27efdd2..f701f0d 100644
--- a/src/ui/public/index.html
+++ b/src/ui/public/index.html
@@ -90,6 +90,23 @@
           </form>
           <div id="run-status" class="subtle"></div>
 
+          <div class="divider"></div>
+          <h3>Session Controls</h3>
+          <form id="session-form" class="stacked-form">
+            <label>
+              Project Path (absolute)
+              <input id="session-project-path" type="text" placeholder="/abs/path/to/project" />
+            </label>
+            <label class="inline-checkbox">
+              <input id="session-close-merge" type="checkbox" />
+              Merge base into project when closing selected session
+            </label>
+            <div class="inline-actions">
+              <button id="session-create" type="button">Create Session</button>
+              <button id="session-close" type="button">Close Selected Session</button>
+            </div>
+          </form>
+
           <div class="divider"></div>
           <h3>Node Inspector</h3>
           <div id="node-inspector" class="inspector empty">Select a graph node.</div>
@@ -196,6 +213,7 @@
               <label>AGENT_TOPOLOGY_MAX_DEPTH<input id="cfg-topology-depth" type="number" min="1" /></label>
               <label>AGENT_TOPOLOGY_MAX_RETRIES<input id="cfg-topology-retries" type="number" min="0" /></label>
               <label>AGENT_RELATIONSHIP_MAX_CHILDREN<input id="cfg-relationship-children" type="number" min="1" /></label>
+              <label>AGENT_MERGE_CONFLICT_MAX_ATTEMPTS<input id="cfg-merge-conflict-attempts" type="number" min="1" /></label>
               <label>AGENT_PORT_BASE<input id="cfg-port-base" type="number" min="1" /></label>
               <label>AGENT_PORT_BLOCK_SIZE<input id="cfg-port-block-size" type="number" min="1" /></label>
               <label>AGENT_PORT_BLOCK_COUNT<input id="cfg-port-block-count" type="number" min="1" /></label>
diff --git a/src/ui/public/styles.css b/src/ui/public/styles.css
index c3c41c1..eb9012d 100644
--- a/src/ui/public/styles.css
+++ b/src/ui/public/styles.css
@@ -142,6 +142,12 @@ label {
   letter-spacing: 0.015em;
 }
 
+label.inline-checkbox {
+  flex-direction: row;
+  align-items: center;
+  gap: 0.45rem;
+}
+
 input,
 select,
 textarea,
@@ -353,6 +359,22 @@ button.danger {
   border-color: rgba(255, 201, 74, 0.6);
 }
 
+.status-active {
+  color: var(--accent-cool);
+  border-color: rgba(86, 195, 255, 0.6);
+}
+
+.status-suspended,
+.status-closed_with_conflicts {
+  color: var(--warn);
+  border-color: rgba(255, 201, 74, 0.6);
+}
+
+.status-closed {
+  color: var(--muted);
+  border-color: rgba(155, 184, 207, 0.45);
+}
+
 .status-unknown {
   color: var(--muted);
   border-color: rgba(155, 184, 207, 0.45);
diff --git a/workspace/.gitkeep b/workspace/.gitkeep
deleted file mode 100644
index e69de29..0000000