Political Payback Continues As Sudani Govt Issues Warrant For Iraq’s Ex-Finance Minister

(Wikipedia)

On March 4, 20 warrants were issued for the $2.5 billion stolen from the Iraqi government. That included former Finance Minister Ali Allawi, the director of Prime Minister Kazemi’s office, his personal secretary, and his political advisor. The irony is that Allawi was one of the first to publicly announce the case. This is the latest example of the Sudani administration using this offense to go after its political enemies.

Iraq’s New Govt Pushes For Huge Increase In Govt Jobs For Patronage

(Reuters)

Since the Sudani government took office in November 2022 one of its main priorities has been drafting a 2023 budget that includes thousands of new government jobs. This is important for the ruling coalition because these positions are dished out to followers for support and also to pillage the state. The problem is that this process is unsustainable.

Political Payback Time In Iraq

(Iraqi Parliament Media Office)

The Coordination Framework is continuing with its campaign against former Prime Minister Mustafa Kazemi. After the Washington Post reported that Kazemi’s anti-corruption investigative body called Committee 29 allegedly tortured suspects new PM Mohammed Sudani sent the case to the judiciary to see whether charges could be made.

Iraq’s Finance Min Resigns Over Lack Of Reforms That Were Never Going To Happen

(Iraq Business News)

August 16 Iraq’s Finance Minister Ali Allawi resigned. He said he was disappointed that the Kazemi government never carried out the reforms that he advocated for. When Allawi took office Iraq was in the middle of an economic crisis due to the collapse of oil prices. The minister’s plans were consistently blocked by parliament and then dropped all together when petroleum prices went back up.

Legal Battle Continues Between Baghdad and Irbil Over Oil

In February 2022 Iraq’s Supreme Court struck down the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) energy law and contracts as unconstitutional. This was part of the long running battle between Baghdad and Irbil over who had control of the industry. With no way to enforce the ruling however the central government has decided to pursue further legal action against the companies operating in the KRG.

UN Report On Continued Killing And Intimidation Of Protest Activists In Iraq

(AP)

The Kazemi government came into office in 2020 promising to bring to justice those responsible for attacks upon the protest movement. The United Nations has issued several reports about how the prime minister has failed to achieve this. The latest came out in June documenting how the targeting of activists has continued even though the demonstrations have ended and that few if any people have ever been convicted of murdering protesters.

Iraq Can’t Pay Its Bills And The Power Grid Suffers

(Georgetown Journal of International Affairs)

On May 16 the Iraqi Supreme Court ruled that the Kazemi administration was an interim government and therefore could not pass any major laws. That meant it could not make any decisions regarding politics or the economy. That is having widespread ramifications for the country.

Kurdistan Continues To Defy Iraq’s Central Govt Over Oil Industry

(Oil Ministry)

On May 17 the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) judicial council ruled that the region’s oil and gas law was constitutional. This was the latest tit for tat between Kurdistan and Baghdad over a February 2022 ruling by the Supreme Court that the KRG’s energy legislation was illegal and that the industry had to come under the central government’s authority.

2021 In Iraq In Review

(AFP)

End of Iraq’s Protest Movement

 

2021 marked the end of Iraq’s protest movement. In January a Nasiriya activist was arrested as part of a government crackdown which restarted demonstrations in the city. The crowds would demand the Dhi Qar governor step down. He responded by calling out the police which used force leading to twelve people being killed. The violence would eventually lead the governor to resign in February and the protests to end afterward. In May an activist was assassinated in Karbala leading to demonstrations there. This would start the call to boycott the 2021 elections. This split the movement and ended the protests.

Pro-Iran Hashd Factions Told To Backdown By Tehran and Shiite Parties After Attempt Upon PM Kazemi’s Life

Asaib Ahl Al-Haq's Qais Khazali (Buratha News)

Immediately after a pro-Iran group hit Prime Minister Mustafa Kazemi’s residence in Baghdad’s Green Zone it wasn’t clear how much push back they would receive. Asaib Ahl Al-Haq, Kataib Hezbollah and Fatah List members all played down the attack, questioned whether it even happened and tried to deflect blame to the United States. Asaib Ahl Al-Haq’s Qais Khazali has continued with that line saying that Israel and America were behind the attack. Now it’s been reported that Iran has condemned the incident and the Coordinating Committee representing many of the Shiite parties has done the same.

Security In Iraq Nov 1-7, 2021

Security in Iraq has remained stable for the last seven weeks. Islamic State attacks have remained in the teens to twenties each week. Pro-Iran groups on the other hand made a major escalation with an attempt upon the life of Prime Minister Mustaf al-Kazemi.

Fatah Makes An Attempt Upon The Life Of PM Kazemi What Will Come Next?

(Al Masalah)

In the early hours of November 7 Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kazemi’s residence in Baghdad’s Green Zone was hit by a drone strike. Three drones were launched at his house with two being shot down. The premier sustained an injury to his left arm while five of his bodyguards were wounded as well. This was a dramatic escalation by pro-Iran elements of the Fatah List who are trying to gain more seats in parliament through violence. One of its men, the deputy commander of the 42^nd Hashd Brigade from Asaib Ahl Al-Haq was killed by the police the day before during an attempt to storm the Green Zone. The question now is what kind of fall out will it face which could determine whether it will continue down this path or not.

Kurdish Politician: 2021 Budget Isn’t Binding Agreement For KRG

(Counter Currents)

A Kurdish politician said that the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) considers the 2021 budget an understanding rather than a binding agreement. That’s because it has not complied with its obligations yet has received monthly payments from Baghdad since July in a political deal.

Iraq Wants To Bring Back Military Conscription

(Reuters)

Iraq is attempting to re-instate compulsory military conscription. On September 1 the cabinet passed a bill to do so which will now go to parliament. Conscription was ended by the Americans in 2003. When Iraq was originally created King Faisal and his advisers believed that universal military service would help unite the various religious sects and ethnicities in the country. Some supporters of the bill repeated that claim such as Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kazemi. Others have said there is little chance that the law will be passed because it is controversial in parliament and even if it was the government could never implement it because of a lack of money, logistics and other issues.

Baghdad To Send Budget Payment To KRG For 2nd Time

                                                    (Kurdistan 24)

 

Prime Minister Mustafa Kazemi is now apparently committed to sending monthly payments to the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) even though it hasn’t complied with the 2021 budget. That’s because he’s made a political deal which he may think will help him gain a second term in office after this year’s election.

Iraq-Lebanon Sign Trade Deal That Doesn’t Make Any Sense

(Shuttershock)

On July 24 Iraq and Lebanon finally signed their much talked about trade agreement. Iraq will send one million tons of oil to Lebanon in exchange for services. The problems are many. First, Lebanon can’t use Iraqi oil for its power plants. Instead, it will buy petroleum from other providers and pay them in Iraqi crude. Second, Lebanon has no services to offer Baghdad. At first, Beirut was to provide medical services but most of its doctors are in the private sector and the government doesn’t have authority over them. Then it was said that other good would be provided like fruits and vegetables, but again, it didn’t have much to offer. Then it was said that Lebanese dollars would be used but those can only be spent inside the country. That means Iraq will be exporting oil to Lebanon for free.

Baghdad Sends Money To KRG Without It Complying With 2021 Budget

(US Dept of Defense)

The Kazemi government has taken the controversial step of sending money to the Kurdistan regional Government (KRG) even though it hasn’t complied with the 2021 budget. Previous administrations have done the same which only encourages the Kurds to follow with their current policy of not fulfilling their obligations to Baghdad.

Prices For Iraqi Oil Pass $70 Per Barrel For 1st Time In Over 2 Yrs

Iraq’s government revenues continued to rise in June 2021. That was due to prices passing $70 per barrel as the energy market continued to recover after COVID and the Russian-Saudi price war that sent petroleum into a tailspin last year.

Iraq’s Electricity Grid Shuts Down During Summer Heat

(Al Mirbad)

As temperatures regularly rise above 100 degrees Fahrenheit/38 degrees Celsius per day Iraq’s power grid shut down. That trickled down throughout society as water went off because it relies upon electricity and drove people out into the streets in protest.

United Nations Faults Iraq For Failing To Protect Protesters

There has been no justice for activists that have been attacked and killed during protests U.N. finds (AP)

The United Nations has been recording assaults upon Iraqi demonstrations since they began in October 2019. It released a report in May 2021 on the government’s continued failure to protect people’s right to protest and hold those responsible for attacks responsible. The U.N. feels Baghdad is failing at basic governance.