After weeks of anti-government protests in Iraq, the President Barham Salih announced that Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi will step down if political parties are able to agree on a successor. He also said his office will draft a new electoral law and overhaul the country’s election commission, as a precursor to new elections.
Iraq’s latest protests, which began early last month, have rally against persistently high unemployment, widespread Government corruption, and a lack of basic services including clean water and electricity. So far, more than 250 people have died in protests and thousands of others injured. Despite Iraq’s significant oil wealth, many Iraqis live in poverty and have limited access to clean water, electricity, basic health care and education. Most of the protesters are youth and young adults and they are demanding their situations improve.
The head of Iran’s elite Quds Force, part of the Revolutionary Guard Corps, traveled to Baghdad this week in an unsuccessful attempt to try to prevent Abdul-Mahdi’s removal.
The Government and protestors all recognize that significant and painful development reforms are required to improve the rule of law, security, and the economy in Iraq.
Whether President Salih succeeds remains to be seen. If protestors accept this as enough-for-now, and if Prime Minister Adbul Mahdi steps down, a constitutional stalemate will be avoided in the short term. Democracy has not been easy in Iraq since the US invasion in 2003, but it has at least provided a space for frustrated people to voice their concerns and hold their leaders to account. Humanitarian Advisors calls on all stakeholders to avoid violence and encourage peaceful and constructive dialogue during this difficult time in Iraq.
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