Archive | Politics

Iraq Business News brings you the latest Iraqi politics news, keeping you up to date with the latest information and developments.

Netherlands will Continue Support to Kurdistan Region

Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani yesterday received a delegation of The Netherland's Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee headed by Committee Chairperson Ms. Angeline Eijsink, along with representatives of political parties at the Dutch Parliament. The delegation praised the people, government, and the Peshmerga forces of the Kurdistan Region, who, under very difficult circumstances, have been combating the […]

$375m Financing Deal for Power Sector

By John Lee. Dimitris Tsitsiragos, the Vice President of the World Bank's private sector investment arm, told Reuters on Thursday that the bank had arranged $375 million in financing for an Iraqi power company. The International Finance Corporation (IFC) will provide a debt and equity package of $250 million, with another $125 million from Lebanon's […]

Iraq shuts down Al Jazeera Baghdad Bureau

The Iraqi Communications and Media Commission (CMC) has reportedly shut down the Baghdad bureau of Al Jazeera Media Network and banned its journalists from reporting in the country. According to a report from Al Jazeera, in a letter to the company on Wednesday, the CMC said it was withdrawing the licence that allowed Al Jazeera […]

Video: Mass Protests in Baghdad

From Al Jazeera. Any opinions expressed are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Mass protests against Iraq’s government have once again swamped the streets of Baghdad. They want the government out and new leadership that prioritises eliminating corruption. The political standoff in Iraq’s parliament is having […]

Sadr Supporters in Mass Protest for Reform

By John Lee. Hundreds of thousands of people have taken to the streets of Baghdad to protest at a months-long political crisis and lack of reform, according to BBC News. Supporters of the Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr (pictured) marched towards the Green Zone to press Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi to push ahead with his plan […]

Al Sadr Calls on UN Help

By Simon Kent. As Iraq's political crisis drags on, Moqtada al Sadr's erratic posturing continues. Last month, he called for mass demonstrations outside of the International Zone in Baghdad, formerly the Green Zone, and threatened to storm the area with protesters unless PM Abadi appointed a technocratic cabinet. But when Abadi announced 14 nominees, Al […]

Kurdish Integrity Commission: 21 Cases Under Review

By Simon Kent. According to Judge Sedqi Salimkhan, the Integrity Commission of the Kurdish Region of Iraq (KRI) is reviewing 21 corruption cases including an official from the Sulaimani Immigration Department who has been accused of spending funds intended for internally displaced people (refugees.) The anti-corruption initiative is part of a wave of reforms that Kurdish President […]

Parliament Speaker is Sacked

By John Lee. Iraqi lawmakers voted on Friday to remove the parliament speaker, Salim al-Juburi (pictured), and his deputies. The move further delays Prime Minister al-Abadi's efforts to appoint a new 'technocrat' cabinet. It came a day after a fist-fight reportedly broke out between lawmakers in the parliament hall following an overnight sit-in. (Source: AFP)

IBBC Spring Conference - "Iraq in Transition"

The Iraq Britain Business Council (IBBC) will be holding its Spring Conference on April 27 at Mansion House and on April 28 at Vintners' Hall in London. In recent weeks considerable political debate has taken place in Iraq following Prime Minister Abadi’s announcement of a technocrat reshuffle of his cabinet. It seems that the motto of the conference - ‘Iraq […]

Video: MPs hold All-Night Parliament Sit-in

From AFP. Any opinions expressed are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Iraqi lawmakers held an all-night sit-in at parliament protesting efforts by powerful political blocs to maintain control of key government posts, pushing the speaker to convene an emergency session Wednesday.

Parliament to Vote on Revised Cabinet Proposals

By John Lee. Several dozen members of Iraq's parliament held an overnight sit-in in the parliament building to demand that Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi stick to his plans for cabinet reform. In central Basra, several hundred supporters of Shi’ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr blocked the main street voicing similar demands, according to Reuters. Abadi was forced to […]

Why Kurds are United in Baghdad and Divided in Erbil

By Mohammed A. Salih for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. The ongoing reform push by Iraq's Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has brought about a sense of unity in the Kurdish ranks, unseen for the past couple of years. When Abadi […]