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GardaWorld, a global leader in comprehensive security and risk management, has made its weekly security report available to Iraq Business News readers.

Prepared by GardaWorld's Risk Analysis Team in Iraq, this essential report includes short- and medium-term outlooks on the security situation, reports and commentary on recent significant events, and a detailed overview of developments across the country.

Please click here to download the latest report free of charge.

For more information on how GardaWorld's services can support your business in Iraq, please contact Daniel Matthews, Senior Director Iraq, at [email protected]

The Iraqi Council of Ministers has reportedly set the 22nd December 2018 as the date for the provincial elections to be held in Iraq.

Previously, the provincial elections were scheduled for before the national elections; however, the fight against the IS as well as the ongoing displacement crisis prevented these from being held earlier.

The vote was originally scheduled to be held on the 16^th September 2017, but was later postponed with reports suggesting that they would be held in conjunction with the national elections set for May of this year.

At the beginning of February, however, the Iraqi parliament voted to postpone the provincial elections until December.

Although the date is yet to be ratified in a vote by the Iraqi parliament, the decision to hold the elections on the 22nd December will unlikely draw opposition as most factions are in agreement about this postponement.

There are 447 open seats nationwide for the provincial elections.

(Source: GardaWorld)

The Iraqi government has denied concluding any deal with Russia to supply Baghdad with S-400 anti-aircraft missiles, but confirming Iraq’s right to import weaponry from any country in the world.

“So far, Iraq has not concluded any deal with Russia to import the S-400 air defence system" government spokesman Saad al-Hadithi stated on February 26.

"Talk about this deal is only in the media.  This matter is not subject to political, but rather purely military and technical considerations" al-Hadithi said.

"The Iraqi Ministry of Defence is the only authority competent to supply [the army] with weapons and other military equipment needed by the armed forces. It is the only body that determines the nature, type, form and source of weapons Iraq needs”. 

(Source: GardaWorld)

(Picture credit: Соколрус)

GardaWorld, a global leader in comprehensive security and risk management, has made its weekly security report available to Iraq Business News readers.

Prepared by GardaWorld's Risk Analysis Team in Iraq, this essential report includes short- and medium-term outlooks on the security situation, reports and commentary on recent significant events, and a detailed overview of developments across the country.

Please click here to download the latest report free of charge.

For more information on how GardaWorld's services can support your business in Iraq, please contact Daniel Matthews, Senior Director Iraq, at [email protected]

Kirkuk Governorate Council has reportedly filed a complaint at the Iraqi Supreme Court against the federal government for taking unilateral steps on the governorate's oil.

A press report on February 19 cited three moves that it said Baghdad has taken without consultation with local government: An agreement with British Petroleum (BP) to develop Kirkuk oil fields; efforts to export oil to Iran and Turkey; and exporting oil to Iran via tankers.

Though the report referred to these three steps as "contracts", only the third relates to an agreement that is already being realised. The other moves remain in the initial stages.  The head of the Kurdish Fraternity List at Kirkuk Governorate Council, Muhammad Kamal, told press:

"In accordance with the federal constitution, in provinces that produce oil, there should be coordination with the local governments and no contracts should be signed without consultation with the local administrations". 

Head of Kirkuk Governorate Council, Rebwar Talabani, stated that the federal government "does not listen to any articles of the constitution or laws".  He said the majority at the council were hoping that "our demands take the form of a legal case against the Iraqi government".

According to the report, the council has filed 13 complaints at the Supreme Court against the Iraqi government concerning "violations" by Iraqi security forces and the government since October.

It added that since the federal takeover, the people of Kirkuk have not benefited from the governorate's oil wealth, whereas prior to the takeover local government was given 10m dollars per month by the Kurdistan Regional Government for exporting its oil.

(Source: GardaWorld)

Iraq has received the first batch of Russian-made T-90 battle tanks as part of a purchase agreement signed last year, according to an Iraqi Defence Ministry spokesman.

“The first batch of Russian tanks arrived on February 15 at Umm Qasr Port - they have since been transported to Baghdad via the city of Basra”.

The delivery comes as part of a purchase agreement signed last year between Iraq and Russia for a total of 73 T-90s.

“The rest of the tanks will be delivered gradually,” the Defence Ministry source said, pointing out that the first batch of tanks would enter into service “in the coming days”.

(Source: GardaWorld)

GardaWorld, a global leader in comprehensive security and risk management, has made its weekly security report available to Iraq Business News readers.

Prepared by GardaWorld's Risk Analysis Team in Iraq, this essential report includes short- and medium-term outlooks on the security situation, reports and commentary on recent significant events, and a detailed overview of developments across the country.

Please click here to download the latest report free of charge.

For more information on how GardaWorld's services can support your business in Iraq, please contact Daniel Matthews, Senior Director Iraq, at [email protected]

An Iraqi court on February 12 sentenced former trade minister Abdul Falah al-Sudani to 21 years in prison on corruption charges.

Sudani was involved in a corruption scandal connected to the country's massive food rations programme.

He was given three sentences, two for "negligence" with a 14-year jail term and a third for "misconduct" with a seven-year term, according to Iraqi Shafaq News.

Sudani, who belongs to the ruling Dawa Party, served as minister of trade from 2006 to 2009.

He was sacked and slapped with criminal charges in 2009. Released on bail, Sudani was then arrested as he tried to flee the country, but he managed to flee again.

The former trade minister was extradited from Lebanon and taken into Iraqi custody on 25 January.

Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi has earlier vowed to fight corruption, saying it is the second war the country has to fight following its victory over IS.

(Source: GardaWorld)

GardaWorld, a global leader in comprehensive security and risk management, has made its weekly security report available to Iraq Business News readers.

Prepared by GardaWorld's Risk Analysis Team in Iraq, this essential report includes short- and medium-term outlooks on the security situation, reports and commentary on recent significant events, and a detailed overview of developments across the country.

Please click here to download the latest report free of charge.

For more information on how GardaWorld's services can support your business in Iraq, please contact Daniel Matthews, Senior Director Iraq, at [email protected]

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Transportation in the Kurdistan Region reiterated that the Ministry has not received any formal approval from Iraqi PM Haider al-Abadi to lift the ban on international flights from the airports in the region.

Asked whether Baghdad was trying to delay resolving the issue with Erbil, Omed Mohammed said that he has no knowledge why the Federal government has not lifted the ban on the airports after the region had shown commitment to all of the conditions introduced by Iraq.

According to the Kurdish official, the Kurdish Regional Government has already accepted all of the conditions made by the Federal government, but there was no sign from Baghdad’s side to end the punitive measures imposed on the region.

(Source: GardaWorld)