Widespread and pervasive corruption and lack of government transparency, including with regard to oil revenue, were major problems in the ikr. Iraqi kurdistans opposition movement calls for fighting. This page provides the latest reported value for iraq corruption rank plus previous releases, historical. Pdf the causes and consequences of administration corruption. The desire for selfrule, however, was much greater than the difficulties that the citizens of kurdistan.
Krg kurdistan regional government kri kurdistan region of iraq menamiddle east and north africa mfi microfinance institution mof ministry of finance moh ministry of health molsa ministry of labor and social affairs mpi multidimensional poverty ndp national development plan ngo nongovernmental organization nopb nonoil primary balance. Iraqi politicians have increasingly employed crosssectarian political and economic narratives in an attempt to appeal to disaffected citizens, but identitydriven politics continue to. Relationships between the iraqi federal government and the kurdish region of iraq kri have improved under pm adil mehdis government, following difficulties after the unilateral decision by. Corruption scandals threaten to destabilise iraqi kurdistan.
Everybody is corrupt, from the top of society to the bottom. Corruption in iraqi kurdistan all news on corrution. Erbil, kurdistan region iraqs former trade minister falah alsudani was sentenced on monday to 21 years in jail by an iraqi court. To fight corruption, barzani needs to clean house the. Iraqi kurdistan region center for transatlantic relations. Yet, we know little about how the discrepancy affects reintegration. Mar 24, 2015 transparency international is the global civil society organisation leading the fight against corruption. Feb 19, 2016 o ne of iraqs anticorruption leaders sat in his office, waving his hands in exasperation. Please provide an overview of corruption and anticorruption efforts in iraq. Further, the criminalization of the acts of corruption in kurdistan region can be found in the iraqi penal code. A leading member in north iraq s kurdistan goran change opposition movement has stated on monday that his movement supports pacification in kurdistan. Iraq declares threeday mourning period after deadly protests. Challenges and opportunities overview although, kurdistan region of iraq has significant potential for metallic and nonmetallic minerals, the region all attention focused on the hydrocarbon sector leaving the former resources mostly undeveloped hence, the entire economy of kurdistan regioniraq.
In the coming year, companies operating in iraqi kurdistan seem less likely to face strategic risks such as conflict with iraq than to encounter corruption or other regulatory issues. Barham salih took over the premiership from nechervan barzani, nephew of masud barzani, the regions. Corruption and partisan politics can bring down iraqi kurdistan government. The region has been one of the active areas for onshore oil and gas exploration in recent years. Transparency international knowledge hub knowledge hub. Pipelines twist like arteries through villages all over the region. Against the backdrop of the arab spring protests and corollary demonstrations in iraqi kurdistan, regional president masud barzani promised to crack down on corruption. But he believes iraqi kurdistan is still, a glimmer of hope in a very radical middle east.
Jan 10, 2008 one of the upandcoming kurdish politicians, qubad talabani, accepts there are problems with corruption and that reform is needed. Iraqi pm abadi on elections, corruption and kurdistan. Grand and political corruption corruption at the highest levels of the state has been featured prominently in the iraqi and international news since 2003, and is probably the most worrying sign of. Corruption in iraq, the latest iraqi corruption news. Corruption in iraqi kurdistan ekurd daily news kurdistan. Because of this potential, 26 international oil companies have signed production sharing contracts with the krg in the next 10 years, the kurdistan region is expected to be an important oil and gas producer. The krg is in many ways a unique substate, created through u. Sep 05, 2012 corruption in iraqs kurdistan region is reflective of the corruption that constitutes a problem for the wider middle east, including iraq as a whole, says jason vincent of. Since the rise of isis, the kurdish regional government krg has been a vital u. Corruption as a major challenge in newly developing kurdistan. Issues in the 115th congress federation of american. Ministry of higher education and scientific research kurdistan region. Treatment of political opponents by the kurdistan region of iraq kri. Corruption and integrity challenges in the public sector of iraq 5 executive summary corruption is one of the principal challenges facing the authorities as they attempt to lay the foundations of the new democratic system in iraq.
Nov 11, 2016 since the rise of isis, the kurdish regional government krg has been a vital u. Averting an economic meltdown in the kurdistan region of iraq. Saddam husseins forces later withdrew from parts of kurdistan and imposed sanctions on the area. Barbara jones and peter simpson, iraqis call for inquiry into blair and korean tycoon. In line with these findings, iraq was ranked in the bottom 10 percentile in terms of control of corruption in the world banks 2011 worldwide governance indicators. Corruption in kurdistan international journal of research. Introduction the fall of saddam husseins regime in 2003 brought about numerous changes for the kurdistan autonomous region. But the losses to iraqi kurdistan due to corruption in the oil sector amount to many billions. Those dollars were supposed to fund all kinds of infrastructure, including schools and hospitals. Iraqi kurdistan today iraqi kurdistan developed its economy and democratic institutions during the period of selfrule beginning in october 1991.
A case study ahmed omar bali1 abstract this study investigates the most important technological tools and techniques that have been introduced in some organizations in the kurdistan region of iraq and compares those tools and techniques with that of the departments that still rely on a manual system. Corruption corrodes kurdish education opendemocracy. Whereas residents of iraqi kurdistan have generally been less likely to say government corruption is widespread than their counterparts in the rest of iraq, the opposite is now true. Although levels of corruption in iraqi kurdistan are probably lower than in the rest of iraqconsistently ranked by the cpi among the worlds20 most corrupt countries throughoutthe 2000sthey are relativelyhigh compared to other countries in the middle east region pring 2015, 1. Politics and governance congressional research service summary iraq s sectarian and ethnic divisionsmuted toward the end of the 20032011 u. Background violence has marred iraq s recent history. The future of the iraqi kurds david pollock press exposure, these and other journalists maintain, has in a few instances resulted in positive change. I am determined to combat corruption and introduce reforms. The population of the kurdistan region is reported as 3,757,058. Projects in kurdistan region, iraq crescent petroleum. Michael rubin, is iraqi kurdistan a good ally, middle east forum, jan. Overview of corruption and anti corruption in iraq.
Pdf corruption is an epidemic that facing many countries and. In 2012, 81% of residents in iraqi kurdistan report corruption as widespread in government, compared with 67% of respondents in the rest of iraq. Saddam hussein came to power in iraq in 1968 in a coup, and he used his regime to suppress the shia and kurdish population and used chemical weapons against his own people. The kurdistan region of iraq is at times described by the kurdistan regional government krg and outside observers as the other iraq, that is, a place that enjoys relative stability, security, economic development, political pluralism, and a margin of freedom for. This paper seeks to understand the sources and the types of corruption in iraqi kurdistan. Future center possible developments of the political. What do studies say about corruption in the kurdistan region of iraq over the. The majority of the respondents recommended expanding technology tools in all organizations as there are no significant obstacles to introducing them. This helpdesk answer draws on a previous helpdesk answer on iraq. May 10, 2012 l ast month, zana salih, the mayor of iraqi kurdistan s second largest city, sulaymaniah, was arrested on corruption charges relating to the embezzlement of close to half a billion dollars. Jan 29, 2018 on the topic of corruption, the iraqi leader said that the biggest challenge in the coming period lies in tackling the waste of resources, poor planning and seizing the states money.
Yerevan saeed aljazeera in early february, the oil and gasrich kurdistan region of iraq kri woke up to a major energy crisis. Levels of corruption in the country, while lower than in iraq, are comparatively high compared to. U4 expert answer the global anticorruption coalition. Corruption in iraq s kurdistan region is reflective of the corruption that constitutes a problem for the wider middle east, including iraq as a whole, says jason vincent of. A year of living dangerously, survival 605 2018, pp. Levels of corruption in the country, while lower than in iraq, are comparatively high compared to other countries in the region. About 80 percent of iraqi kurdistans economy is dependent on oil revenue. Dec 25, 2017 a range of serious developments have taken place in recent days in iraqi kurdistan, the main indications of which are as follows. There are many rivers running through the region, which is distinguished by its fertile lands, plentiful water, and picturesque nature. L ast month, zana salih, the mayor of iraqi kurdistan s second largest city, sulaymaniah, was arrested on corruption charges relating to the embezzlement of close to half a billion dollars. On august 20, the newlyelected iraqi kurdistan parliamentarians took their oaths of office. The research finds that the communication tools can significantly contribute to administrative services and fight corruption, although such techniques have not been applied in iraqi kurdistan. Iraq is the 162 least corrupt nation out of 180 countries, according to the 2019 corruption perceptions index reported by transparency international. As izdihar concludes in the potential for food processing in iraq, in only 25 years iraq will suffer a food crisis.
Corruption challenges are rooted in the strong role that the two established political parties have in the political system, nepotism, a weak bureaucracy and the difficulties associated with managing oil revenues. Iraqi kurds rally against corruption of ruling elite. The kurdistan region is largely mountainous, with the highest point being a 3,611 m 11,847 ft point known locally as cheekha dar black tent. The kurdistan region encompasses most of iraqi kurdistan but excludes. Revenues from its oil sector were used to expand iraqi kurdistans infrastructure, support construction projects, and establish a number of universities. Ipct iraqi telecommunications and posts company ipp independent power project krg kurdistan regional government kri kurdistan region of iraq menamiddle east and north africa mfi microfinance institution mof ministry of finance moh ministry of health molsa ministry of labor and social affairs mpi multidimensional poverty. Iraq corruption rank 20032019 data 20202022 forecast. The development of the us approach to iraqi kurdistan will depend largely on the measures that the baghdad government takes in the coming weeks, and on intrakurdish conflict developments in light of the defeat of peshmerga forces in the. O ne of iraq s anti corruption leaders sat in his office, waving his hands in exasperation. By examining these two aspects of corruption, this study contributes to furthering research on. A range of serious developments have taken place in recent days in iraqi kurdistan, the main indications of which are as follows. The commander, major general ahmed salim bahjat, described corruption as the biggest danger to the country, more dangerous than terrorism.
Mountains in iraqi kurdistan include the zagros, sinjar mountains, hamrin mountains, mount nisir and qandil mountains. Corruption in iraq, the latest iraqi corruption news analysis. Levels of corruption in the kurdistan region of iraq, while lower than in iraq as a whole, are relatively high compared to other countries in the. They cite as a prime example the closing last year of akri aqra prison, an unacknowledged detention center operated by krg security forces, which reporters had. Iraq systematic country diagnostic february 3, 2017. He was involved in a corruption scandal connected to the countrys massive food rations programme. Unpacking the friction between reform and the status quo 7 with the major kurdish parties, forming the largest bloc and then negotiating government. Download pdf levels of corruption in the kurdistan region of iraq, while lower than in iraq as a whole, are relatively high compared to other countries in the region. Kurdistan region within iraq also infected by this disease and if taking the. Therefore, this study recommends that iraqi kurdistan and developing countries effectively employ technology to enhance the governments reputations in terms of management information systems, quality services, and the eradication of bureaucratic corruption. Sulaimaniyah iraq afp thousands of iraqi kurds saturday rallied against poor public services and corruption among the ruling elite in their autonomous region, an afp correspondent said.
Issues in the 115th congress congressional research service summary iraqs government declared military victory against the islamic state organization is, aka isisisil in december 2017, but insurgent attacks by remaining is fighters threaten iraqis as they shift their attention toward recovery and the countrys political future. Luay alkhatteeb, an expert on the iraqi oil industry and a former adviser to the iraqi government on energy policy, said iraq has mismanaged billions of. Future center possible developments of the political crisis. The kurdish region of iraq is covered in a separate helpdesk answer. Communication tools to fight bureaucratic corruption in iraqi. Revenues from its oil sector were used to expand iraqi kurdistan s infrastructure, support construction projects, and establish a number of universities. Corruption in iraq is tied to chronically weak accounting and murky governance.
One of the upandcoming kurdish politicians, qubad talabani, accepts there are problems with corruption and that reform is needed. Kurdistan region of iraq has enjoyed relative peace for a number of years whilst much of iraq may be viewed as in a metastable social and political state. Interviews with returnees reveal that they consider corruption a major challenge for their own reintegration. Oil minister is being probed over corruption claims, mail online news, march 28, 2010. Overview of corruption and anti corruption report no. In 2017 in the kurdistan region of iraq, more than ten thousand students dropped out of school in the city of sulaimani alone, mostly due to economic problems. Nonetheless, due diligence, an understanding of the changing political landscape and uptodate security assessments will remain essential components of an. Saddam hussein came to power in iraq in 1968 in a coup, and he used his regime to suppress the shia and kurdish population and. Communication tools to fight bureaucratic corruption in.
The corruption in iraqi kurdistan s oil sector starts within its ministries, particularly in the ministry of natural resources, and is fueled by rivalries within the political system. An inside story david pollock a trip to the krg composed of the irbil, dahuk, and sulaymaniya provinces in northern iraq, with a mostly kurdish population of approximately 4 millionis a study in political relativism. This study examines how corruption affects the psychosocial and economic reintegration of iraqi kurds returning to iraqi kurdistan from norway and the united kingdom. The reasons for administrative and financial corruption in the iraqi kurdistan deeply rooted, a phenomenon that is not immediate, but its accumulation over decades of time. Corruption and cronyism hinder kurdistan financial times. Corruption challenges are rooted in the strong role that the two established political parties have in the political system, nepotism, a weak bureaucracy and the difficulties. Council of ministers, kurdistan regional government. In late 1991, the iraqi army and kurdish forces signed a ceasefire agreement after which the iraqi central government withdrew its administration, army, and security services from the region. In iraqi kurdistan, satisfaction with infrastructure crumbles.
Kurdistan region of iraq has faced years of war and genocide, but has developed a political system with regular elections, and an improving space for civil society and its engagement in governance. The curse of oil in iraqi kurdistan globalpost investigations. Iraqi citizens, including the residences in kurdistan, pay bribe to speed up. Corruption and integrity challenges in the public sector of iraq an evidence. Although levels of corruption in iraqi kurdistan are prob ably lower than. Kurdistan region is only starting to be explored, but initial exploration results indicate the region has significant oil and gas reserves.