The crisis in Iraq has finally spilled into the streets. Hundreds of protesters camped out in Baghdad’s heavily fortified Green Zone and left after 24 hours with a threat to come back if the government of Prime Minister Haider Al Abadi failed to implement the long-demanded political reforms. The protest was the result of months of wrangling between Al Abadi and the powerful Shia cleric Muqtada Al Sadr. Al Sadr wants the prime minister to fight corruption and replace the party-affiliated ministers with technocrats as part of the anti-corruption drive. But Al Abadi failed to implement these demands as a divided parliament thwarted his efforts amid scuffles and protests.
Al Sadr’s demands are genuine and enjoy wide support beyond his sect, as was evident from the fact that the demonstrators included not only his followers, but also Sunnis and others. They chanted slogans demanding electricity, water and an end to corruption and the ethno-sectarian regime imposed on Iraq in May 2003.
The solution to the current crisis lies in Al Abadi fulfilling the promises he has made. Al Abadi had promised to deliver better services, stem rampant corruption, and take into confidence the marginalised Sunnis. Although he has been in office since September 2014, he has failed to carry out these tasks. His own weakness as a leader is the primary reason, because a country like Iraq needs a powerful and determined leader to solve the myirad, tough challenges it is facing, and secondly, he was unable to neutralise the powerful legislators who resisted his efforts both to launch a fight against corruption and share power with the Sunnis.
The street protests are meant as a powerful message to the prime minister to deliver. Any dilly-dallying or failure on his side would plunge the country into chaos and strengthen the divisive and sectarian forces. A failure would also strengthen Islamic State militants who have fled cities and towns retaken by government forces and the Shia militias. At the same time, Al Sadr must follow a path of reconciliation. Violent protests will only destabilise the country and make the tasks of Al Abadi more difficult.
Iraqi leaders should also resist playing into the hands of the country’s enemies and friends, who are stationed abroad, who are interested only in furthering their interests rather than help the country. There are already voices from some quarters calling for a partition. Partition is no solution and would be the worst possible option, which must be resisted with all might by Iraqi leaders, sects and other ethnic groups. Iraq can again regain stability if its leaders realise that only Iraqi people have the right to decide their future.
The crisis in Iraq has finally spilled into the streets. Hundreds of protesters camped out in Baghdad’s heavily fortified Green Zone and left after 24 hours with a threat to come back if the government of Prime Minister Haider Al Abadi failed to implement the long-demanded political reforms. The protest was the result of months of wrangling between Al Abadi and the powerful Shia cleric Muqtada Al Sadr. Al Sadr wants the prime minister to fight corruption and replace the party-affiliated ministers with technocrats as part of the anti-corruption drive. But Al Abadi failed to implement these demands as a divided parliament thwarted his efforts amid scuffles and protests.
Al Sadr’s demands are genuine and enjoy wide support beyond his sect, as was evident from the fact that the demonstrators included not only his followers, but also Sunnis and others. They chanted slogans demanding electricity, water and an end to corruption and the ethno-sectarian regime imposed on Iraq in May 2003.
The solution to the current crisis lies in Al Abadi fulfilling the promises he has made. Al Abadi had promised to deliver better services, stem rampant corruption, and take into confidence the marginalised Sunnis. Although he has been in office since September 2014, he has failed to carry out these tasks. His own weakness as a leader is the primary reason, because a country like Iraq needs a powerful and determined leader to solve the myirad, tough challenges it is facing, and secondly, he was unable to neutralise the powerful legislators who resisted his efforts both to launch a fight against corruption and share power with the Sunnis.
The street protests are meant as a powerful message to the prime minister to deliver. Any dilly-dallying or failure on his side would plunge the country into chaos and strengthen the divisive and sectarian forces. A failure would also strengthen Islamic State militants who have fled cities and towns retaken by government forces and the Shia militias. At the same time, Al Sadr must follow a path of reconciliation. Violent protests will only destabilise the country and make the tasks of Al Abadi more difficult.
Iraqi leaders should also resist playing into the hands of the country’s enemies and friends, who are stationed abroad, who are interested only in furthering their interests rather than help the country. There are already voices from some quarters calling for a partition. Partition is no solution and would be the worst possible option, which must be resisted with all might by Iraqi leaders, sects and other ethnic groups. Iraq can again regain stability if its leaders realise that only Iraqi people have the right to decide their future.
