Contributors at a policy event in Iraqi Kurdistan’s Sulaymaniyah (Sulaimani) have spotlighted conflict between the country’s two leading political forces, and a “duopoly” based on the control of money, oil and security in Iraqi Kurdistan, alongside speeches by leading diplomats and political representatives in the region.
Winthrop Rodgers, a journalist and analyst based in the semi-autonomous Kurdistan Region of Iraq, posted on the social media platform X to highlight the contribution made by Mohammed Rauf, editor-in-chief of Draw Media, an independent news source in the region. “In a media environment controlled by the parties, it’s always refreshing to hear people speak frankly,” he said.
Politics in the region is dominated by two parties; the conservative, Kurdish nationalist Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), and its rival Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK). Both parties, which between them control the region’s territory, also command a significant media empire. Coverage in the region therefore typically remains highly partisan, with each party relying on its television stations and websites to support its cause. The region has correspondingly witnessed a recent upsurge in attacks on critical and independent journalists, with Reporters Without Borders documenting over 20 detentions in recent years, alongside reports of torture, abuse, and imprisonment without due process.
The Sulaimani Forum, which takes place at the American University of Iraq Sulaimani (AUIS), describes itself as the “largest and longest running policy event in Iraq”, welcoming dignitaries affiliated to both the KDP and PUK, as well as senior foreign officials stationed in the region. The latest event saw contributions from the European Union’s Ambassador in Iraq, Thomas Seiler; David Burger, Charge d’Affaires at the US Embassy in Baghdad; and Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani. In his comments, President Barzani also addressed the lack of unity between the PUK and KDP as a major threat facing the region, ahead of the controversial upcoming elections, and stated that the Kurdish people retained a desire for political unity.
The Kurdistan Region’s parliamentary elections, held every four years, were initially slated for 2022 but were postponed due to disagreements between the KDP and PUK on critical issues like electoral laws, taxes, and the distribution of oil revenue. The KDP has said it plans to boycott the upcoming elections, creating the risk that Iraqi Kurdistan will plunge into further instability.
According to its organisers, the Forum was held “in the wake of domestic economic instability related to Kurdistan Regional Government-Baghdad negotiations over oil exports, MENA-wide concerns over the impact of climate change and water scarcity, and the ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis in Gaza, which has profound implications for regional politics and security.”
Alongside party representatives, other critical voices could also be heard at the event. Nour al-Huda, of Iraqi NGO Sasa, spoke out to discuss the restrictions placed on civil society actors in Iraq, pointing to shrinking civic space and attacks on freedom of expression.
