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Kirkuk
- On Wednesday, March 2nd, owners of large poultry farms protested in front of the Agricultural department, against the Iraqi forces for forcing them to pay “bribes” for transporting livestock to Kirkuk. The demonstrators said that despite having legal permission, the army checkpoints demand “100 USD per truck” as a bribe required to let them pass. The majority of the 500 poultry farms in Kirkuk are located outside of the city. The Iraqi Army’s checkpoints have resulted in a 100% price increase in poultry prices. Elsewhere in Kirkuk, the Iraqi army has confiscated 6,700 dunams (1,655 acres) of Kurdish-owned farmlands, after the agriculture department advised its ministry to “rent” the land to Iraq’s defense ministry. The Iraqi defense ministry is constructing a large armory for the newly established military division in Kirkuk. The farmlands are located near the Dibis district in Mama and Alighair villages.
- Iraq’s Supreme Court Ruling against Kurdistan’s oil and gas laws has backfired with regards to Kirkuk’s oil exports since the ruling dissolves Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) contract with foreign companies. However, Kirkuk’s oil, which is under the federal government’s authority, is exported via the Kurdistan pipeline, which is 60% owned by Rosneft, a Russian firm. If unsolved, the ruling will affect Iraq’s oil revenues. Kirkuk’s oil production is estimated at 100,000 barrels per day, and exported via the Kurdistan pipeline. Meanwhile, Iraq’s State Organization for Marketing of Oil (SOMO) reported 1,475,345 oil barrels exported in February via Ceyhan Terminal, using the Kurdistan pipeline. SOMO said it grossed 143,005,190 USD, with an average price of 96.93USD per barrel.
- College graduates, mainly from engineering schools, were beaten by the Energy Police forces for demanding jobs during a demonstration at the North Oil Company (NOC). The video went viral on social media angering locals. Over the past 4 years, protesters have been demanding job opportunities from the oil company of Kirkuk which is under Baghdad’s control.
- After an agreement, Wasfi al Asie was sworn in as a lawmaker, instead of the winner Rakan al Jabouri, acting governor of Kirkuk. The deal keeps al-as acting governor for the next two years while his former counterpart, Wasfi al Asei, and his al Obadi tribe agree to support al Jabouri, the actual winner of the seat. After years of disputes, both the al Obaidi and al Jabouri tribes have recently agreed on many issues. The agreement was mediated by Khamis al Khanjar, a Turkish-backed Sunni leader.
- The Turkish-backed lawmaker Arshad al Salihi demanded the opening of Kirkuk’s airport, calling Iraq’s Prime Minister Mustafa al Kadhimi to personally attend and open the airport himself, since it was “completed.” Despite security issues Kirkuk has been facing since October 16th, 2017, al-Salihi insists on opening the airport. Kurdish observers see Turkish pressure behind Salihi’s statement to open the airport in order to open a new logistical line for Turkey to support its proxies in the disputed territories.
Khanaqin
- On Tuesday, March 1st, the Integrity Commission announced the arrest of the director of Khanaqin Execution Directorate for “embezzlement of debtors’ money.” The department is responsible for implementing the civilian cases of court rulings, mainly debt disputes.
Tuz Khurmatu
- After four days of the arrest of an Iranian-backed militant for attacking a Kurdish family and pulling a gun on them, the perpetrator, Mustafa Ragheb, was released by Kirkuk’s Command Operation. According to sources, pressure from Iranian-backed militia leader Mehdi Taqi resulted in the attacker’s release. Last week, Kirkuk Military Operation Commander Ali al Fariji released a video capturing the attacker and vowing “justice,” but it only took four days for the attacker’s release. The attacker, Ragheb, is from Tuz Khurmatu.
- The controversial Turkmen politician, Niyazi Mamaroglu, called upon Shia Turkmen to form a new party under his leadership against the current party leader, Hassan Turan of the Turkman Front. Mamaroglu is an ultra-nationalist, anti-Kurdish, Turkman whose son was caught possessing drugs in a political scandal last year.
Shingal (Sinjar)
- On Monday, February 28th, a senior security delegation from Baghdad, representatives of Nineveh administration, the Mayor of Shingal, United Nations (UN), and Ministry of Displacement and Migration held a meeting. The sides discussed the overall situation in the area. The meeting discussed the return of the displaced Yazidis and the 2020 security agreement between Baghdad and Erbil. Media reports suggested that the parties set a goal of mid-2022 for the security agreement to be fully implemented. Until then, all the security forces should be relocated outside the town.
- The KRG’s office for Freeing Kidnapped Yazidis said only 15% of victim families had donated DNA samples for identifications. The office said the pandemic has delayed collecting DNA samples, and so far, 150 victims are unrecognized.