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Kurdistan as a Campaign Weapon in Iraq’s Shiite Elections
Although Iraq’s general elections are officially scheduled for November 11, campaigning has begun weeks in advance. Rival Shiite and Sunni forces have already deployed every weapon in their political arsenal.…
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Arivan
Sulaimani: How the PUK’s Attack on Lahur Sheikh Jangi’s Compound Unfolded
The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan’s (PUK) assault on the compound of former co-president Lahur Sheikh Jangi marks one of the most dramatic escalations in intra-Kurdish conflict since the Kurdistan Region…
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Arivan
Iraq’s Election Commission Disqualifies Rakan al-Jibori, Shaking Up Arab Politics in Kirkuk
The Iraqi election commission has disqualified Rakan al-Jibori from running as a candidate in the upcoming parliamentary elections in Kirkuk, citing his failure to meet the “good conduct” requirement due…
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Arivan
Why Lahur Sheikh Jangi Resisted Arrest and Why Bafel Talabani Responded with Overwhelming Force
The arrest of Lahur Sheikh Jangi became one of the most controversial episodes in recent Kurdish politics, both for the scale of force deployed and the dramatic circumstances surrounding his…
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Arivan
Explainer: The Origins and Context of the Clashes in Sulaimani
The violent clashes that erupted in Sulaimani last night between PUK forces and supporters of Lahur Sheikh Jangi did not come out of nowhere. They are the culmination of years…
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Arivan
Shaswar Abdulwahid Faces Trial in Case That Could Reshape Kurdish Politics
Shaswar Abdulwahid, leader of the New Generation Movement and the largest opposition group by vote share in the Kurdistan Region, is set to be put on trial in a case…
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Arivan
KRG Ends Summer with Only One Salary Paid as Disputes with Baghdad Drag On
In the past 100 days, effectively an entire season, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has managed to distribute only one salary payment. As the summer season comes to an end,…
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Arivan
Ten Months On, KRG Cabinet Talks Deadlocked as ‘September Parliament Session’ Floated Under Western Pressure
The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) politburos met yesterday in Erbil to discuss the stalled formation of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) cabinet and…
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Arivan
‘KRG, Baghdad Finalize Oil Handover Deal’ as Talks with Turkey and Companies Continue
The KRG Ministry of Natural Resources announced that it has finalized an agreement with Iraq’s Ministry of Oil on resuming Kurdistan Region oil exports. Context: Under the deal, the KRG…
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Arivan
Duhok as Sulaimani’s Polar Opposite: Why Only 3% of Kurdistan’s Protests Have Been in Duhok Despite Its 27% Share of the Population
In the Kurdistan Region, the stark differences in civic and cultural dynamics between Sulaimani and Duhok are well known. Public comparisons, however, are more often drawn between Erbil and Sulaimani—a…
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