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…
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…
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,…
Written by
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
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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Arivan
New Generation Leader Shaswar Abdulwahid Detained in Sulaimani Ahead of Iraq’s November Elections
Shaswar Abdulwahid, leader of the largest opposition group in the Kurdistan Region, was arrested last night in Sulaimani under Article 431 of the Iraqi Penal Code, pursuant to an arrest…
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Arivan
Syria and Iraq Revive Talks on Dormant Oil Pipeline As Turkey Presses Iraq for More Favorable Pipeline Deal
Syria’s Energy Minister Muhammad al-Bashir arrived in Baghdad today for talks with his Iraqi counterpart, Oil Minister Hayan AbdulGhani, with the main focus on reviving the Kirkuk–Banias oil pipeline, as…
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Arivan
As the Turkish–PKK Peace Process Advances, Makhmour Refugee Camp Set for Evacuation
The Iraqi government has intensified its pressure on the Makhmour refugee camp amid reports that, as part of the ongoing Turkish–PKK peace process, a tripartite mechanism comprising Turkey’s National Intelligence…
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Written by
Arivan
PUK Launches First Major US Lobbying Push with $1M Ballard Partners Deal
The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) has signed a nearly $1 million contract with the U.S. lobbying firm Ballard Partners to bolster its political and economic engagement with the US…
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