Iraq’s Next Big Challenge: Asserting Control Over Its Borders
Last month, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced a project for the development of Iraq’s first toll road along Highway 1. While some surely read the headline as a humble infrastructure project, the privatization and development of the highway reveals a larger, highly political confrontation. Connecting Amman to Baghdad, Highway 1 is, for many, a requisite […]Brandon Louis Wallace writes for 1001 Iraqi Thoughts:
Last month, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced a project for the development of Iraq’s first toll road along Highway 1. While some surely read the headline as a humble infrastructure project, the privatization and development of the highway reveals a larger, highly political confrontation.
Connecting Amman to Baghdad, Highway 1 is, for many, a requisite of commercial trade. When Daesh caused the road to seal its borders in 2015, Jordanian exports to Iraq fell from $1.16 Billion in 2014 to $690 million. For others, the road is a case study in corruption and disorder. Recently, PM Abadi himself publicly denounced the elements of organized crime in Western Anbar who extort drivers and bribe travelers for safe passage.
The privatization of the highway indicates a commitment from the central government to advance infrastructure and security. But a larger question looms, with the end of an insurgency in sight, how does Iraq plan to assert control over its borders?
