Politics

Analysis: Worsening internal rivalries weaken KRG at key political juncture

Conflict between the KDP and PUK has driven dysfunction in Erbil and weakened Kurdish influence in Baghdad as a new government takes power.

Bafel Talabani, president of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (left), meets with newly elected Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi (right), in Baghdad in May 2026. (Photo credit: Prime Minister's Office)

Dec 8, 2021

Iraq seeks to diversify power imports as Iran tightens supply

Iraq's electricity service has suffered amidst unreliable gas and power imports from Iran, but efforts are moving slowly to diversify supply via four other neighboring countries due to unresolved pricing negotiations.

Dec 1, 2021

Q&A: Jassim Abdul Aziz al-Falahi, Minister of Environment

Iraq's envoy to the COP26 climate summit discusses the effects of global warming and the country's position on international action.

Nov 23, 2021

Student protests highlight ongoing KRG budget pressures

Demonstrators have blocked highways and picketed government buildings in Sulaimaniya and Erbil, demanding a further unwinding of government austerity measures.

Nov 17, 2021

Climate change comes to Iraq

Unprecedented droughts are drying up farm land, driving migration to cities, and compounding economic hardships and instability.

Oct 26, 2021

Q&A: Begard Talabani, KRG Minister of Agriculture and Water Resources

Climate change, drought, and strained water relations with Iran and Turkey are creating major challenges for Kurdistan and its farmers.

Oct 15, 2021

Analysis: Iraq’s 2021 election results

Five big takeaways from the provisional results of Iraq's Oct. 10 national elections.

Oct 9, 2021

New PKK election strategy highlights intra-Kurdish tensions

The Kurdish separatist group is making an unprecedented foray into Iraqi politics, using upcoming national elections to challenge Iraqi Kurdistan's ruling party.

Sep 17, 2021

Foreign investors recoil as Iraq restricts company ownership

Iraq has begun enforcing legislation that prevents foreigners from owning a majority stake in any Iraqi company, casting new uncertainty on an already difficult investment climate.

Sep 4, 2021

INOC launches, aiming to restructure Iraq’s oil sector

In his dual capacity as oil minister and INOC president, Ihsan Ismaael is moving key management authorities and oversight of state oil companies to the newly formed company.

Aug 30, 2021

Baghdad makes second KRG budget transfer

Erbil has now received $138 million payments in both July and August, as a fragile political deal revives financial flows that had been stalled since October 2020.