Iraq's election authority certified a minor victory on Monday for a movement that seeks to transform Basra province into a region with autonomy akin to Kurdistan.

The prime minister's national governance reform initiative is already affecting the day-to-day operations of Basra province, including entities that interact with IOCs.

Massud Barzani has only a week and a half left in office, and the region’s political parties remain far apart on a solution to the pending power vacuum.

After slashing oil transfers to federal authorities and increasing independent exports, the KRG receives its lowest monthly budget payment so far this year.

Iraq is set to maintain high Basra levels as Kurdistan ramps up to record exports while transferring pittance to SOMO at Ceyhan.

As the oil export and revenue sharing deal with Baghdad breaks down, the KRG's economic strength hinges on its ability to sell oil from Kirkuk.

The KRG is no longer transferring oil to federal authorities as prescribed in the 2015 budget and is seeking a better deal – with or without Baghdad.

The end of President Barzani's final term – just two months away – has reignited fundamental arguments over the structure of Kurdistan's incomplete democracy.