Al-Mada, Iraq, December 7
Masoud Barzani, the leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), arrived in Baghdad last week for a first meeting of a Kurdish leader with an Iraqi prime minister since the 2017 Kurdish independence referendum. This visit has been long overdue, and it’s hard to believe that it would have ever taken place had the new Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi not taken office. Mahdi has longstanding ties with the Kurdish leadership in Iraq, which date back to the days of Saddam Hussein. Mahdi maintained close ties with his Kurdish counterparts throughout the years and even sought refuge from Saddam’s intelligence authorities in Iraqi Kurdistan. Since taking office, he has been a strong proponent of bridging the enormous divide between Baghdad and Erbil; a gap that emerged after the Kurdish population voted to succeed from Iraq and declare independence last year. The visit comes at a great time for both leaders. Iraq is desperate to salvage its economy and boost exports. This can be achieved by extracting and exporting oil from Kirkuk to Turkey, via Kurdistan. A large focus of Barzani’s visit is the signing of a deal between the two parties that would enable the government to do exactly that. On Barzani’s end, receiving such a warm welcome in Baghdad, saved only for foreign dignitaries, provides Kurdistan with the legitimacy and recognition it needs. On Mahdi’s end, receiving the support of the Kurdish party in parliament, which holds 25 seats, is a strong boost of power that secures his ability to run a government. After the reign of two Iraqi prime ministers who attempted to marginalize and weaken the Kurdish population, Mahdi is determined to flip the page on Iraqi-Kurdish relations. Barzani shares the same mission. This development may very well be one of the most important milestones in Iraqi politics of our time, and could pave the way for a more stable and peaceful country in years to come. –Udnan Hussein