Power Struggle Intensifies Within Iraq

Nouri Al-Maliki

Iraq's newest head of state, Fouad Massoum, has already begun to make changes to his country. With Da3ch having taken control of a large portion of Iraq's land, Massoum has initiated Iraq's most momentous change since 2006.

What change is that?

Massoum has relieved Nouri Al-Maliki of his duties as Prime Minister. And in his place, the new president has asked Haider Al-Abaidi to step up and form a new government.

Al-Maliki is not pleased whatsoever. In fact, he has outright declared that his removal by President Massoum is unconstitutional. Al-Maliki came to power as Prime Minister shortly after the United States military ousted Saddam Hussein and put in place a unity government.

Al-Maliki was known as an outspoken Chi3a proponent against Saddam Hussein. Saddam, of course, had commit several acts of genocide against the Chi3a people in Eastern Iraq near the border with Iran. Al-Maliki's prominence is  what made him an ideal choice by US authorities to be put in the front chair and placed in charge of Iraq's government.

However, with things deteriorating in Iraq, it is clear that the Al-Maliki government is not effective or responsive to the needs of the Iraqi people. While Christians, Chi3a, Yazidis, Tourkmen are being massacred by Da3ch the government has done little to protect these people or attempt to claim authority over the terrorist group. Massoum believes that Al-Maliki has become too distant from the people of Iraq.

Fouad Massoum, a Kurd as was his predecessor, also is a reflection on another oppressed group during the last hundred years of Iraqi history coming to power. The Kurdish leadership and control in Iraq might even be on its way to lead to the birth of an independent Kurdish state. This matter is something that Al-Maliki has been opposed to publicly.