Category Archives: Corruption

Norway, Nigeria and the Kurdistan Region’s Oil Policy

By Twana Ahmed Xeyat: “Who became rich from oil in his country?” “Nobody and everybody”. The question was asked by John Campbell, a former United State Ambassador to Nigeria, and the answer was given by a Norwegian diplomat. That Norway should be so wealthy is no surprise. It is the world’s fifth-largest oil exporter, with annual…

The Disputes Between Dana Gas and the KRG

By Harem Karem & Aland Mahwy: In a letter to the Abu Dhabi Bourse on 22 October 2013 (as required under the freedom of information law), Hamid Jafar, of Dana Gas and a former advisor to the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), revealed that he had filed a court case in London demanding $430 million from the…

The KRG Bond: A Double-Edged Sword

By Harem Karem and Kamal Chomani: In an article entitled ‘The KRG Economy: Booming or Dooming’, published March 2015, we explained how the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) had stumbled into financial crisis. Since then, things have only worsened. The KRG debt has surpassed $22 billion – 190% of its GDP; this includes $2 billion owed to…

Gorran Movement: In Office But Without Power

By Arian Mufid: The Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) international profile is more important now than ever. However, with the recent changes to the personnel of the KRG’s consulates and foreign offices, it is notable that no key posts were assigned to members of the Gorran movement, even though this party is a part of the…

International Support for Kurdistan: Hard versus Soft Assistance

By Goran Abdulla: The offensive by the barbaric Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) might have provided what is going to probably be a missed window of opportunity for Kurdistan region of Iraq (Kurdistan) to establish the seeds of a state with clearly defined borders. A host of economic, political and military factors…

The KRG Economy: Booming or Dooming?

By Harem Karem and Kamal Chomani: ‘Kurdistan is booming’ was the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) oligarchy’s catchphrase – often echoed by short-sighted foreign businessmen – over the past decade. Undoubtedly, there has been development: hundreds of hotels and skyscrapers have mushroomed in the region, the standard of living has improved in comparison with the civil…

Regulating the Media in Kurdistan: Mission Impossible or Ignorable?

By Harem Karem & Kamal Chomani: In 1898 Miqdad Medhet Bedirxan launched the first Kurdish media outlet, a newspaper called Kurdistan. More than a century later the Kurdistan Region’s (KR) media is in chaos, lacking a clear structure, identity or mission while also being too parochial, politicised and subject to manipulation by political parties and businessmen. The…

Iraq: The failed democracy

By Ausama Anwar: The basic rule and principle of democracy is to listen to every voice in the country despite differences. Every individual has the full right to vote for the party he/she desires. But at the same time, the power lies in the hands of the majority. Within this scope Bchara Karam states the…

KDP and PUK leaders accused of oil and gas trading with the ISIS enemy

By Hasan Dawary: Just two weeks ago three brothers belonging to one family were killed by ISIS when Peshmarga forces liberated Zumar. Almost immediately the President of Kurdistan, Masud Barzani, issued a decree that no more than one brother in a family can be allowed onto the front line at the same time. Yesterday a…

Turkey’s enmity to Kurdish people hinders NATO’s war against ISIS

Ayoub Barzani

By Ayoub Barzani: One of the main Turkish phobias that clouds reasonable thinking is the Kurdish issue. The majority of the political parties in Turkey, left, right, secular, religious, nationalist or liberal, are indoctrinated by the outdated and petrified Kemalist ideology, which has no patience for any ethnicity in Turkey. This attitude goes against the…

Why the Gorran movement should deliver its promises

By Arian Mufid: With the formation of the new Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) cabinet, all eyes are on the Gorran movement’s ministers and members of the Kurdistan parliament. Gorran tends not to admit past mistakes but, over the past few months, it has tried to select good, qualified people for this eighth KRG cabinet. The…

Does Demonstrating Have Any Value in Iraq’s Kurdistan Region?  

Aras Ahmed

By Aras Ahmed Mhamad:  A wave of demonstrations has started once again in many cities and towns, especially in Sulaimaniya province. After the increase in gasoline prices from 500 Iraqi Dinars to 900, locals are outraged and demand that Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) officials act effectively and decrease the price. Bookmark on Delicious Recommend on…

KRG and the ‘godfathers’: 2006 secret US cable on Wikileaks

Published by Wikileaks: Kirkuk, Department of State . 2006 February 16 CONFIDENTIAL 1. (C) INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY: Corruption is Kurdistan’s biggest economic problem. The two ruling parties’ dominant control lets corruption flourish. Corruption relies on family-clan and/or peshmerga ties. Kurdish corruption starts at the top with a few political “godfathers” who quietly distribute contracts among themselves. Some members of a…

SPECIAL REPORT: Kurdistan’s ‘natural resources’ and reputation damaged by corruption

A number of reporters have worked on this special report for KT but wanted to remain anonymous for fear of their lives. Multiple reliable sources have informed KT about a plethora of irregularities in the Ministry of Natural Resources that are creating a fertile ground for creating corrupt officials and paving the way for many…

In memory of the Kurdish journalist Kawa Germyani

By Dr. Amir Sharifi: An Open Letter My Last Column Dec 5, 2013. Dear readers, this is my last column! You may wonder why. If you had read my column, you would have known that I have been threatened, even beaten up once by ten hoodlums I have been the target of toxic smears and…