Kurdish officials warn of premature census in Kurdistani Areas outside KRG Control, citing unstable conditions

Nov. 17, 2024

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - The head of the Kurdistan Region's Committee for Areas Outside KRG Administration stated on Sunday that conditions in Article 140 areas remain unstable across social, political, economic, and security dimensions, warranting a delay in the planned census.

In an interview with Kurdistan24, Fahmi Burhan, the committee's chairman, explained that their initial concerns about the census risks have entered a new phase.

"We issued a statement early on requesting that the census be postponed until Article 140 is implemented, or at least until some of its fundamental principles are executed. However, this objective was not achieved," Burhan said.

He emphasized that the Iraqi constitution explicitly addresses these areas: "There's a specific clause stating that in regions where normalization hasn't been achieved - socially, politically, economically, and security-wise - the census should be postponed until these articles are implemented."

Regarding current challenges, Burhan noted, "We need to address the emerging gaps and unclear aspects. We've recognized these concerns and aim to minimize these gaps. Our previous concerns persist, and in some cases, have actually intensified."

The chairman offered a nuanced view of the current political landscape: "We're not suggesting that this census will show negative impacts immediately. Prime Minister Sudani's government has maintained positive relations with both the Kurdistan Regional Government and Kurdish political leadership."

However, he expressed longer-term concerns: "While we might accept that this census won't be used for political purposes under Sudani's government, linking Kirkuk, Khanaqin, and Sinjar to a specific timeframe is problematic. Our concerns extend to the next 5-10 years."

Article 140 of the Iraqi Constitution addresses the status of Kurdistani territories outside KRG control, particularly Kirkuk and other areas. The article calls for the normalization of these areas, followed by a census and referendum to determine their status. However, its implementation has been repeatedly delayed since 2007.

The current debate over the census highlights the ongoing sensitivity surrounding these territories and the complex demographic, political, and security challenges they face.

The concern about conducting a census before implementing Article 140 stems from fears that it could prejudice the eventual resolution of these disputed territories' status.