KRG Prime Minister Barzani Turns Down Finance Minister's Resignation
Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani has rejected Finance Minister Awat Sheikh Janab's resignation, though the minister still wants to leave office.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister Masrour Barzani has rejected Finance and Economy Minister Awat Sheikh Janab Noori's resignation, but the minister remains determined to leave his post, a ministry source told Kurdistan24 on Monday.
The source said Prime Minister Barzani rejected the resignation during a bilateral meeting with Sheikh Janab held over the past two days.
Despite the prime minister's decision, the finance minister has not withdrawn his request.
"The Minister of Finance and Economy remains determined to pursue his request," the source said. "He does not want to return to work and is asking for his resignation to be accepted."
Sheikh Janab submitted his resignation on Sept. 30, 2026.
The following day, Oct. 1, he issued a public statement explaining his decision and accusing the Sulaimani administration of interfering in departments affiliated with the Ministry of Finance and Economy.
"My resignation is due to the negative interference of the Sulaimani administration in the affairs of departments affiliated with the ministry," Sheikh Janab said.
He alleged that on Sept. 29, ministry departments in Sulaimani were told, through what he described as intimidation and threats involving Commando, Counter-Terrorism and Asayish forces, that employees who followed his orders and ministerial decisions would face punishment.
Sheikh Janab said at the time that he could not continue working under those circumstances or remain silent over what he described as mistreatment of ministry employees.
The minister also defended his record in office, saying he had never protected wrongdoing and that a large number of legal investigations had been conducted during his tenure.
He said he had no objection to any impartial investigation or judicial process intended to establish the facts and make them clear to the public.
Monday's development leaves Sheikh Janab formally in his position after the prime minister rejected his resignation, while the minister, according to the Finance Ministry source, continues to seek approval to step down.
This report was updated on Monday, Oct. 19, 2026, at 12:54pm.