Kurdish administrative losses in Kirkuk exceed 100 positions since October 2017

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Nearly seven years since the events of October 16, 2017, the Kurdish community is striving to restore their lost positions in provincial councils.

During the tenure of the acting governor of Kirkuk, the Kurds lost over 100 administrative and security positions.

The Kurdish ambition to regain these roles through the ballot box has been hampered by a political agreement between the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and several Arab parties in Kirkuk.

This agreement has led to the allocation of many positions to Arab factions, undermining Kurdish hopes for a return to pre-2017 status.

Following the fall of the former regime, the distribution of positions in Kirkuk and other Kurdish areas outside the Kurdistan Regional Government's administration was meant to reflect the population proportions of various Iraqi components.

As the largest component in Kirkuk, the Kurds were historically allocated the majority of positions.

Before October 16, the Kurdish authorities held significant roles including the governorship, the head of the provincial council, directors-general of key sectors such as health, water, and agriculture, and police chiefs in various regions.

However, the upheaval following that date led to the loss of most of these positions.

The October 16 events marked a turning point, depriving Kurdish authorities of more than 100 crucial positions in Kirkuk alone. Additionally, the Kurds experienced similar losses in Nineveh, Diyala, and Salah al-Din, including the mayoralty of Tuz Khurmatu in Salah al-Din, which was reassigned to the Turkmen after the upheaval.

After nearly seven years of dealing with the repercussions of these events, the Kurdish aspiration to reclaim their positions is facing significant obstacles.

The agreement between the PUK and certain Arab factions has disrupted the distribution of positions, thwarting Kurdish hopes of recovery and exacerbating long-held grievances.