Masoud Barzani, leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), recently completed a significant two-day visit to Baghdad, marking his first visit to the Iraqi capital in six years. The visit, which concluded on July 5, was notable for its high-level meetings and strategic discussions.
During his stay, Barzani met with key figures including Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammad Shia al-Sudani, foreign diplomats, and prominent Sunni and Shia Arab political leaders. The meetings were described as “constructive” by Barzani, who noted that “viewpoints were identical.”
“This visit to Baghdad, given the significance of the meetings and dialogues, is particularly important as we speak with a national leadership who plays a major role in the political process,” said Prime Minister Sudani.
Barzani also held discussions with leaders of the Coordination Framework, the largest political group in the Iraqi Parliament, at the residence of senior Shia leader Ammar al-Hakim. These talks aimed to support Sudani and address ongoing disputes between Baghdad and the regional government in Erbil.
The visit aimed to resolve the delay in payments to the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) security forces and employees. Payments have been delayed as Iraq’s finance ministry conducts a comprehensive audit of the KRG’s public sector payroll to ensure funds are not misappropriated. The audit aims to identify and remove "ghost names" from the payroll, with recent delays affecting the June salaries of KRG employees and security forces.
Prime Minister Sudani, seeking support for a second term, is consolidating his position ahead of Iraq’s upcoming parliamentary elections. Barzani’s support is crucial, as Sudani competes against former prime minister Nuri al-Maliki’s bloc. Resolving the payment issue could provide Barzani’s KDP a significant political boost ahead of the KRG parliamentary elections.
Barzani's previous visit to Baghdad was in November 2018, following the Kurdish independence referendum in 2017. That referendum led to the Iraqi army and Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) retaking Kirkuk from Kurdish forces, highlighting the longstanding tensions and complex dynamics between Baghdad and Erbil.
Masoud Barzani, aged 77, has led the KDP since 1979 and served as President of the KRG from 2005 to 2017. His son, Masrour Barzani, is currently the KRG prime minister, while his nephew, Nechirvan Barzani, holds the position of President of the KRG.
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