Among four newly appointed directors, three yet to take office amid Kirkuk’s acting governor, Rakan Al-Jabouri, suspension.
The decision to change directors of Kirkuk municipality, districts municipalities, sewage office and water directorate was made by Bangin Rekani, the minister of Housing and Construction on Monday, December 30, 2019. Yet, three of them have not taken office and the other is facing barriers to enter office. Rekani, a Kurd, belongs to Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP).
Zagros Jan Wali, the new director of sewage office, told Kirkuk Now that, “I have not taken office yet because Kirkuk administration does not agree with the changes. Rakan Al-Jabouri is supposed to discuss the issue with Rekani in order to make the final decision.”
Earlier, Wali said, “based on the ministry’s decree, I was supposed to take office, but due to the pressure of the security forces, I could not do it.” “I was personally under the pressure of the security forces. That is why I could not start working,” he continued. Wali replaced Nasih Fatih who is also a Kurd.
However, Ninos Shamoun Gorges, who is a Christian and head of Kirkuk’s district municipalities, has been replaced by Ari Mohammed, who is a Kurd.
Abas Mahmood has been appointed to replace Najim Saad Mohammed as the new director of water directorate. Both are Turkmen but yet to take office.
On the talks between Rekani and Al-Jbouri, Wali explained that they also do not know about it but have been told to wait for the result of it.
A source within Kirkuk administration, who is not allowed to talk to press and wanted to remain anonymous said that, “Rakan Al-Jabouri thinks the decision has been made without his approval and does not agree with the changes, so he has been trying to annul the decree through security means and the attempt will continue.”
Nevertheless, according to the decree issued by Bangin Rekani and sent to the Kirkuk Governorate, stating that, “the decree he is issuing is not to take their permission but rather to be implemented and it is not negotiable.”
