Members of a dissolved Kaka’i militia which was part of the PMF (Popular Mobilization Forces; the mostly Shi’a paramilitary colloquially known as Hashd al-Sha’bi) seek to recreate their group.
The militia retreated from Kirkuk’s Daquq district in 2018 after the PMF refused to officially recognize and pay them salaries.
Uméd Hisén, the commander of the militia, told KirkukNow: “The Kaka’i notables and villagers request us to resume our work and return to the Kaka’i villages. The structure of our regiment is still intact and ready.”
The regiment Uméd mentioned consisted of 320 members. It was later reduced to 150 members by orders from the Iraqi Defence Ministry and the PMF leadership.
Azeez Muhammad, a notable in a Kaka’i village (Topzawa), told KirkukNow: “We ask that the Kaka’i regiment to return to the area, because they are from the region and have better knowledge [of it]. The government must meet their demands, similar to the Kurdish Hashd that was formed in Dibis district.”
We ask that the Kaka’i regiment to return to the area, because they are from the region and have better knowledge [of it]
The formation of a 120-member militia consisting of Kurds and belonging to the PMF was recently announced. However, the ‘Popular Mobilization Committee’ denied having knowledge on the matter.
“If our demands are not met, then we will try to merge our regiment with some other side and return to the Kaka’i villages,” Uméd Hisén said, “We still have our combatants; they are waiting to return.”
But a PMF commander told KirkukNow: “The Kaka’i Hashd was not officially tied to the Popular Mobilization Committee; we would only assist them from time to time.”
Ibrahim Mustafa, the chief of Kaka’i tribes, said: “We have not asked a Kaka’i Hashd to be formed as some news outlets have reported, and no side has contacted us in order to create a force for us.”
