The Diyala provincial council is in the process of deciding on the latest posts for the heads of the administrative units in the province. This decision has sparked conflict from the streets to the highest party levels over the past several months.
In the most recent council meeting on November 26, 2024, chaired by Omar Krwi and attended by 11 out of 15 members, a vote was taken on the posts of two mayors of Diyala, two sub-district directors are still pending until a final agreement is reached.
"The council has resolved the issue of the heads of the administrative units. What remains is that Mohammed Sakran sub-district has problems with the guidelines and procedures for appointing the sub-district director, which will be resolved in the next session," Krwi said. "The case of Abu Saida sub-district will be resolved in the coming days,” he added.
The election of the heads of the administrative units in Diyala has been ongoing for several months. Since August 20, the council has been accepting candidates' CVs in two stages until late October 23. Away from cameras and civil society observers, the posts of mayors and directors were determined, with only the mayor of Miqdadiya being decided upon and no decision made for the Abi Saida sub-district.
The election provoked street protests, especially in the sub-districts of Qaratapa, Khan Bani Saeed, Uzem, and Mohammed Sakran, where main roads were blocked by citizens who argued that candidates were appointed based on "party and kinship" rather than merit.
The 15 members of the Diyala Provincial Council were first divided into two teams: The Team of Eight and the Team of Seven. The two teams include a mixture of Shiite and Sunni parties seeking to secure the largest number of senior positions in the local government in their favor.
Later, a new coalition was formed by nine out of 15 members, excluding the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan PUK, which did not participate. The other parties were the same ones that held an emergency meeting last August in Baghdad, resulting in the election of the council speaker, governor, and deputies after months of controversy.
Rashida Dayni, a member of the Diyala provincial council, told KirkukNow that settling the issue of the heads of administrative units will resolve many problems and play a role in the real development of services. She cited the impact of the appointment of the mayor on various projects.
She also mentioned that in the near future, various service projects will be implemented in all areas of Diyala, especially in the water, sewerage, and asphalt sectors.
On November 18, the provincial council elected mayors for six sub-districts, including Qaratapa, Jaloula, Jabara, Ozem, and Saadiyah, with the post of mayor for Miqdadiya extended.
The Kurds had previously held positions of deputy governor, governor, and district director, especially in Khanaqin district.
Jawad Faizullah was elected to replace Soran Bajalan, who was previously appointed mayor of Khanaqin by the council on behalf of the PUK. The new candidate, Faizullah, is an aviation engineer and director of the equipment department of the Khanaqin municipality.
"There are important plans for the development of the district, in terms of implementing service projects such as sewerage and improving the infrastructure of schools, health facilities, and others," Zaid Ibrahim, mayor of Miqdadiya district, told KirkukNow.
Diyala province consists of six districts and 15 sub-districts, which include several disputed areas under Article 140 of the Iraqi constitution, including Khanaqin district. Candidates for these positions must be at least 30 years old, hold at least a bachelor's degree, and not have served in the military and security forces for at least ten years.
According to a political source, there is a dispute over the post of Abi Saida sub-district director, as “the post is shared by Farqad Ruba'i, a member of the provincial council and split from the Badr faction that has just joined the rule of law to avoid problems in the districts, because his brother, Hars Ruba'i, was assassinated years ago when he was the sub-district mayor.”
In addition to the heads of administrative units, the Diyala council has other disputes that have been submitted to the court for resolution.
The dismissed president of the Diyala provincial council, has been reinstated after being removed for several days, per the decision of the Administrative Court pending resolution of his complaint. Krwi assumed his position on November 3. This occurred simultaneously while his deputy Nizar Lihebi have sworn in for the same position.
Krwii and Lahebi are both Sunni Arabs, with the former on the Siyada list led by Khamis Khanjar and the latter on the Taqadum list led by Mohammed Halbusi. The local government of several provinces decided in favor of Halbusi's faction.
Krwii stated that the issue of confiscated land, which includes 1,983 pieces of land, is being addressed by a committee to resolve and end the plight of the owners. The meeting also discussed the financial deficit in the budget of several government offices, and it was decided to discuss the matter with the Presidency of the Council of Ministers.
The first session of the Diyala provincial council was held on February 5 but remained open until August 1 at the Rashid Hotel in Baghdad. Another phase of boycott followed, and in September, the protesters returned to the council. However, the meeting to elect the heads of administrative units and the latest to remove the head of the council revived differences within the institution.
