A renewed political dispute in Shingal (Sinjar) distritct has placed Nineveh Governor Abdul Qadir al-Dakhil under pressure after efforts to return the district’s former administration were met with strong opposition from sections of the Ezidi (Yazidi) community.
On May 13, 2026, groups of Ezidis staged demonstrations rejecting the proposed return of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP)-affiliated administration to Shingal. Protesters gathered outside the district’s mayor office, arguing that the former administration had abandoned the region during the assault by the extremist militants of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria ISIS in 2014.
The controversy began after the Nineveh governor instructed acting Shingal mayor Nayef Sido to perform his duties inside the district center two or three days each week instead of operating from Sumel district in Duhok Governorate, where the administration has been based for years.
Sido, who is affiliated with the KDP, requested security guarantees before returning. However, the proposal quickly sparked backlash from several political groups in Shingal, including the Ezidi Cause Alliance, a coalition of Ezidi political parties represented in the Iraqi parliament.
Ahmed al-Kiki, head of the KDP bloc in the Nineveh Provincial Council, said the governor issued the request without coordinating with the military or security authorities. According to al-Kiki, the KDP believes the return should not proceed without proper security arrangements to avoid possible tensions or instability.
The issue remains unresolved as officials await the return of Nineveh Governor Abdul Qadir al-Dakhil, who is currently abroad.
Before ISIS captured Shingal on August 3, 2014, the KDP maintained full administrative and security control over the district. Following the liberation of Shingal from ISIS, the party continued to hold many senior administrative positions. However, in October 2017, Iraqi federal forces reestablished authority over disputed territories, including Shingal, leading to the withdrawal of Peshmerga and Kurdistan Regional Government KRG-affiliated forces. Popular Mobilization Forces PMF known as Hashd al-Shabi later moved into the area.
At that time, former Shingal mayor Mahma Khalil and several pro-KDP local officials relocated to Duhok Governorate, taking official government seals with them. Since then, administrative affairs for Shingal have largely been managed from Sumel.
The arrangement has caused ongoing difficulties for residents. A recent report by KirkukNow highlighted that citizens must travel around 170 kilometers and spend more than 100,000 Iraqi dinars IQD ($70) to complete official paperwork.
Meanwhile, protesters from the Ezidi Cause Alliance insist they reject the return of the former administration. Alliance member Mustafa Hassan stated that the group’s slogan is: “No to the return of the administration that abandoned our people in their darkest hour.”
He stressed that the people of Shingal oppose the reappointment of officials linked to the previous KDP administration, accusing them of failing to protect Ezidis during the ISIS attack. Hassan also argued that the Nineveh Provincial Council has already selected a district mayor and that this decision should be respected.
In July 2024, the Nineveh Provincial Council voted to appoint Saydo al-Ahmadi as mayor of Shingal district. However, he has not officially assumed office due to KDP objections concerning the legality of the council session in which the vote took place.
The KDP continues to reject Ahmadi’s appointment. Al-Kiki stated that the KDP still has serious reservations about the session and noted that KDP members had boycotted the vote. He emphasized that the party supports a long-term solution for Shingal’s administration, but one based on political consensus.
Ahmadi is backed by the Ezidi Cause Alliance and groups close to the PMF.
Currently, Jalal Khalaf has been tasked by the Nineveh administration with managing district affairs, though his authority remains limited because the official seal is still held by Nayef Sido. As a result, residents continue traveling to Semel to process documents.
Khalaf said the issue remains unresolved and suggested that if Sido does not return to Shingal, the governor may take additional steps, including revoking his authority over the official seal and signatures.
