The year ends in bitterness and pessimism, and Iraq. Thirteen months later the start of a revolt that saw thousands of Iraqis take to the streets, to denounce a political class deemed incompetent and corrupt, the movement is slipping.
Because of the Covid pandemic, surely. Out of weariness, perhaps. The country is experiencing a violent economic crisis, due to the fall in oil prices. In this context, the Iraqis deplore the inaction of the government of Moustafa al-Kazimi, whose coming to power had raised hopes for a time.
“The anger of the Iraqi youth will resurface”
Today, the protest movement is at a standstill, but the frustration and anger of these Iraqi youth will resurface. Every year we need to create 700,000 jobs just to reverse the unemployment curve. Millions of Iraqis are still unemployed, have no opportunities or access to training
, details political scientist Sajad Jiyad, in Baghdad.
The early elections scheduled for June 6, 2021? For many Iraqis it is difficult to foresee the prospect of free elections. They see the connections between the state, security forces and pro militias.Iran. The ruling class wants to maintain the the state at any cost and do you think it will reform itself? Iraqis are not fooled
, Sajid Jiyad.
Tensions United States – Iran
The room for maneuver remains limited for Mustafa al-Kazimi, caught between the Shiite political parties, determined not to cede their seats in Parliament, and pro-Iran armed factions infiltrated in all spheres of power.
For the past year, the Iraqis have witnessed, despite themselves, the escalation on their soil between Trump’s United States and the Ayatollahs’ Iran. Despite the” announcement of an additional withdrawal of 500 American soldiers, reducing their presence to 2,500 throughout Iraq, seven rockets targeted the American embassy in Baghdad on November 18, killing a girl and injuring several civilians. This new attack marks the end of a truce decreed in mid-October by pro-Iran Iraqi factions demanding a total withdrawal before the end of the year.
The pro-Iran armed factions keep the pressure on the United States. The message is clear: if you do not return to the negotiating table, if you continue to campaign against pro-Iran cadres and militias in Iraq, we will continue our attacks.
, analyzes Iraqi Adel Bakawan, from the Iremmo (Institute for Mediterranean Research and Studies in the Middle East).
The threat of the resurgence of the Islamic State
Iran, however, has recently conveyed the message to its supporters in Iraq: from moderation until the arrival of the new American president so as not to give Donald Trump an excuse to strike while he is at home. White House.
The Kazimi government also wishes to maintain a minimum of American forces, in order to prevent a resurgence of the Islamic State group. If the elected president Joe Biden withdraws all the troops, the Iraqi state does not have the means to resist against an ideological army like that of the IS
, assures Adel Bakawan.
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