Iraq - August 2022

The Minister of Finance, Ali Abdul-Amir Allawi, has resigned over the continuing political crisis in the country. Allawi's resignation came amid a profound dispute among political parties that has paralyzed the government and led to an impasse in new government formation since the parliamentary elections on 10 October 2021.

Sources: Atalyar, Al Monitor

Protesters from rival Shia blocs took to the streets of several Iraqi cities in a show of force that sparked fears of a descent into violence after Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr announced that he was “retiring” from politics. The demonstrations followed a series of protests and occupation of parliament by the Sadrist movement. This escalated as supporters of the Iran-backed Coordination Framework joined the riots, increasing concerns about spill over violence among Iraq’s Shia communities as the country's socio-economic crisis deepens. Thirty people were killed and about 600 injured during the clashes that broke out on 29 August and lasted for nearly 24 hours between supporters of Sadr, whose bloc won the most votes in last October’s elections, and the Iran-backed Coordination Framework alliance. A curfew was put in place by the Iraqi army following the outbreak of confrontations. The violence may return as the country struggles to form a new government nearly a year after elections were held.

Sources: Al Jazeera (1), Al Jazeera (2), Al Jazeera (3), Al Jazeera (4), Al Monitor