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Bani Tamim Tribesmen Shut Down Police Stations, Govt Departments in Eastern Iraq

Protesters from the Bani Tamim tribe have shut down government centers on Tuesday night. (X)
Protesters from the Bani Tamim tribe have shut down government centers on Tuesday night. (X)
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Bani Tamim Tribesmen Shut Down Police Stations, Govt Departments in Eastern Iraq

Protesters from the Bani Tamim tribe have shut down government centers on Tuesday night. (X)
Protesters from the Bani Tamim tribe have shut down government centers on Tuesday night. (X)

Despite the Diyala Provincial Council’s vote on its local government, the sharp polarization among the political blocs in Iraq, which secured seats in the council, remains unresolved.
Dozens of protesters from the Bani Tamim tribe disrupted government operations in the Diyala governorate on Tuesday, shutting down several offices in al-Muqdadiyah district to demand a tribal member be appointed governor.
The demonstrators, angered by the appointment of another candidate, blocked the local police station and other government buildings.
Last Thursday, the Diyala Governorate Council decided on local government positions, about 8 months after the local elections in December. Political differences and intense competition for positions among the winning blocs had prevented reaching an agreement, despite ongoing meetings held by the Prime Minister Mohammad Al-Sudani with representatives of the blocs.
The Diyala Council is divided into two groups: the first is trying to renew the term of former governor Muthanna al-Tamimi, and includes 8 members from Shiites, Sunnis, and Kurds. The other is made up of seven members of Sunnis and Shiites who object to al-Tamimi’s renewal.
The position of governor was given to Adnan Al-Jayer Al-Shammari from the Al-Bashair movement, which is part of the State of Law coalition. The position of Chairman of the Governorate Council went to Omar Al-Karawi from the Sovereignty Coalition, while Hessa Al-Tamimi from Asaib Ahl Al-Haq was given the post of vice-chairman of the council.
This distribution of posts led to the exclusion of the former governor, Muthanna Al-Tamimi, despite him winning the largest number of votes (40,000 votes) and his list, the Diyala National Alliance, winning the highest number of seats (4 seats), which angered the Bani Tamim tribe and the groups supporting the former governor.
Meanwhile, press sources spoke of a decision to dismiss a senior officer in light of the events in Diyala. The sources stated that exemption orders were issued by the Ministry of Interior to an officer with the rank of brigadier general who was in charge in the city of al-Muqdadiya, where Tuesday’s riots occurred.
 

 

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Arab World

Egypt Supports EU ASPIDES to Protect Security of Red Sea Navigation

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty met with Vasileios Gryparis, operation commander of the European Union’s ASPIDES naval mission. (Egypt’s Foreign Ministry)
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty met with Vasileios Gryparis, operation commander of the European Union’s ASPIDES naval mission. (Egypt’s Foreign Ministry)
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Egypt Supports EU ASPIDES to Protect Security of Red Sea Navigation

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty met with Vasileios Gryparis, operation commander of the European Union’s ASPIDES naval mission. (Egypt’s Foreign Ministry)
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty met with Vasileios Gryparis, operation commander of the European Union’s ASPIDES naval mission. (Egypt’s Foreign Ministry)

Egypt expressed on Wednesday its support for the European Union’s ASPIDES naval mission, established in February to protect navigation in the Red Sea.

Tensions escalated in the Red Sea region at the end of November, with Yemen’s Houthi militias targeting ships passing through the shipping lane in response to the Israeli war in the Gaza Strip.

These attacks prompted international shipping companies to change their route and avoid passing through the Red Sea canal, which had repercussions on the economy and global trade.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty emphasized the need to strengthen efforts to secure navigation in the Red Sea amid escalating regional tensions, according to a statement from the Egyptian Foreign Ministry.

His remarks came during a meeting in Cairo with Vasileios Gryparis, operation commander of the European Union’s ASPIDES naval mission.

The minister pointed to the necessity of ensuring a safe environment for commercial vessels, adding that threats to navigation in the Red Sea have significantly impacted the Egyptian economy by reducing Suez Canal revenues.

“Egypt is one of the most impacted countries in the world because of this situation,” he underlined.

The Suez Canal is one of the main sources of hard currency in Egypt. Its revenues last year amounted to $10.3 billion, according to official data.

But these revenues have witnessed a decline in recent months, due to regional perturbations. Egyptian Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly said in a press conference last week that his country was losing between $500 and $550 million a month due to the Red Sea tensions.”

Gryparis expressed commitment to engaging with the affected countries, particularly Egypt and reviewing successful operations against Houthi attacks.

Stressing the need for coordinated efforts to secure navigation in the Red Sea, the EU official pointed to “the defensive nature of the European naval operation in the face of threats,” reviewing the successes it achieved in deterring many Houthi attacks.

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, strategic expert and head of the Arab Foundation for Development and Strategic Studies, Brigadier General Samir Ragheb, said: “Egypt is concerned with protecting the security of navigation in the Red Sea, and believes that the only way to do so is to stop the escalation and war on the Gaza Strip.”

“Cairo’s support for the European mission falls within this context,” he added.