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Iraq’s Sadrist Camp Refuses to Join New Government

28 September 2022, Iraq, Baghdad: A supporter of Iraq's influential Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr holds his picture during a demonstration on the Jumhuriya (Republic) bridge leading to Baghdad's Green Zone, on conjunction with the parliament's first session in two months. (dpa)
28 September 2022, Iraq, Baghdad: A supporter of Iraq's influential Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr holds his picture during a demonstration on the Jumhuriya (Republic) bridge leading to Baghdad's Green Zone, on conjunction with the parliament's first session in two months. (dpa)
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Iraq’s Sadrist Camp Refuses to Join New Government

28 September 2022, Iraq, Baghdad: A supporter of Iraq's influential Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr holds his picture during a demonstration on the Jumhuriya (Republic) bridge leading to Baghdad's Green Zone, on conjunction with the parliament's first session in two months. (dpa)
28 September 2022, Iraq, Baghdad: A supporter of Iraq's influential Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr holds his picture during a demonstration on the Jumhuriya (Republic) bridge leading to Baghdad's Green Zone, on conjunction with the parliament's first session in two months. (dpa)

Iraqi Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr's movement on Saturday announced its refusal to join a new government being formed by prime minister-designate Mohammad Shia al-Sudani.

The announcement came two days after lawmakers elected Abdul Latif Rashid as Iraq's new president, and he swiftly named Sudani as prime minister in a bid to end a year of political gridlock since October 2021 elections.

"We stress our firm and clear refusal for any of our affiliates to participate... in this government formation," Mohammed Saleh al-Iraqi, a close associate of Sadr, said in a statement posted on Twitter.

The 52-year-old Shiite former minister Sudani has the backing of Sadr's Iran-backed rivals, the Shiite Coordination Framework, which controls 138 out of 329 seats in the Iraqi legislature.

In June, Sadr had ordered the 73 lawmakers in his bloc to resign, leaving parliament in the hands of the Framework, which includes representatives of the former Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF).

In his statement Saturday, Iraqi charged that the upcoming government has a "clear subordination to militias" and would "not meet the (Iraqi) people's aspirations".

He said the Sadrist movement refused to take part in any government led by Sudani "or any other candidate from among the old faces or those affiliated with the corrupt".

"Anyone who joins their ministries does not represent us... rather, we disavow them," Iraqi said.

Snap elections were held last year following nationwide protests that erupted in October 2019 to decry endemic corruption, decaying infrastructure and the absence of services and jobs for youth.

Sadr, who has the ability to mobilize tens of thousands of his supporters with a single tweet, has repeatedly demanded early elections, while the Coordination Framework wants a new government in place before any polls are held.

Tensions between the two rival camps boiled over on August 29 when more than 30 Sadr supporters were killed in clashes with Iran-backed factions and the army in Baghdad's Green Zone, which houses government buildings and diplomatic missions.

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A Year After Earthquake, Just 1,000 Moroccan Homes Rebuilt

A devastated village in Morocco's Atlas Mountains (AFP)
A devastated village in Morocco's Atlas Mountains (AFP)
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A Year After Earthquake, Just 1,000 Moroccan Homes Rebuilt

A devastated village in Morocco's Atlas Mountains (AFP)
A devastated village in Morocco's Atlas Mountains (AFP)

One year after a devastating earthquake struck Morocco’s Atlas mountains, just 1,000 homes have so far been rebuilt although more than 55,000 permits have been issued.

The 6.8-magnitude quake on September 8, 2023 shook the remote mountainous area south of the capital Rabat, killing nearly 3,000 people and destroying or damaging around 60,000 homes.

Following the catastrophe, an $11-billion aid program over five years was released for reconstruction and development in the six provinces affected.

Nearly a thousand families were praised for their success in completing the reconstruction and rehabilitation of their homes, according to a statement released last week by the cabinet presidency.

It said this came despite the issuance of 55,142 reconstruction permits and progress on reconstruction and rehabilitation projects for 49,632 damaged homes.

Nearly 58,000 people affected by the quake have received the first of four instalments of state aid of up to 140,000 dirhams ($14,500) but just 939 families have received the final payment.

Such grants are conditional on obtaining the necessary permits, technical studies and validation by a project manager of the various phases of construction.

The head of the government urged those affected to “speed up their work to be able to benefit” from the financial aid available.

In return, several activists, such as Mohamed Belhassen, criticized the government for its “dismal failure” of reconstruction efforts.

Belhassen, who lives in Amizmiz, some 60 kilometers from Marrakesh, told AFP, “A large number of victims are still living in tents or have been forced to leave their villages and rent elsewhere.”

In the Taroudant region some 60 kilometers from Agadir, “the situation hasn’t changed much,” said Siham Azeroual, who founded an NGO to help villagers in the North African country hit by the quake.

“Reconstruction is proceeding very slowly,” she said. Quake victims “are exhausted, and find themselves caught up in an administrative spiral.”

Meanwhile, the authorities say monthly grants to more than 63,800 affected families of 2,500 dirhams ($260) have been made.