Iraqi Prime Minister to Conduct First Cabinet Reshuffle

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani (AP)
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani (AP)
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Iraqi Prime Minister to Conduct First Cabinet Reshuffle

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani (AP)
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani (AP)

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani announced an imminent reshuffle in the cabinet and among a number of governors.

Sudani formed his government in Oct. 2022. Upon taking office, he pledged that he would evaluate the performance of ministers and those with special grades (governors, directors and undersecretaries of ministries), after a period of six months.

During a recent televised interview, Sudani revealed that he was about to make changes in the ministerial lineup and at the level of governors and directors. While this announcement is seen as a commitment by the premier to the government’s priorities, political observers noted that it could open the door to a dispute with the political blocs over the concerned ministries.

Those observers believe that the parliamentary blocs will tend to defend their respective ministers in order to cover corruption files, which would stir disagreements within Parliament.

Moreover, the election of governors was only the prerogative of the provincial councils, and since those councils have been suspended for around four years, reshuffling the governors could spark a dispute between the different political parties and Sudani, according to the observers.

During the interview, the Iraqi premier pledged to restore confidence in the political system, noting that “the level of trust has declined a lot, and therefore we need credibility to cooperate with the citizens.”

Regarding his intention to carry out a cabinet reshuffle, Sudani said: “The ministers were given 6 months to conduct a real assessment in order to complete their work in the ministerial portfolios… There are tools and a plan that the government must implement, whether in the field of health, education or agriculture, and other various ministerial portfolios.”

As for the provincial council elections, which have been suspended since 2019, the prime minister said that those would not be held before Dec. 20, pointing to procedures and requirements that the Electoral Commission would not be able to complete before this date.

With regards to fighting corruption and the recovery of stolen funds - one of the priorities in the government program, Sudani said: “Recovering funds is the best way to combat corruption.”



Israel Hits Beirut’s Southern Suburbs

A damaged car lies amid the destruction in the aftermath of an Israeli airstrike that targeted the neighborhood of Haret Hreik in Beirut's southern suburbs on November 23, 2024, amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hezbollah.  (Photo by AFP)
A damaged car lies amid the destruction in the aftermath of an Israeli airstrike that targeted the neighborhood of Haret Hreik in Beirut's southern suburbs on November 23, 2024, amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hezbollah. (Photo by AFP)
TT

Israel Hits Beirut’s Southern Suburbs

A damaged car lies amid the destruction in the aftermath of an Israeli airstrike that targeted the neighborhood of Haret Hreik in Beirut's southern suburbs on November 23, 2024, amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hezbollah.  (Photo by AFP)
A damaged car lies amid the destruction in the aftermath of an Israeli airstrike that targeted the neighborhood of Haret Hreik in Beirut's southern suburbs on November 23, 2024, amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hezbollah. (Photo by AFP)

The Israeli army carried out airstrikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs, called Dahiyeh, again on Saturday.

It warned residents in parts of the suburbs that they were residing near Hezbollah facilities, which the army would target in the near future.

The warning, posted on X, told people to evacuate at least 500 meters away.

The army said that over the past day it had conducted intelligence-based strikes on Hezbollah targets in Dahiyeh, where Hezbollah has a strong presence. It said it hit several command centers and weapons storage facilities.