The Iraqi military announced it had deployed security personnel to 14 of the country's land and sea border crossings as part of the fulfillment of Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi’s pledge to crackdown on corruption.
Corruption and the control of armed groups of these portals cost Iraq some 10 billion dollars.
The Joint Operations Command said in a statement they have deployed security forces to all 14 portals. It added that the "decision was made by the Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces [Mustafa al-Kadhimi] ... to enforce the law and combat abuses, corruption and the wasting of public money."
The outposts include, according to the statement, the ports of Umm Qasr al-Shimali, Umm Qasr al-Jinoubi, Umm Qasr al-Awsat, Khor al-Zubair, and the land crossings of Shalamjah, Badra, al-Mundhiriyah, Safwan, al-Qaim, Trebil, al-Shaib, Zarbatiyah, Abu-Flus and Arar.
The crossings are now "the responsibility" of the Iraqi army, which is "authorized to hold to account" any person, "for any violations, no matter the side."
In late June, Kadhimi's office announced a new campaign against corruption at the country's various border crossings, saying Baghdad would take "resolute action" to institute government control over the facilities.
During the PM’s visit to the Mandali border crossing with Iran in Diyala on July 11, Kadhimi said that the government would pursue the "ghosts" that were transporting cargo trucks across the border without paying customs fees.
He ordered a team from the Emergency Response Division to take over the Mandali crossing, saying they are authorized to use live fire to stop anyone from attacking people working at the border.
Political observers in Baghdad believe that the partisan and political parties that effectively control the land borders will place more obstacles in the face of the premier’s measures.
Others believe that if Kadhimi fails in controlling all land borders, including those with Kurdistan, then he will not receive the desired cooperation from the political parties in parliament.
The borders with the Kurdistan Region are one of several disputes between the federal government and Kurdish authorities. Doubts have been raised over the PM’s ability to impose control over them if other pending issues remain unresolved.
