Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammad al-Sudani has revoked several appointments for senior officials made by his predecessor, Mustafa Al-Kadhimi. The dismissals were supported by the Cabinet on Tuesday.
Among those sacked were intelligence chief Raed Jouhi and head of the National Security Agency Hamid Al-Shatri.
General Talib Shaghati, who headed the elite counter-terrorism service (CTS), was appointed as the new intelligence chief, according to news circulated on Thursday afternoon.
Al-Sudani defended his decision by affirming that “it is a decision of the Federal Court that is binding and enforceable by the government.”
The newly appointed prime minister acknowledged that the dismissals may raise some doubts, but reassured Iraqis that they do not involve an exclusion policy.
Al-Sudani repealed the several appointments made by al-Kadhimi following the October 2021 polls, citing the government's “interim” status.
“According to the Supreme Court, an interim government does not have the right to make such senior appointments,” said al-Sudani.
Based on the ruling of the Federal Supreme Court and the ministerial program, the cabinet approved canceling all executive orders issued by the previous government regarding the appointment of heads of agencies not affiliated with a ministry, special grades, directors-general, those of their rank and those receiving equivalent salaries, effective from October 8, 2021.
In other news, al-Sudani met on Wednesday with the UN Special Representative for Iraq, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert.
During the meeting, al-Sudani urged the international community to support Iraq in recovering its stolen funds.
The prime minister also called for repatriating those convicted by the Iraqi judiciary and involved in corruption cases.
Hennis-Plasschaert, for her part, offered “assistance through UN programs to provide training and logistical support to government efforts in combating and curbing corruption.”
