Nouri al-Maliki
Nouri al-Maliki | |
---|---|
نوري المالكي | |
64th Prime Minister of Iraq | |
In office 20 May 2006 – 8 September 2014 | |
President | Jalal Talabani Fuad Masum |
Deputy | See list |
Preceded by | Qadir Obeidi |
Succeeded by | Saadoun al-Dulaimi |
Minister of National Security Affairs | |
In office 21 December 2010 – 8 September 2014 | |
Preceded by | Shirwan al-Waili |
Leader of the Islamic Dawa Party | |
Assumed office 1 May 2007 | |
Preceded by | Ibrahim al-Jaafari |
Personal details | |
Born | Nouri Kamil Mohammed Hasan al-Maliki 20 June 1950 University of Salahaddin |
Religion | Shia Islam |
Nouri Kamil Muhammad-Hasan al-Maliki (
Al-Maliki began his political career as a Shia dissident opposed to former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein in the late 1970s, and rose to prominence after he fled a death sentence and went into exile for 24 years. During his time abroad, he became a senior leader of the Islamic Dawa Party, coordinated the activities of anti-Saddam guerrillas, and built relationships with officials from Iran and Syria, seeking their help in overthrowing Saddam's government. Both during and after the American-led occupation of Iraq (2003–2011), al-Maliki worked closely with the Multi-National Force (MNF–I), and continued to cooperate with the United States following the withdrawal from Iraq.
Three years after the 2003 invasion of Iraq, al-Maliki became the country's first post-Saddam full-term prime minister after he was appointed to the position by the MNF–I's leading American authority Michael Douglas Barbero. The first-term al-Maliki administration succeeded the Iraqi Transitional Government; his first cabinet was approved by the Iraqi National Assembly and formally sworn in on 20 May 2006. His second cabinet, in which he also held the positions of acting Interior Minister, acting Defense Minister, and acting National Security Minister, was approved on 21 December 2010. In the wake of a string of defeats to the Islamic State during their Northern Iraq offensive, American officials said that al-Maliki should give up his premiership.[3] Two months later, on 14 August 2014, he announced his resignation as prime minister.[4] During his eight years in power from 2006 to 2014, allegations of corruption were widespread, with hundreds of billions of dollars allegedly vanishing from government coffers.[5] He was criticized by American officials[6] and by local Iraqis for empowering Shia militias, for his close ties with Iranian government/military officials,[7] and for fuelling Iraqi sectarian violence by favouring Shia political/military figures over Kurds and Sunni Arabs as well as other non-Shia minorities.[8][9] In September 2014, al-Maliki was elected as one of three of Iraq's vice presidents, an office he held despite attempts to abolish the post.[10]
Early life and education
Nouri al-Maliki was born in the village of Janaja in Abu Gharaq, a central Iraqi town situated between
Exile and return to Iraq
On 16 July 1979, al-Maliki fled Iraq after he was discovered to be a member of the outlawed
While living in Damascus, al-Maliki edited the party newspaper Al-Mawqif and rose to head the party's Damascus branch. In 1990, he joined the Joint Action Committee and served as one of its rotating chairman. The committee was a Damascus-based opposition coalition for a number of Hussein's opponents.[12] The Dawa Party participated in the Iraqi National Congress between 1992 and 1995, withdrawing because of disagreements over who should head it.[14]
Upon his return to his native Iraq after the fall of Saddam in April 2003, al-Maliki became the deputy leader of the Supreme National Debaathification Commission of the
Premiership
Selection as prime minister
In the
Formation of Al Maliki I Government
On 20 May 2006, al-Maliki presented his
June–December 2006
During his first term, al-Maliki vowed to crack down on insurgents who he called "organized armed groups who are acting outside the state and outside the law". He had been criticized for taking too long to name permanent interior and defense ministers, which he did on 8 June 2006,
The international Committee to Protect Journalists wrote to al-Maliki in June 2006, complaining of a "disturbing pattern of restrictions on the press" and of the "imprisonment, intimidation, and censorship of journalists".[22]
His relationship with the press was often contentious. On 24 August 2006, for example, he banned television channels from broadcasting images of bloodshed in the country and warned of legal action against those violating the order. Major General Rashid Flayah, head of a national police division added "...We are building the country with Kalashnikovs and you should help in building it with the use of your pen".[23]
Early in his term, al-Maliki was criticized by some for alleged reluctance to tackle Shiite militias. In October 2006, he complained about an American raid against a Shiite militia leader because he said it had been conducted without his approval.[24] Al-Maliki's job was complicated by the balance of power within parliament, with his position relying on the support of two Shiite blocs, that of
On 30 December 2006, al-Maliki signed the death warrant of
January 2007 – end 2009
On 2 January 2007, the
In 2007, unnamed U.S. military officers alleged al-Maliki was replacing Iraqi commanders who had cracked down on Shiite militias with party loyalists. An al-Maliki spokesman denied the allegation.[28]
In May 2007, the Islamic Dawa Party removed Jaafari and elected al-Maliki as Secretary-General of the Dawa Party.[29]
In July 2008, al-Maliki, who earlier in the year fought off a recall effort in parliament, convinced Sunni politicians to end a year-long boycott[clarification needed] [possibly in relation to the renewal, in December 2007, of UN mandate for U.S. operations in Iraq, without Iraqi parliament's approval?] of the chamber and appointed some of them to cabinet positions. Analysts said the return of the Sunnis was made possible by the security gains under al-Maliki and by apparent progress in negotiations with the United States over American military withdrawal.[30]
By late 2008, al-Maliki started to stop transparency efforts by firing inspector generals.[31] He also started using sections of the armed forces against his political rivals.[32]
By October–November 2008, the al-Malki government had witnessed improvements in the security situation in many parts of the country. In Baghdad, a peace deal signed between Muqtada al-Sadr's Mahdi Army and the government had eased tensions, though sporadic sectarian incidents continued, as did occasional fighting between U.S. forces and Shiite militiamen, particularly in Sadr City.[33]
Maliki in May 2009 talked about the need to make a secure and sustainable environment for investment in order for successful reconstruction and has enacted new investment laws to try to achieve this. He also acknowledged Iraq's unfortunate reliance on oil to finance reconstruction thus far, although the revenue began to be spent on other possible revenue sources including agriculture and energy.[34]
Al Maliki II Government, 2010–2014
On 22 December 2010, al-Maliki's second government, including all main blocs in the new parliament, was unanimously approved by parliament, 9 months after the 2010 parliamentary election. On 5 February 2011, a spokesperson for al-Maliki said he would not run for a third term in 2014, limiting himself in the name of democracy, in a nod to the Arab Spring.[35]
On 19 December 2011, the Vice President of Iraq,
Al-Maliki lead Iraq through an increase in anti-Sunni violence, including the bloody crack-down on the 2012–2013 Sunni protests, which has been interpreted as leading to the rise of ISIS.[37] The military under the al-Maliki administration was known for its corruption and was plagued with ghost soldiers, a corruption scheme with soldiers names on the pay rolls but not actually in service.[38] When ISIS increased its activity in the first part of the 2013–2017 War in Iraq, Maliki led Iraq through major defeats, including the June 2014 northern Iraq offensive which saw the catastrophic collapse of the Iraqi army in that region and the fall of Mosul, where an army of 1,500 ISIS militants won over 60,000 Iraqi soldiers.
A former commander of the Iraqi ground forces, Ali Ghaidan, accused al-Maliki of being the one who issued the order to withdraw from the city of Mosul.
By August 2014 al-Maliki was still holding on to power tenaciously despite Iraq's president
Sunni friction
Maliki's critics assert that he did his utmost to limit the power of both Kurds and Sunnis between 2006 and 2014. Their view is that Maliki worked to further centralise governance and amass greater controls and power—from militarily to legislative—for his party. Instead of strengthening and securing Iraq, Maliki's actions have led to a rise in both Kurdish nationalism and Sunni insurgency, which has resulted in civil war and the effective failure of the Iraqi state.[44]
The reign of al-Maliki has been described as sectarian by both Sunni Iraqis and western analysts; something which helped fuel a Sunni uprising in the country in 2014.
The announcement of al-Maliki's resignation on 14 August 2014 and the leadership transition to Haider al-Abadi caused a major realignment of Sunni Arab public opinion away from armed opposition groups and to the Iraqi government, since many Iraqi Sunni Arabs were optimistic that the new government would address their grievances and deliver more public goods and services to them than the government led by al-Maliki.[46]
Relationship with the U.S.
In an interview published by the German magazine
Hillary Clinton and Carl Levin were two of several U.S. politicians who called for him to be removed from office in 2007. Senator Clinton urged Iraq's parliament to select a "less divisive and more unifying figure" and implied she felt al-Maliki was too concerned about Iraq's Shiite majority and not enough with national reconciliation. "During his trip to Iraq last week, Senator Levin ... confirmed that the Iraqi government is nonfunctional and cannot produce a political settlement because it is too beholden to religious and sectarian leaders", she said.[48]
Al-Maliki hit back and said the
Maliki's friendly gestures towards Iran have sometimes created tension between his government and the United States but he has also been willing to consider steps opposed by Tehran, particularly while carrying out negotiations with the United States on a joint-security pact. A June 2008 news report noted that al-Maliki's visit to Tehran seemed to be "aimed at getting Iran to tone down its opposition and ease criticism within Iraq". Al-Maliki said an agreement reached with the U.S. won't preclude good relations with neighbors like Iran.[51]
In August 2007, CNN reported that the firm of Barbour, Griffith & Rogers had "begun a public campaign to undermine the government of Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki". The network described BGR as a "powerhouse Republican lobbying firm with close ties to the White House".[52] CNN also mentioned that Ayad Allawi is both al-Maliki's rival and BGR's client, although it did not assert that Allawi had hired BGR to undermine al-Maliki.[52]
In late 2014, Vice President Al-Maliki accused the United States of using
Official visits
On 13 June 2006, U.S. President George W. Bush paid a visit to Baghdad to meet with al-Maliki and President of Iraq Jalal Talabani, as a token of support for the new government.[54] During this visit, they announced the Iraqi Leaders Initiative, in which students from Iraq would go to the United States to build a personal connection between the two countries.[55] On 25 June, al-Maliki presented a national reconciliation plan to the Iraqi parliament. The peace plan sets out to remove powerful militias from the streets, open a dialogue with rebels, and review the status of purged members of the once dominant Ba'ath party. Some viewed this as a bold step towards rebuilding Iraq and reaching out to Sunnis.[56]
By July 2006, when al-Maliki visited the United States, violence had continued and even escalated, leading many to conclude that the reconciliation plan was not working or was moving too slowly. On 26 July 2006, al-Maliki addressed a joint meeting of the
In September 2006, Al-Maliki made his first official visit to neighbouring Iran, whose alleged influence on Iraq is a matter of concern for Washington, D.C. He discussed with Iranian officials, including president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the "principle of no interference in internal affairs" during his visit on 11 and 12 September 2006, i.e., political and security issues. His visit closely followed an incident in which Iran detained Iraqi soldiers it accused of having illegally crossed the border.[59]
Ibrahim Shaker, Iraqi defence ministry spokesman, said the five soldiers, one officer and one translator involved had simply been doing "their duty".
Later duties
On 26 January 2013 al-Maliki's opponents passed a law[61] which prohibited al-Maliki from running for a third term but an Iraqi court later rejected it.[62] By August 2014, al-Maliki lost all his chances to win a third term in office.[63]
On 8 September 2014, during approval of the new government led by Haider al-Abadi, al-Maliki was named one of the three vice presidents, a prestigious albeit largely ceremonial post.[64]
On 11 August 2015, the Parliament approved a reform package by Prime Minister al-Abadi that foresaw, among other measures, the elimination of the three vice president posts.
Personal life
Al-Maliki is married to Faleeha Khalil, with whom he has four daughters and one son. His son Ahmed was head of Al-Maliki's security, and two of his sons-in-law also worked in his office.[67]
On 26 April 2006, al-Maliki stopped using the pseudonym Jawad which he had used since moving to Syria in the early 1980s.[68] However, the pseudo- or code name (Kunya) "Abu Esraa" (father of Esraa – his eldest daughter) is still occasionally heard on Iraqi satellite media, because it is very common in Arab culture (and in Iraqi culture in particular) to call someone by his eldest child's name, especially among his close friends and followers.
See also
References
- ^ a b "Iraqi court nullifies Abadi's earlier decision to sack 3 vice president posts". Xinhua. 11 October 2016. Archived from the original on 11 October 2016.
- ^ Aldosary, Salman (1 September 2015). "Iraq: Maliki, Nujaifi say PM's decision to cancel vice president posts "unconstitutional"". Asharq al-Awsat. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
- ^ JAY SOLOMON and CAROL E. LEE (19 June 2014). "U.S. Signals Iraq's Maliki Should Go". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 13 December 2014.
- ^ Al Jazeera English (14 August 2014). "Maliki steps down as Iraqi prime minister". Al Jazeera English. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
- ^ Alzalzalee, Assad (27 September 2021). "Iraq's Troubled School Building Lesson". occrp.org.
- ^ "Did You Know...Sectarian Violence in Iraq". United States Commission on International Religious Freedom. 10 December 2023.
- ^ Al-Aqeedi, Rasha (25 July 2022). "Leaked Recordings Reveal Toxic Paranoia Within Baghdad Political Class". New Lines Magazine. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
- ^ Al-Qarawee, Harith Hasan (23 April 2014). "Iraq's Sectarian Crisis: A Legacy of Exclusion". Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
- ^ "In Their Own Words: Sunnis on Their Treatment in Maliki's Iraq". FRONTLINE. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
- ^ a b Asharq al-Awsat (1 September 2015). "Iraq: Maliki, Nujaifi say PM's decision to cancel vice president posts "unconstitutional"". Asharq al-Awsat. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
- ^ The Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Kamel al-Maliki Biography Archived 25 August 2007 at the Wayback Machine, iraqigovernment.org
- ^ a b "Leader Description". Islamic Dawa Party. Retrieved 2 December 2011.
- ^ "New Iraqi Leader Seeks Unity". Archived from the original on 25 November 2011. Retrieved 13 August 2014.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) Christian Science Monitor - ^ "The Iraqi Shiites". Archived from the original on 14 December 2003. Retrieved 13 August 2014.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) Boston Review, Juan Cole - ^ David Ignatius, "In Iraq's Choice, A Chance For Unity" Archived 24 December 2016 at the Wayback Machine, The Washington Post, 26 April 2006.
- ^ Filkins, Dexter. "The Shadow Commander". The New Yorker. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
- ^ "Iraq's new unity government sworn in". CNN. 20 May 2006. Retrieved 2 December 2011.
- ^ "Bombs kill 7, wound dozens in Iraq". CNN. 2 June 2006. Retrieved 2 June 2006.
- ^ "Iraq appoints security ministers". CNN. 8 June 2006. Retrieved 8 June 2006.
- Raleigh News and Observer. Retrieved 8 June 2006.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "White House Says Iraqi Leader Misquoted". Forbes. Associated Press. 2 June 2006. Archived from the original on 30 August 2006. Retrieved 2 June 2006.
- ^ "CPJ Protest Letter". CPJ. 6 June 2006. Retrieved 2 December 2011.
- The Sunday Times, 24 August 2006
- ^ "Doubts Grow Over Iraq's Prime Minister". Time. 25 October 2006. Archived from the original on 12 May 2007. Retrieved 20 May 2010.
- ^ Semple, Kirk (20 October 2006). "Attack on Iraqi City Shows Militia's Power". The New York Times. Retrieved 20 May 2010.
- ^ Saddam hanged Archived 11 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine by Times Online
- ^ "Iraq's PM longs to leave office". BBC. 3 January 2007. Retrieved 20 May 2010.
- ^ "Shadowy Iraq office accused of sectarian agenda". CNN. Retrieved 20 May 2010.
- Informed Comment, 14 May 2007
- ^ Zavis, Alexandra; Salman, Raheem (20 July 2008). "Sunni bloc returns to Iraq Cabinet". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 12 December 2011.
- ^ Glanz, James (17 November 2008). "Premier of Iraq is Quietly Firing Fraud Monitors". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 25 February 2015. Retrieved 6 September 2014.
- ^ Robertson, Campbell (20 August 2008). "Iraqi government raid threatens to inflame province's tensions". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 7 September 2014. Retrieved 6 September 2014.
- ^ Thousands of Sadr Supporters Mourn Lawmaker Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine, Associated Press (October–November 2008.)
- ^ "Nouri al-Maliki Interview". The Diplomat. 7 May 2009. Retrieved 2 December 2011.
- ^ "Eye on unrest, Iraq PM says he won't seek 3rd term". Associated Press. 5 February 2011. Archived from the original on 10 March 2012. Retrieved 2 December 2011.
- ^ "Iraq vice-president rejects death sentence". Al Jazeera. 10 September 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ https://publications.armywarcollege.edu/pubs/3668.pdf, page 36
- ^ "50,000 Iraqi 'Ghost Soldiers' Make $380 Million a Year". The Fiscal Times. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
- ^ "قائد عسكري سابق: المالكي أمر بسحب القوات من الموصل". www.aljazeera.net (in Arabic). Retrieved 8 February 2022.
- ^ "Sunni militants 'seize Iraq's western border crossings'". BBC. 23 June 2014.
- ^ "Obama's Iraq dilemma: Fighting ISIL puts US and Iran on the same side".
- ^ "Iraq's Incumbent PM Nouri Al-Maliki Grows More Isolated As He Clings To Power". Huffington Post. 13 August 2014. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
- ^ "Iraq crisis: Maliki quits as PM to end deadlock". BBC News. 15 August 2014. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
- S2CID 145052846.
- ^ "Another Iraq war is coming – the only question is whether we want to win". The Spectator.
- .
- ^ "Special Interview with Iraqi Leader Nouri al-Maliki". Der Spiegel. 19 July 2008. Retrieved 2 December 2011.
- ^ "Clinton urges ouster of Iraq's Al-Maliki". NBC News. 23 August 2007. Retrieved 2 December 2011.
- ^ "Maliki returns fire at U.S. critics". BBC News. 26 August 2007. Retrieved 20 May 2010.
- ^ Wire Reports (20 September 2007). "Iraqi leader suggests U.S. Embassy cut ties with Blackwater". USA Today. Retrieved 7 October 2007.
- ^ "al-Maliki Assures Tehran that U.S.-Iraq security pact will not harm Iran". International Herald Tribune. 29 March 2009. Archived from the original on 8 October 2008. Retrieved 2 December 2011.
- ^ a b "Major Republican Firm Lobbying To Undermine Maliki". CNN. 23 August 2007. Archived from the original on 8 September 2008. Retrieved 2 December 2011.
- ^ "Farsnews". farsnews.ir.
- ^ Abramowitz, Michael (13 June 2006). "Bush Makes Surprise Visit to Iraq". The Washington Post. Retrieved 13 June 2006.
- ^ "President Bush and Prime Minister Maliki of Iraq Participate in Press Availability". Georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov.
- ^ "Al al-Maliki's Reconciliation Plan Ready". Gulf News. 25 June 2006. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 25 June 2006.
- ^ "Iraqi PM to Congress: Baghdad wants to be regional stabilizer". CNN. 26 June 2006. Archived from the original on 21 September 2006.
- ^ Trish Turner and Molly Hooper (26 July 2006). "Dean Calls Iraqi Prime Minister Anti-Semite, Criticizes Bush For U.S. Visit". Fox News Channel. Retrieved 26 November 2006.
- ^ a b "Iraq PM will visit Iran Monday". Iraq updates. 9 September 2006. Retrieved 2 December 2011.
- ^ "Iraqis demand shoe-thrower be freed". Al Jazeera. 19 February 2009. Retrieved 2 December 2011.
- ^ H Al Researcher (11 February 2013). "Al-Maliki Does Not Get a Third Term in Iraq, so what? | eSPecial View". Especialview.wordpress.com.
- ^ "Iraq court rejects law that would impose term limits on prime minister". Fox News Channel. 27 August 2013.
- ^ Riyadh Mohammed (13 August 2014). "How Iraq's Leader Lost Everything". Mashable.
- ^ Jomana Karadsheh (9 September 2014). "Iraqi lawmakers approve new government; al-Maliki becomes VP". CNN.
- ^ "Iraq reforms: Parliament backs PM Haider al-Abadi's plan". BBC. 11 August 2015.
- ^ "Iraq vice president files court case to keep his post | Middle East Eye". Archived from the original on 18 November 2015.
- ^ Profile: Nouri Maliki BBC. 12 August 2014. Archived from the original 19 February 2015
- ^ "New prime minister resorts to old name". Chicago Tribune. Associated Press. 27 April 2006. Retrieved 29 April 2006.[dead link]
External links
- Prime Minister's Office
- Profile: Jawad al-Maliki BBC News 21 April 2006
- Al-Huda News Article
- MEIB article
- Hosham Dawod (5 October 2012). "Construction et déconstruction du pouvoir politique en Irak. Le cas de Nouri al-Maliki". Les Carnets de l'Ifpo. Retrieved 5 October 2012.
- Appearances on C-SPAN