Haider Al Abadi’s new government in Iraq has had trouble distinguishing itself from the deep sectarianism and corruption of Nouri Al Maliki’s previous administration. Al Abadi’s good relations with Iran have raised continuing doubts that his administration is not serious about becoming more inclusive.
These doubts need to be suspended in the light of several announcements from Al Abadi in his speech in Davos last week, when he spoke up in favour of devolution of power to the provincial governments, recognising one of the key Sunni demands that had been deliberately ignored by Al Maliki causing tremendous distrust between Sunnis and the Baghdad establishment. Al Abadi’s statement that “We want devolution across all Iraq, not just in the KRG,” will go a long way to starting a genuine reconciliation if carried through. He also did well by listing several other important reforms like cracking down on corruption and bringing Iraq’s many irregular militias under government control. It was also important that he recognised that there had been cases of gross abuse against people by such militias which will be treated as crimes for which perpetrators will be tried.
