PEREGRAF
Renewed conflict between the Kurdistan Region’s ruling parties is threatening to bring cooperation within the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to a standstill.
The current crisis is the result of tensions emanating from deep within the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan’s (PUK) shadowy security apparatus, which have been amplified by partisan advantage-seeking by the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP). Once background noise, these dynamics are now spilling out into frontline politics.
On Wednesday (October 26), Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani and several PUK officials boycotted a scheduled meeting of the KRG Council of Ministers. PUK-affiliated media outlets reported that the decision was taken because KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani of the KDP has ignored PUK concerns about policy matters.
In reality, the choice to skip cabinet is centrally related toalleged KDP support for Azhi Amin, a prominent PUK intelligence official who has turned against his party’s leadership and is now living in Erbil.
Vulnerabilities to exploit
Amin played a significant role helping PUK leader Bafel Talabani oust his former co-president, Lahur Sheikh Jangi. In return, Amin was named head of the party’s powerful Zanyari intelligence agency.
Over the following months, however, he became a vocal critic of Talabani and eventually decamped to Erbil. The PUKannounced in February 2022 that Jalal Sheikh Naji had replaced him as the party’s intelligence chief.
Despite his removal, Amin has continued to work under the auspices of the Kurdistan Region Security Council (KRSC), a body controlled by Masrour Barzani. The PUK sees this as doing serious harm to its security and intelligence operations.
“Azhi Amin has taken about 500 officials and members of the intelligence agency with him to Erbil,” a source with knowledge of communications between Amin and the KDP told Peregraf on condition of anonymity.
“They continue to work within the framework of the Security Council and are paid monthly salaries and their needs are provided for," the source added.
Moreover, the source alleged that Amin is working to improve relations between Sheikh Jangi and Masrour Barzani, which would further antagonize the Talabanis.
Within the PUK, Sheikh Jangi has long been one of the most vocal critics of Barzani, so it raised eyebrows when the two spoke on the phone following the assassination of PUK Counterterrorism Group official Hawkar Abullah, known as Hawkar Jaff.
Jaff, who was close to Sheikh Jangi, was killed when a bomb attached to his car exploded in Erbil on October 7. His wife, sister, and two children were wounded in the blast.
In a statement, Sheikh Jangi called for an investigation to "reveal to the public the perpetrators of this terrorist act as soon as possible."
Five days later, the KRSC released a video accusing PUK officials close to the Talabanis of responsibility, including Wahhab Halabjai, the head of the Counterterrorism Group, and Karzan Mohammed, the head of the counterterrorism intelligence agency in Sulaimaniyah.
The Barzani-controlled KRSC followed up by demanding the arrest of Halabjai, Mohammed, and other PUK security officials and cutting off salaries and other funding to the Counterterrorism Group, the source told Peregraf.
Barzani’s decision to release the video reportedly angered Qubad Talabani, who is usually viewed within the PUK as having excellent relations with the KDP in his role as KRG deputy prime minister.
In the days after Jaf’s killing, Amin was active on social media, criticizing the Talabanis and the PUK leadership.
On October 24, the PUK released a statement revealing that Amin had been expelled from the party last August.
The following night, security forces in Sulaimaniyah allegedly visited properties in the city owned by Amin and his relatives. In response, Amin sent his own forces to the Erbil residence of Qubad Talabani, “but [Kurdistan Region President] Nechirvan Barzani intervened and prevented tensions," the source said.
Partisan problems become government problems
Other what was tossed up in the wake of Jaff’s assassination, the PUK’s anger over the KDP’s apparent support for Amin had largely been contained behind the scenes, but it is now affecting government affairs.
The PUK leadership attempted to fire a warning shot across the bow of the KDP on Wednesday by announcing that it would boycott the day’s scheduled meeting of the KRG Council of Ministers, but the party was unable to act as a cohesive unit.
KRG Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani, Minister of Peshmerga Affairs Shorsh Ismail, Minister of AgricultureBegard Talabani, Minister of Higher Education Aram Hama Mina, and Minister of State Khalid Shwani all skipped the session.
Despite the announcement, Minister of Planning Dara Rashid, Minister of Culture Hama Hama-Saeed, and Secretary of the Council of Ministers Amanj Rahim attended. All three owe their positions to non-Talabani wings of the PUK, with Rashid seen as close to Kosrat Rasul and Hama-Saeed to Barham Salih.
A senior PUK source told Peregraf that “Qubad Talabani will not go to meetings of the Council of Ministers until all the concerns of the PUK are addressed, especially those related to the PUK's dealings with Azhi Amin and the internal problems of the PUK."
The KDP prime minister and PUK deputy prime minister have faced a number of challenges in their relationship since they started working together in July 2019, but it is the first time that either has skipped a cabinet meeting in protest.
The PUK is also making its anger clear to other parties in the Kurdistan Region, with a senior delegation visiting the Kurdistan Justice Group (KJG) on Wednesday.
"The PUK is complaining to the parties about its situation and discussing the problem of KDP interference in the internal situation of the PUK," a source with knowledge of the PUK's visit told Peregraf on condition of anonymity.
"The PUK is warning the parties that it will not accept the situation from the KDP and will take its stand all the way to the level of withdrawing from the government," the source added.