Month: November 2021

Jeanine Plasschaert, Special Representative and Head of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) said clashes erupted in the weeks following the vote, with demonstrations and sit-ins escalating into violence and casualties reported.

| Briefing (As Delivered) by SRSG and head of UNAMI, Ms. Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, at the 8910th meeting of the UN Security Council on the situation concerning #Iraq, held via video-teleconference from Baghdad on Tuesday, 23 November 2021.https://t.co/VbIqkXZqyF

— UNAMI (@UNIraq) November 23, 2021

On 7 November, an assassination attempt was made on Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi when an exploding drone entered his residence in Baghdad’s Green Zone.

Demands and grievances

Describing Iraq’s current outlook as “precarious”, the Special Representative recalled that the October elections themselves emerged from an unprecedented wave of country-wide demonstrations in 2019.

Marked by violence, excessive use of force, abductions and targeted killings, the protests left hundreds dead and thousands injuried.

The country’s current fragile peace also comes on the heels of decades of conflict, which prevented ordinary civilians from making their voices heard.

“A lack of political, economic and social prospects made many, many Iraqis take to the streets”, said Ms. Plasschaert. “Their demands and grievances remain as relevant as ever”.

‘Much to be proud of’

While turnout for the recently concluded election was just 41 per cent, the vote was generally peaceful and well-run. 

“There is much for Iraqis to be proud of in this election,” said the Special Representative.

On 22 October, the Security Council issued a statement congratulating the people and Government of Iraq on the smooth conduct of a “technically sound election” and deploring related threats of violence.

UNAMI had provided technical assistance to the electoral process and warned against the threats of violence and misinformation.

There…

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UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 23 (Xinhua) — A Chinese envoy on Tuesday called on all Iraqi factions to address their disputes over last month’s elections through legal means and work toward the formation of a new government.

China applauses Iraq’s successful holding of parliamentary elections last month and appreciates the great efforts made by the Iraqi government and people and fully recognizes the electoral support provided by the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), said Geng Shuang, China’s deputy permanent representative to the United Nations.

China condemns the Nov. 7 attack on the Iraqi prime minister’s residence and expresses concern over the recent threats of violence against Iraq’s Independent High Electoral Commission and UNAMI, he told the Security Council.

“We hope that all parties in Iraq will stay calm and exercise restraint, express their demands and resolve their differences and disputes through peaceful means within the framework of the Constitution and laws,” said Geng. “China encourages all factions in Iraq to seize the opportunity presented by the elections to build consensus, strengthen solidarity, and form a new government in an orderly manner so as to lay a solid political foundation for further progress in nation-building and achieving development and prosperity.”

The security situation in Iraq remains grave with frequent attacks launched by the remnants of the Islamic State. The international community should sustain its unwavering support for Iraq’s counter-terrorism efforts. The countries concerned should shoulder their responsibilities by facilitating the early identification and repatriation of foreign terrorist fighters and their families in Iraq, he said.

On Nov. 4, Iraq’s UN ambassador wrote to the president of the Security Council, listing Turkey’s alleged violations of Iraqi territory and air space during the period from June to September this year. The UN secretary-general’s report on Iraq also documented Iraqi civilian casualties from airstrikes…

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ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The Special Representative for the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) said on Tuesday that there is no evidence of systematic fraud in last month’s legislative elections, despite multiple claims to the contrary by losing candidates and parties.

In her briefing to the UN Security Council in New York on developments following the elections, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert explained that the voting process was “assessed as generally peaceful, well run, featuring significant technical and procedural improvements.”

In the early days of November, violent clashes broke out as supporters of Iran-aligned militias of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) attempted to storm Baghdad’s heavily fortified Green Zone as part of protests following the loss of parliament seats by political parties affiliated to the armed groups.

Read More: Iraqi leaders call for restraint as post-election violence escalates

Losing candidates from several parties also lodged formal claims of electoral fraud, but the head of Iraq’s Supreme Judicial Council later said that no clear proof of such allegations had been provided.

Read More: Iraqi judiciary says no proof of fraud in national election

“So far, and as stated by the Iraqi judiciary, there is no evidence of systemic fraud,” continued Plasschaert, adding that “any outstanding electoral concerns must only be dealt with through established legal channels, in accordance with the law.”

“Let me be clear: under no circumstances must terrorism, violence and/or any other unlawful acts be allowed to derail Iraq’s democratic process,” said the diplomat, urging “calm, restraint and dialogue” as “the only way forward,” to ease tensions across Iraq.

She pointed out, “Results will only be final after ratification by the Federal Supreme Court, which takes place once the Electoral Judicial Panel has adjudicated on those appeals brought before it,” and that, “Any unlawful attempts to prolong or…

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