Iraq: Politics, Governance, and Human Rights

Relations among major political factions have worsened substantially in late 2011 and have not improved thus far in 2012, threatening Iraq s stability and the perception of the achievements of the long U.S. intervention in Iraq. Yet, these tensions have not erupted into all-out communal or political violence, and remain confined to the institutions of governance. Sunni Arabs, always fearful that Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki would seek unchallenged power for Shiite factions allied with him, accuse him of authoritarianism as he seeks to sideline high ranking Sunni Arabs from government. Iraq s Kurds have also become increasingly distrustful of Maliki over territorial, political, and economic issues, and are threatening to limit or end their involvement in the central government. More recently, the powerful Shiite faction of Moqtada Al Sadr has joined the other groups to try to oust Maliki to share power, although he remains susceptible to overtures from Maliki, Iran, and other pro-Maliki entities. The political rift has stalled the movement on national oil laws that had occurred during August-November 2011 and prevented major efforts to improve key services, such as provision of electricity. Some Sunni insurgent groups apparently seek to undermine the Shiite-led government by conducting high-profile attacks intended to reignite sectarian conflict, although the attacks have failed to spark such broad conflict to date.