By: Brandon Wallace and Katherine Lawlor
ISW is assessing the ongoing unrest and its effects on political-security dynamics in Iraq. The Iraq Situation Report (SITREP) map series summarizes key events and likely developments to come. The following SITREP map covers the period February 26 - March 3, 2020.
Key Takeaway: Iraq’s newly designated prime minister
(PM), Mohammed Tawfiq Allawi, withdrew his nomination after failing to gain
parliamentary approval for his cabinet appointments despite U.S. support for
Allawi’s candidacy. Allawi’s withdrawal at this point in the government
formation process is unprecedented. Caretaker PM Adel Abdul Mehdi, who resigned
in November, stated that he will remain in office but will delegate his PM
duties to an unspecified minister. Mehdi’s Council of Ministers remains in
place and continues to perform basic government functions without clear legal
authority. President Barham Salih is now constitutionally required to restart
the government formation. Salih must identify a new PM-designee within 15 days.
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