Six Iraqi cabinet ministers resign
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 19 July 2016 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Six Iraqi cabinet ministers resign, 19 July 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57a43c95c.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
July 19, 2016
Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi (file photo)
Iraq's embattled Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi has accepted the resignations of six cabinet ministers.
The resignations come amid a months-long effort by Abadi to replace the current cabinet with non-partisan technocrats.
Abadi accepted the resignations of the ministers of oil, transport, housing and construction, water resources and industry, as well as the interior, which had been previously announced.
In February, he called for the cabinet to include technocrats, but has faced strong opposition from powerful political parties that rely on control of ministries for patronage and funds.
Powerful Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr has taken up the call for a technocratic government, and has organized several mass demonstrations calling for reforms.
Protesters have broken into Baghdad's fortified Green Zone, where the government is headquartered, on multiple occasions during protests.
Based on reporting by AFP and AP
Link to original story on RFE/RL website