The Shangal agreement led to an impasse

2021/04/6545-1617620899.jpg
Read: 999     15:30     05 Апрель 2021    

A report by the Washington-based think tanks the Atlantic Council highlights "little inclination" to implement the Shangal Agreement, concluded between the Federal Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government (PKK) on October 9, 2020.

Shangal is a Yazidi-majority city in the northern Iraqi province of Nineveh, which was heavily damaged during an attack by the terrorist group ISIS in 2014, which led to ethnic cleansing and other systematic abuses against this ancient people. With ISIS no longer a serious threat, the political turmoil and skirmishes in Iraq are what is left.

Shangal is considered one of the fourteen disputed territories claimed by both Baghdad and Erbil, which is defined by the rivalry between the government and control of the territory. In addition, since Shangal borders the Syrian province of Hasaka to the northwest and the Turkish province of Silopi to the northeast, it remains in a regional predicament.

The Security and Stability Agreement focuses on reconciliation through administrative changes, security, and reconstruction. Administratively, the agreement provides for the selection of a new mayor. Currently, Shangal has two local governments: one is appointed by the authorities and is in Shangal, and the other is headed by a mayor elected by the provisional Council, which currently operates in exile from Duhok. The agreement stipulates that Erbil and Baghdad must decide on an independent mayor, which has not yet been made.

It is noteworthy that all these agreements were implemented without the local Yazidi community and the Yazidi lands and territories are divided between Kurds and Arabs.

On the security front, the agreement provides for the deportation of all armed groups and the formation of a 2,500-strong local security force in Shangal. However, the call for local police to regain control of the area remains vital — there is no implementation. The agreement also mentions the withdrawal of the Kurdistan Workers ' Party (PKK) from the area of Shangal. The PKK ended up in Shangal, taking advantage of a security vacuum in 2014 when ISIS attacks followed. Shortly after the establishment of the Shangal Self-Defense Units (YBS/OSH), a political wing was established under the Shangal Democratic Autonomous Council and the Yazidi Freedom and Democracy Party.

About reconstruction, the security and stability agreement urge the establishment of a joint committee with the Federal Government and the regional Government to coordinate reconstruction efforts with the local administration in Nineveh Province. The agreement also aims to provide stability, security, civil administration, and services and reconstruction to encourage the return of people who have become internally displaced persons (IDPs) since 2014.

And now what?

Since the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, residents of the disputed areas have been caught between tensions from both the PKK and the federal government with minimal powers. The success of any agreement requires the will of all parties to replace written words with actions on the ground. A carefully crafted agreement aimed at restoring security, stability and economic recovery requires the participation of local actors. Developing, signing, and working on the agreement without community representation only created further frustration. The absence of Yazidi leaders has further increased tensions between local agitators in response to the actions of Baghdad and Erbil. Members of civil society organizations and Yazidi elites signed a joint statement following the agreement in October 2020, stating the importance of the agreement for solving Yazidi problems and calling for its implementation from the bottom up.

Short-and long-term conflict resolution is needed to break the current impasse. In the short term, each step requires the interaction of the local community with its representatives. Erbil and Baghdad should compromise and work on choosing a new mayor of the Shangal district. The Government needs to implement a bottom-up approach so that community-based solutions can pave the way for stabilization and resolution. Gradually, there will be a need for a complete withdrawal of all forces from the Shangal area and the reintegration of the community to ensure the security of its territory through the local police.

Negotiations between the federal Government in Baghdad and the PKK with neighboring countries-Turkey and Iran-are also integral to supporting the implementation of the Shangal Agreement to end any further instability. An uncontrolled surge in forces in Shangal could lead to the next political and humanitarian disaster for Iraq if not properly managed.

Source Ezdina





Tags: #yazidisinfo   #newsyazidi   #aboutyazidi   #ezidi   #Shangal  



The Shangal agreement led to an impasse

2021/04/6545-1617620899.jpg
Read: 1000     15:30     05 Апрель 2021    

A report by the Washington-based think tanks the Atlantic Council highlights "little inclination" to implement the Shangal Agreement, concluded between the Federal Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government (PKK) on October 9, 2020.

Shangal is a Yazidi-majority city in the northern Iraqi province of Nineveh, which was heavily damaged during an attack by the terrorist group ISIS in 2014, which led to ethnic cleansing and other systematic abuses against this ancient people. With ISIS no longer a serious threat, the political turmoil and skirmishes in Iraq are what is left.

Shangal is considered one of the fourteen disputed territories claimed by both Baghdad and Erbil, which is defined by the rivalry between the government and control of the territory. In addition, since Shangal borders the Syrian province of Hasaka to the northwest and the Turkish province of Silopi to the northeast, it remains in a regional predicament.

The Security and Stability Agreement focuses on reconciliation through administrative changes, security, and reconstruction. Administratively, the agreement provides for the selection of a new mayor. Currently, Shangal has two local governments: one is appointed by the authorities and is in Shangal, and the other is headed by a mayor elected by the provisional Council, which currently operates in exile from Duhok. The agreement stipulates that Erbil and Baghdad must decide on an independent mayor, which has not yet been made.

It is noteworthy that all these agreements were implemented without the local Yazidi community and the Yazidi lands and territories are divided between Kurds and Arabs.

On the security front, the agreement provides for the deportation of all armed groups and the formation of a 2,500-strong local security force in Shangal. However, the call for local police to regain control of the area remains vital — there is no implementation. The agreement also mentions the withdrawal of the Kurdistan Workers ' Party (PKK) from the area of Shangal. The PKK ended up in Shangal, taking advantage of a security vacuum in 2014 when ISIS attacks followed. Shortly after the establishment of the Shangal Self-Defense Units (YBS/OSH), a political wing was established under the Shangal Democratic Autonomous Council and the Yazidi Freedom and Democracy Party.

About reconstruction, the security and stability agreement urge the establishment of a joint committee with the Federal Government and the regional Government to coordinate reconstruction efforts with the local administration in Nineveh Province. The agreement also aims to provide stability, security, civil administration, and services and reconstruction to encourage the return of people who have become internally displaced persons (IDPs) since 2014.

And now what?

Since the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, residents of the disputed areas have been caught between tensions from both the PKK and the federal government with minimal powers. The success of any agreement requires the will of all parties to replace written words with actions on the ground. A carefully crafted agreement aimed at restoring security, stability and economic recovery requires the participation of local actors. Developing, signing, and working on the agreement without community representation only created further frustration. The absence of Yazidi leaders has further increased tensions between local agitators in response to the actions of Baghdad and Erbil. Members of civil society organizations and Yazidi elites signed a joint statement following the agreement in October 2020, stating the importance of the agreement for solving Yazidi problems and calling for its implementation from the bottom up.

Short-and long-term conflict resolution is needed to break the current impasse. In the short term, each step requires the interaction of the local community with its representatives. Erbil and Baghdad should compromise and work on choosing a new mayor of the Shangal district. The Government needs to implement a bottom-up approach so that community-based solutions can pave the way for stabilization and resolution. Gradually, there will be a need for a complete withdrawal of all forces from the Shangal area and the reintegration of the community to ensure the security of its territory through the local police.

Negotiations between the federal Government in Baghdad and the PKK with neighboring countries-Turkey and Iran-are also integral to supporting the implementation of the Shangal Agreement to end any further instability. An uncontrolled surge in forces in Shangal could lead to the next political and humanitarian disaster for Iraq if not properly managed.

Source Ezdina





Tags: #yazidisinfo   #newsyazidi   #aboutyazidi   #ezidi   #Shangal