Iraq Situation Report: February 26 - March 3, 2020

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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