The Nineveh Provincial Council has successfully filled nine key local government positions following a consensus reached among all political blocs. The decisions included appointing two deputy governors—one representing the Kurdistan Democratic Party KDP and the other from the Babylon Movement led by Rayan Kildani.
The council held its regular session on Tuesday, January 27, under the chairmanship of Ahmed al-Hasoud. During the meeting, members approved appointments for the mayor of Mosul, several sub-district mayors, and the deputy governors for administrative and technical affairs.
Mohammed Jassim, a council member from the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan PUK bloc, told KirkukNow that prior coordination among political blocs ensured a smooth voting process.
“All blocs agreed in advance on the candidates for the nine positions,” he said. “As a result, the session passed without disputes, and each bloc obtained its agreed share.”
According to Jassim, the council plans to move forward with filling an additional 27 positions, including director generals, advisors to the governor, and other senior posts.
“Reaching understandings ahead of time is essential,” he noted. “This will allow the remaining positions to be approved without complications. Our goal is to complete the formation of the provincial administration as quickly as possible.”
The agreement marks a significant step, coming more than two years after provincial council elections, during which political disagreements delayed the appointment of key officials.
The consensus also comes amid regional developments in neighboring Syria, which borders Nineveh Province. In response, the Iraqi government has begun deploying additional security forces to the border over the past week as a precautionary measure.
Despite the progress, unresolved issues remain. The appointments of district mayors for Shingal (Sinjar) and Makhmour were approved by the provincial council more than a year ago, but the officials have yet to assume their duties due to ongoing objections from certain blocs.
Jassim accused the KDP of blocking the implementation of these appointments, stating that the KDP considers the two positions to fall within its political quota.
“It is crucial for the mayors to begin their work immediately,” he said. “However, we want this issue resolved through agreement. It is unacceptable for residents of these districts to continue waiting while services remain stalled.”
