Mustafa Al-Kadhimi
Mustafa al-Kadhimi | |
---|---|
مصطفى الكاظمي | |
File:Mustafa Al-Kadhimi May 2020 (cropped).jpg | |
Prime Minister of Iraq | |
Assumed office 7 May 2020 | |
President | Barham Salih |
Preceded by | Adil Abdul-Mahdi |
Minister of Foreign Affairs | |
Acting | |
In office 12 May 2020 – 6 June 2020 | |
Preceded by | Mohamed Ali Alhakim |
Succeeded by | Fuad Hussein |
Director of INIS | |
In office 7 June 2016 – 9 April 2020 | |
President | Fuad Masum Barham Salih |
Prime Minister | Haider al-Abadi Adil Abdul-Mahdi |
Preceded by | Zuheir Fadel Abbas al-Ghirbawi |
Personal details | |
Born | Mustafa Abdul-Latif Mishatat 1967 (age 56–57) Baghdad, Iraq |
Citizenship | Iraq |
Political party | Independent |
Residence(s) | Republican Palace, Baghdad |
Alma mater | Al-Turath University (LLB) |
Occupation | |
Mustafa Al-Kadhimi (Arabic: مصطفى الكاظمي; born Mustafa Abdul-Latif Mishatat),[1] alternatively spelt Mustafa Al-Kadhimiy, is an Iraqi diplomat and civil servant currently serving as the Prime Minister of Iraq since May 2020.[2] Kadhimi is also the 43rd prime minister since the country's independence in 1932 and the fourth overall under the 2005 constitution.
He is also a former director of the Iraqi National Intelligence Service,[3] originally appointed in June 2016.[4]
Biography
Al-Kadhimi, who studied Law at Al-Turath University, was responsible for reforming the service to be more effective and to meet international standards. He oversaw ending the politicization of intelligence action, implementing advanced methods to intelligence gathering and analysis, and setting priorities to broaden the scope of the work of the National Intelligence Service.[5][6][7] Under his leadership, the agency expanded its remit, particularly in counter-terrorism, both internally and abroad, playing a vital role in Iraq's fight against the ISIS, also known as Daesh.[8][9][10]
Al-Kadhimi was a vocal opponent to the dictatorship of the Saddam Hussein regime.[3] He left Iraq in 1985 for Iran then Germany, before settling in the United Kingdom and lived in exile for several years. He is not affiliated with any of the Iraqi political parties.[citation needed]
In his role as Director of the Iraq Memory Foundation in London between 2003 and 2010, an organization that was established to document the crimes of Saddam Hussain's regime, Al-Kadhimi managed a team spread across various countries, including Iraq. He oversaw the documenting of testimonies and collating footage from victims of the regime of Saddam Hussein.[citation needed]
He was a columnist and an editor of the Iraqi version of Al-Monitor[11][12] and contributed to various outlets. He has also published a number of books and studies.[3]
Following months of protests that broke out across Iraq in October 2019 and the resignation of Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi and his cabinet, Mustafa Al Kadhimi became a leading contender for the premiership.[13]
On 9 April 2020, he was named by President Barham Salih as prime minister-designate, the third person tapped to lead the country in just 10 weeks as it struggled to replace a government that fell last year after months of protests. Kadhimi was nominated by President Barham Salih, state television reported, shortly after the previous designated prime minister, Adnan al-Zurfi, announced he was withdrawing having failed to secure enough support to pass a government.[14]
References
- ^ من هو مصطفى الكاظمي الإسم الجديد لرئاسة حكومة العراق؟. alalamtv.net (in Arabic). 8 April 2020. Archived from the original on 8 April 2020.
- ^ "Mustafa al-Kadhimi sworn in as prime minister of Iraq". Rudaw. 7 May 2020. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
- ^ a b c "IMF". www.iraqmemory.com. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
- ^ "Impersonating U.S. Intelligence Official, Oregon Man Wrote to Iraqi Prime Minister". KDRV News. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
- ^ "Iraqi man sentenced for illegally using US insignia". Star Tribune.
- ^ "Iraqi man sentenced for illegally using US insignia".
- ^ "Mark as favorite Iraq gets a government—and it was worth the wait".
- ^ "Iraq PM sacks intel. chief, other officials". PressTV. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
- ^ "High Iraqi Delegation Arrives in Erbil".
- ^ Mamouri, Ali (30 December 2019). "Iraq on brink of abyss: What happens next?". Al-Monitor. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
- ^ "Mustafa al-Kadhimi | Author | RealClearWorld". www.realclearworld.com. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
- ^ "Iraqi politicians focus on buying, not convincing voters - By Mustafa al-Kadhimi, Al-Monitor - Jordan Vista". vista.sahafi.jo. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
- ^ "Iraqi spy chief Mustafa Al Kadhimi rumoured to be prime ministerial contender". The National (Abu Dhabi). Retrieved 31 January 2020.
- ^ "Iraq names its third prime minister in 10 weeks". Reuters. Retrieved 10 April 2020.