Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi on Wednesday revealed that there are thousands of delayed development projects, some of which dating back to 2008, in different ministries that affect multiple governorates.
During a visit to Maysan governorate (400 km south of Baghdad), Kadhimi said that mismanagement has stalled the implementation of many government projects.
He added that it was a “crime” against the rights of Iraqi citizens.
Meeting with local officials, Kadhimi stressed the need for concerted efforts to ensure the security of the governorate.
“Maysan deserves more exceptional efforts to provide services to its people,” the PM said, calling for the establishment of a specialized team that sets a strategy for improving both services and infrastructure efficiently in the governorate.
"We need more efforts to establish security in the governorate … and tribes will not delay in helping the government to extend security and stability," Kadhimi said.
Kadhimi arrived in Maysan a few days after concluding a two-day visit to the Kurdistan Region and sparking wide-range controversy over his decision to implement change to senior positions in the security, economic, administrative and financial government bodies.
His visits and recent decisions have been interpreted as a provocation to the country’s political class which has no desire for the PM to act independently.
Apart from meeting with heads of service departments in Maysan, Kadhimi also met representatives of the demonstrators to hear their demands.
Maysan has been rocked by popular protests that witnessed attacks on political party offices and headquarters.
Kadhimi praised the efforts of the security forces, calling for more efforts to achieve security and stability in the governorate.
He pointed out that a security officer does not represent himself or his clan, but rather the Iraqi state. This, according to Kadhimi, will generate stability and enhance the citizen’s confidence in security apparatuses.
