Baghdad Deploys Armored Forces to Basra: To Suppress Autonomy Demands or Chaos?
Following escalating unrest and clashes between Shiite tribes in Basra, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi ordered armored units and special police forces to enter the city to restore security, disarm militias, and disarm armed tribes. Meanwhile, a news source in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region links the Basra unrest to demands for Basra Province’s autonomy.
“Saeed Basma Salmi,” a member of Basra Provincial Council, told the Kurdish news network “Rudaw” that the central Iraqi government is ignoring the demands of Basra’s people for access to services and infrastructure development, including water supply networks and electricity distribution and other services. The government is not paying attention to these demands.
He says that despite producing more than one million barrels of oil per day, this province is one of the most deprived areas in Iraq. He also says that the central government has been repeatedly warned that if it does not take these demands seriously, the people of this province will pursue other means to meet their demands. “Saeed Basma Salmi” announces that members of Basra Provincial Council will stand alongside the people in order to achieve these demands.
Meanwhile, “Muhammad Othman,” another member of Basra Provincial Council, told the “Rudaw” news network that last year the request by Basra representatives to establish autonomy in Basra, similar to the autonomous region of Kurdistan, faced strong opposition from Baghdad. He clarified that the rejection of this request, which is consistent with the Iraqi constitution, and at the same time the central government’s neglect of the deprivations and demands of the people of this province, has caused a sharp increase in discontent in Basra.
The deployment of military and security forces by the central Iraqi government to Basra is ostensibly to maintain security and deal with armed groups in the city and prevent clashes between (Shiite) tribes.
Two explanations are being presented regarding this matter concerning Basra unrest. One is official and state-backed, the other from the Kurds who have experienced autonomy. One attributes Basra unrest to gang activity and chaos. The other considers a popular uprising aimed at achieving autonomy to be the main cause of this unrest.
