PRT BAGHDAD: PC DEPUTY CHAIRMAN MOHAN AL-SAIDI ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 001390 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA-I/POL E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/27/2026 TAGS: PGOV PINR PNAT IZ SUBJECT: PRT BAGHDAD: PC DEPUTY CHAIRMAN MOHAN AL-SAIDI ON KEY POSITIONS AT THE BAGHDAD AMANAT Classified By: Classified by Baghdad PRT leader Joe Gregoire for reason s 1.4 (B) and (D). ¶1. (C) During a recent conversation with a Baghdad PRT member, Provincial Council (PC) Deputy Chairman Mohan Hashem Al-Saidi said he believes that the Government of Iraq does not have the authority to dictate or choose who can be mayor of Baghdad. Mohan advised that the recent selection of Attiya Hareeja Al-Ogaily to the position of Deputy Mayor for Administration be scrutinized closely by the PC. ¶2. (C) Mohan believes the mayor of Baghdad, Saber Nabat Al-Esawi, will remain in his position after the establishment of the national government. He said the Amanat and all its associated key positions belong to the PC, and the PC ultimately has the right to choose who fills these positions. Mohan did not rule out the possibility that Saber would leave his job voluntarily should he find another position more to his liking. ¶3. (C) Attiya Hareeja Al-Ogaily was elected deputy mayor by the PC while Mohan was attending the hajj. Al-Ogaily, a PC member, is a member of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq and was chosen because of his strong anti-corruption credentials and past experience handling integrity issues. Al-Ogaily has been working at the Amanat for the past several weeks. ¶4. (C) Mohan said Al-Ogaily has the full support of Mayor Saber and the chairman of the Baghdad Essential Services Committee, Kamel Al-Zaidi. According to Mohan, however, Al-Ogaily is on a &short leash8 and will be removed if he does not follow the PC leadership's strategic directives. ¶5. (C) Comment. The PC considers the Amanat and key positions within it under its exclusive purview. Attiya Hareeja Al-Ogaily's selection as deputy mayor adds to the PC's control and influence over the Amanat. Al-Ogaily's predecessor was not a PC member. PC members now fill the mayor's position and two of the three deputy mayor positions. This trend points to the PC's potential consolidation of key Amanat positions in the future. End comment. KHALILZAD