STATUS OF BAGHDAD'S DISTRICT ADVISORY COUNCILS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 003406 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/09/2016 TAGS: PGOV PINR ECON KDEM IZ SUBJECT: STATUS OF BAGHDAD'S DISTRICT ADVISORY COUNCILS REF: BAGHDAD 1957 Classified By: COL Kenneth Fisher, Baghdad PRT Deputy Team Leader, for reasons 1.5 (b) and (d). ¶1. (U) Both a city and a province, Baghdad has three principal management entities that administer services and govern the city. The Baghdad Provincial Council (BPC) is the major policy creation body, and its responsibilities include planning and financial management. The Amanat operates the city's municipal services and manages reconstruction projects, similar to a city hall. The District Advisory Councils (DAC) serve as the city's local representative bodies, theoretically linking the citizens to the provincial government. Each DAC is composed of representatives from subordinate Neighborhood Advisory Councils (NAC),whose members are selected through public caucuses in each neighborhood. Since their inception, DAC and NAC members have regularly received threats, and many have been assassinated. ¶2. (U) When functioning properly, the DACs interface with the BPC to ensure municipal services are rendered, schools and other public programs are functional, and security is maintained throughout Baghdad's nine districts. The following is a current status account of the city's nine urban DACs. Karadah DAC -------------- ¶3. (C) Probably the most functional council in the city, the Karadah DAC has been effective at maintaining regular contact with the residents of its district and marshaling resources to improve municipal services. Area residents often come to the DAC building, and the DAC and its sub-committees have productive meetings regularly. Located in a relatively secure area of the city, the DAC has benefited greatly from its well-connected and energetic Chairman, Mohammed Al Roubaie, who has funded several area initiatives through his own financial resources. Al Roubaie often arranges visitors from the BPC and the GOI to attend meetings and engage on issues. The Shia-dominated DAC has also worked to include Christian and Sunni residents on projects and in the decision making process. Karkh DAC -------------- ¶4. (C) Composed of dedicated and engaged members, the Karkh DAC, in spite of real efforts, has been largely ineffective at dealing with the serious challenges the district faces with municipal services. The DAC and most of its sub-committees meet regularly, but have not been able to leverage real support from the BPC or the Amanat. Though located in a principally Sunni area with a large Shia minority, there are few sectarian issues, and the district remains relatively safe. Al Mansour DAC -------------- ¶5. (C) Representing a large and economically diverse area, the Al Mansour DAC is composed primarily of well-educated Sunnis. Its meetings are well attended, and the sub-committees are active. The DAC does not maintain regular contact with the BPC or the Amanat, as many of its members are skeptical of the provincial government's ability to provide municipal services equitably. Supportive of the Baghdad Security Plan (BSP) initiatives underway in several of its neighborhoods, the DAC engages productively with the CF teams working on BSP operations and reconstruction in the district. Al Rasheed DAC -------------- ¶6. (C) The Al Rasheed DAC suffers from inexperienced members, petty conflicts, and poor organization. Though the weekly DAC meetings are generally well attended, the DAC's Sunni majority often complains that Shia members are absent or late. The DAC leadership openly states that it has little confidence in the BPC, calling the provincial government inexperienced and incapable. Openly sectarian comments are rarely made, but there is the general feeling that the Shia-dominated BPC does not support the district because it is predominantly Sunni. The DAC is highly supportive of BSP initiatives in the district and has welcomed CF engagement on the returning of municipal services and creation of jobs. Adhamiya DAC BAGHDAD 00003406 002 OF 002 -------------- ¶7. (C) The deep division between the Sunni and Shia in Adhamiya is evident in the Adhamiya DAC. Although the DAC is generally functional, Shia members are often absent from meetings. Two months ago the Sunni DAC leadership attempted to break away from the existing council, meeting in a separate location for several weeks. Only recently have the DAC's Sunni and Shia halves begun meeting together again. Many Sunni members believe their Shia colleagues to be actively subversive to the political process; while Shia members express concerns about the Sunnis' commitment to security issues. DAC Chair Sheikh Hassan continues to make efforts to encourage Shia participation at meetings. The Adhamiya DAC leadership has been supportive of the recently-begun BSP operations in the district. Kadhamiya DAC -------------- ¶8. (C) The generally functional Kadhamiya DAC has recently been marred by protests during meetings and damage to its building. Area residents are reportedly protesting the DAC's inability to improve municipal services in the district. However, other local contacts claim that the protests are inspired by Shia militia attempting to undermine the political process. At the DAC's last meeting, BPC Chairman Mu'eem al Khademi, who lives in Kadhamiya, promised to repair the damage and to assist with the re-establishment of municipal services. DAC leadership has backed BSP operations in Kadhamiya since they began. Sadr City DAC -------------- ¶9. (C) Largely dysfunctional, the Sadr City DAC does not meet regularly, and its membership is riddled with suspicion about the political loyalties of its members. The chairmanship has been disputed several times in the past four months. Politically, the Jaysh al Mehdi (JAM) colors the DAC's dynamics, though its precise role is not clear. It is rumored that many of the DAC members are JAM affiliates, and those who are not have been forced out of DAC participation through threats and targeted assassinations (reftel). The DAC's relationship with the BPC is irregular, as the DAC does not formally participate in BPC activities and uses insider-Shia connections to short-circuit normal administrative procedures. Rusafa DAC -------------- ¶10. (C) Generally functional, the Rusafa DAC has recently been troubled by Shia politicization of issues. At present, a strong group of technocrat members maintains regular meetings and good relations with the BCP and the Amanat. Contrary to the Rusafa DAC's plan to develop both the industrial and residential areas of the district, the BPC envisions making Rusafa District an exclusively industrial area, which is a source of some tension between the BPC and the DAC. 9 Nisan DAC -------------- ¶11. (C) With many of nearby Sadr City's political issues overflowing into the district, the 9 Nisan DAC meets on a semi-regular basis but holds very unstructured meetings. The district is a relatively rural and very diverse area, and consequently movement of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in and out of the district has been a major issue for the DAC. Many longtime residents feel disenfranchised as they see projects and development initiatives go to nearby neighborhoods, especially Karadah. KHALILZAD