NINEWA: WEST MOSUL SHEIKHS EXPRESS DISSATISFACTION

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 000347 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/06/2018 TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PINR EAID IZ SUBJECT: NINEWA: WEST MOSUL SHEIKHS EXPRESS DISSATISFACTION WITH PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT Classified By: NINEWA PRT LEADER JASON HYLAND: 1.4 (B) AND (D) This is a Ninewa Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) message. ¶1. (C/REL ACGU) Summary: Sheikhs from west Mosul, an area of the city where terrorists are entrenched, told PRTOff and military representatives January 30 that only through provincial elections would the city see progress. The current provincial government focused only on small repair projects that showed substandard work through a contracting process that did not involve Mosul-based firms, but rather firms from the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). This system was allegedly by design and intended to enrich the Kurds and disengage the Arab Sunnis. End Summary. West Mosul Needs Support and Provincial Elections -------------- -------------- ¶2. (C/REL ACGU) A group of Sheikhs based in the western area of Mosul told PRTOff and Third Armored Cavalry Regiment representatives January 30 that the Ninewa Provincial Government was completely corrupt and did not represent the people, only the interests of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). This criticism was not limited to Governor Kashmoula ) who is widely unpopular - but extended to the Provincial Council as well. The Sheikhs made repeated appeals for provincial elections, saying that without elections, "West Mosul cannot move forward." The team was accompanied by Iraqi Army Commanders, including the Ninewa Operations Command (NOC) Commander LTG Riyadh, and Zuhair Muhsin Abdul Aziz al Aaraji, the Mayor of Mosul. West Mosul Has No Faith in the Government -------------- ¶3. (C/REL ACGU) Mayor Zuhair, along with several Sheikhs, stated that the limited scope of reconstruction projects in the province gave the citizens of West Mosul, who are primarily Sunni Arabs, little faith that the capacity of local government was increasing. Most projects were limited to refurbishment and repair. Conversely, what was needed was large-scale, high-impact projects, such as hospitals, schools, and major road repair. (Note: Recently, Governor Kashmoula told the PRT that he has held a meeting with tribal Sheikhs in the city to hear their complaints and find a way to solve them.) Contracting Process is a Problem -------------- ¶4. (C/REL ACGU) The practice of awarding contracts by the provincial government for work in Mosul to outside bidders, specifically bidders from the KRG, was a source of discontent among the Sheikhs. One Sheikh stated that the companies that executed the contracts did not understand the problems pertinent to Mosul. He also stated that the contractors did very poor work because they did not live in Mosul. Essentially, the Sheikhs alleged that the budget allocated from Baghdad to the provincial government was being used to enrich the provincial council and bidders from the KRG, but not the citizens of Mosul. (Note: PRT hears often from the provincial government that they cannot always find Mosul-based firms that are willing to execute the contracts given the current security environment. The Governor has told the PRT many times that the Sheikhs simply want the contracts so they can skim off the top and enrich themselves -- the allegations seem to go both ways.) ¶5. (C/REL ACGU) Comment: The Sheikhs of West Mosul are clearly completely dissatisfied with Governor Kashmoula and the Provincial Council. While these Sheikhs vary in terms of their actual political influence as well as their commitment to the national (as opposed to their personal) interest, they are an important element in a strategically vital area of one of Iraq's most strategic cities. The call for provincial elections was the foremost concern of the Iraqis in the meeting -- and allowing an outlet for Sunni Arabs, the majority in Ninewa, to regain the political representation they missed by boycotting the last election. Of note is the fact that the Governor himself met recently with tribal Sheikhs in the city of Mosul, perhaps a sign that the provincial government is aware of their complaints and is at least trying to look like it has an interest in solving them. End Comment. BUTENIS