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