NINEWA: PROVINCIAL COUNCIL ELECTS ALNUJAIFI AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 001033 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/14/2019 TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM PMIL IZ SUBJECT: NINEWA: PROVINCIAL COUNCIL ELECTS ALNUJAIFI AND ALLIES TO ALL KEY POSTS, TRIGGERING KURDISH WALKOUT Classified By: Deputy Political Counselor John G. Fox for Reasons 1.4 ( b,d) This is a Ninewa Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) message. ¶1. (SBU) Summary. In its first official act, Ninewa,s new Provincial Council elected Al-Hadba leader Atheel Alnujaifi as the province,s new governor. Hadba and its political allies, who control an absolute majority of the seats on the PC, elected Hadba members to all of key political leadership positions, a move that triggered a staged walk-out by the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP)-controlled Ninewa Fraternity List (NFL). Later, Kurdish sources told the PRT that the NFL was only protesting Hadba,s refusal to share power and had not quit the government. Alnujaifi later addressed the media, asserting the central government,s authority to determine Disputed Internal Boundaries (DIBs) and control all Iraq,s security forces. Alnujaifi also took the opportunity to publicly label the US as &occupiers8 in Iraq. End Summary. -------------- HADBA TAKES ALL NINEWA,S KEY LEADERSHIP POSTS -------------- ¶2. (SBU) On April 12, the newly elected Ninewa PC met for the first time to select a governor and other key leadership positions in the executive and legislative branches. As expected, Alnujaifi (ref A) was easily elected Governor. Two other key positions, first Deputy Governor a^Q "pmPPQBoundaries Q(DIBS) must be decided in Baghdad, not Mosul. He also said that all Iraqi security forces must be under control of the central government and work for the benefit of all the people of Ninewa. (Note: In this context, &all8 Iraq,s security forces is understood to mean the Peshmerga stationed in Ninewa, who are under the control of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). Alnujaifi used similar rhetoric during the election campaign repeatedly.) Alnujaifi also referred to June 30 as a deadline for US withdrawal from Iraq,s cities. -------------- -------------- U.S. OCCUPATION, CORRUPTION INHIBIT ECOMONIC GROWTH -------------- -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Alnujaifi also said the previous KDP-dominated provincial government had come to power on the coattails of the U.S.-led occupation. He also singled out the U.S. Army as a hindrance to economic cooperation with the United States. Finally, he said that corruption must be rooted out for foreign investment and economic growth to take place. BAGHDAD 00001033 002 OF 002 ¶6. (C) Bio Notes: Jabur Mohammad Abdullah al Abed Rabou ) Provincial Council Chairman: Rabou is a political ally of Sheikh Abdullah. He is in his 60s and is a businessman in Ninewa, managing a bank and a cement factory. Rabou is widely respected for his business acumen and managerial skills. Dildar Zebari ) Provincial Council Vice Chairman: Zebari is Kurdish and a former Ba,ath party member and Iraqi Army officer ) positions he served in until 2003. Many view Zebari as Hadba,s token Kurd and Alnujaifi,s anti-KDP attack dog. Faisal Humayid Ajeel ) First Vice Governor: Ajeel is the older brother of Sheikh Abdullah. Ajeel is best known for his trucking business, which he took over from his father. Ajeel is generally thought to be apolitical. Indeed, Sheikh Abdullah told us that he had to &twist Ajeel,s arm8 to convince him to take a leadership position in the province. Hassan Mahmud Ali ) Second Vice Governor: Ali is the chief appellate judge in Ninewa, making him the second highest judicial official in the province. Local Iraqi Police sources told the PRT that Ali has the reputation of being tough on terrorists, and is greatly respected by both the judicial community and the police of the province. (Note: Ali,s reputation among the police is particularly impressive, given most Iraqi Police tell us the judges in Ninewa are corrupt and cowed by Al-Qaida.) The Ministry of Interior,s legal advisor, Col. Ala,a, told the PRT that Ali,s brother was assassinated by terrorists in 2007. Ali is thought to be closely aligned with Alnujaifi. Despite being named to the provincial executive, Ali will also remain a judge in the province. At least one source contradicts this picture, alleging that he is a terrorist sympathizer. ¶7. (C) Comment: Alnujaifi is a shrewd politician. He will publicly criticize us but take our help when it is in his interests. By nationalizing the DIBs issue, as well as the June 30 question, Alnujaifi is positioning himself to take credit when it suits him, but distance himself from unpopular decisions that he can blame on Baghdad or us. We believe we can work with him in areas of common interest and will seek to moderate his statements and actions where they are inconsistent with our interests. PRT also will strongly counsel Kurdish PC members to return to the Council and participate in its deliberations as a loyal opposition. End comment. BUTENIS