‘KRG balance of power to shift from Erbil to Sulaymaniyah’

The illegitimate referendum held in Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG)-held areas and in several disputed parts of Iraq shifted the balance of the country. Last week, upon the orders of the Baghdad administration, Iraqi forces entered oil-rich Kirkuk province and assumed control of strategic facilities including the North Oil Company, Baba Gurgur oilfield, K1 military base, Mullah Abdullah oil refinery, Kirkuk’s main airport, and the Tikrit Bridge, among others.

Peshmerga forces, which took control of the disputed province in 2014, withdrew from an area of 35,000 square kilometers within 11 hours. The Iraqi forces are now advancing toward ethnically-diverse Erbil. Following the great defeat, the Erbil-based KRG is now being held to account.

Prof. Dr. Suphi Saatçi, who was born in Kirkuk, said the formation of a new government in KRG’s Sulaymaniyah was starting to be established and that a dual parliament administration system had also started. Dr. Saatçi added that the discharge preparations for Masoud Barzani had started and that the new capital of the KRG would be Sulaymaniyah.

“Barzani's Erbil-based reign has grown exponentially because of the lack of authority in Iraq,” said Dr. Saatçi.

KRG leader Barzani instigated false excitement around the Sept. 25 referendum by using false occupation maps including the territories of Iraq, Iran, Syria and Turkey.

Saatçi added that the Peshmerga, which received undeserved tolerance in the region, had caused Arabs and Turkmens in Kirkuk, Khanaqin, Sinjar, Mandali, Kifri and Tuz Khormato great pains.

“Barzani has disgraced Kurds worldwide with his attitude throughout the past three months. The KRG’s new capital will be Sulaymaniyah,” said Dr. Saatçi.

Former senior advisor to the president Arshad Hürzümlü said the biggest blow to Barzani, who lost Turkey’s support by pursuing the illegitimate referendum, was the bypassing of Erbil airport, closure of border gates and oil losses.

Hürzümlü also said that a Sulaymaniyah-based parliament and government was being prepared, adding that the administration backed by Tehran and Baghdad would go public in the coming days.

"Parallel to these developments, power balances will slip from Erbil to Sulaymaniyah," said Hürzümlü, adding that three opposition parties, including the Goran movement, would come together under one roof.

“The Barzani-Talabani conflict that has existed for 20 years provided an opportunity for separation as a result of the referendum scandal. The Talabani family will certainly evaluate this opportunity,” Hürzümlü said.