Demonstrations in the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk over the handover of a key facility from federal to local Kurdish authorities turned violent Saturday, and one protester was killed and several were injured, witnesses and local officials said.
Clashes broke out around the planned handover of the Iraqi federal police headquarters to the Kurdish Democratic Party in the city, which is home to a mixed population of Kurds, Arabs and Turkmen. Federal forces seized Kirkuk and the surrounding oil fields in October 2017 after Kurdish regional authorities organized a symbolic but controversial referendum for Kurdish independence. The KDP vacated its headquarters in the city at the time.
The agreement to form the current government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, included a provision for the return of the Kurdistan Democratic Party to the province.
Last week, a group of Arabs from Kirkuk closed the Kirkuk-to-Erbil highway in protest over the re-opening of the KDP headquarter in Kirkuk. On Saturday, Kurdish residents demanded the reopening of the highway, sparking tensions between the protesters and security forces.
Violent Demonstrations : Protests erupted in Kirkuk, Iraq, over the handover of the federal police headquarters from federal to local Kurdish authorities.
Historical Background : Kirkuk is a diverse city with Kurdish, Arab, and Turkmen populations. Federal forces took control of the city and its oil fields in 2017 after a controversial Kurdish independence referendum.
Government Agreement : The current government, led by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, included a provision for the return of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) to Kirkuk.
Highway Closure: Arab residents protested the reopening of the KDP headquarters, closing the Kirkuk-to-Erbil highway.
Clashes and Curfew: Tensions escalated between Kurdish residents demanding the highway’s reopening and security forces, leading to clashes. A curfew was imposed in Kirkuk.
