Iraq’s Shengal witnesses calm as government deadline ends
ERBIL, KRG, Iraq (North Press) – On Thursday, spokesman of the Democratic Autonomous Administration in Shengal Hisso Ibrahim said that they “do not want any conflict to erupt and wish for permanent peace.”
Ibrahim’s words to North Press commented on conditions that Shengal has been witnessing after the end of the deadline that Iraqi authorities set to enter Shengal.
On April 1, the deadline the Iraqi authorities gave to influential parties to dissolve independent factions and security forces in Shengal and deploy the Iraqi army in exchange ended.
On October 9, an agreement was concluded between the governments of Erbil and Baghdad regarding running Shengal jointly, and the security running in the district was stressed in the agreement.
Following the declaration of the agreement, Shengal Management’s Council announced their rejection of any agreement unless it represents the will of Shengal’s people.
On March 25, the Autonomous Administration in Shengal stressed through a statement that the Iraqi institution “has the right to make Shengal an autonomous administration with security institutions formed from the people of the region.”
Today, “a state of calmn is prevailing in Shengal as security departments did not move,” a source from inside the district told North Press.
“Shengal is safe and stable due to the efforts made by its forces and institutions,” Ibrahim said.
Shengal and the pressure on it is a matter of politics and imposing influence, according to him.
The Democratic Autonomous Administration spokesman stressed that people of his city “are peaceful and wish the good for all peoples, so we do not want to turn issues into other issues which raise conflict.”