Iraq continues to face rising tensions as the dispute over salary payments for public employees in the Kurdistan Region grows sharper. Kurdish Minister of Endowments and Religious Affairs, Pshtiwan Sadiq, strongly criticized the federal government’s handling of this critical issue during a speech in Erbil.
Speaking to a group of religious leaders, Sadiq explained how Baghdad’s actions have caused serious hardships for the people of Kurdistan since 2014. He stated that Kurdistan agreed to every demand set by the federal government. These demands included transferring both oil and non-oil revenues to Baghdad in exchange for monthly salary payments.
Sadiq stressed that Kurdistan fully met its commitments. However, he accused the federal government of failing to uphold its promises. He claimed this failure has left many people struggling without their rightful salaries.
The Kurdish minister went further by accusing Baghdad of trying to weaken Kurdistan economically. He warned that some opposition parties inside the Kurdistan Region also contribute to this issue by undermining Kurdistan’s constitutional rights.
Tensions between Erbil and Baghdad have worsened since early spring. The main conflict centers on the conditions for salary payments. Baghdad insists that the Kurdistan Region must hand over all oil exports to the state-run SOMO company. Additionally, federal authorities demand strict monitoring of non-oil revenues from the Region.
The Kurdish government rejected these conditions. Officials in Erbil argue that such terms go beyond earlier agreements signed with Baghdad. They say that the federal government is pushing too far and violating previous arrangements.
The deadlock has blocked salary payments for hundreds of thousands of public workers in the Kurdistan Region. This delay has sparked protests and raised concerns about worsening poverty.
As a short-term solution, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani approved a temporary payment for one month. He authorized this salary through a federal loan. However, no long-term deal has been reached yet. Many fear that similar problems will return in the coming months.
Kurdish leaders continue to demand that Baghdad respect past agreements. They insist that the rights of the Kurdistan Region must remain protected under Iraq’s constitution. At the same time, many call for urgent talks to resolve the crisis.
The salary issue remains one of the biggest political challenges in Iraq today. Without compromise, the dispute may deepen even further.