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14 people were killed and 865 were injured on Monday, the 4th day of protests, when Iraqi troops used force to disperse protestors in Kerbala, where the majority are Shi'ite Muslims. Protests this month have resulted in 250 people killed and around 6,000 people arrested.
Reconstruction and conciliation
The protests began with appeals on social networks for Prime Minister Mahdi to resign and complaints of difficult living conditions, shortages of clean water and electricity, unemployment, corruption, and incompetent leaders. Protests spread to Iraq’s southern cities and turned violent. The government has imposed a curfew, deployed extra security forces, and cut Internet connections to 75% of the country.
Instability and violence have been the biggest challenges for Prime Minister Mahdi since he took office a year ago. Reconstruction and reconciliation in a war-torn country is never easy. It requires billions of USD, a financial burden Iraq cannot afford. Endemic corruption is now one of the main threats to Iraq’s stability. Iraq is ranked the world’s 12th most corrupt country by Transparency International. Electricity and fresh water shortages plague some cities and the unemployment rate among young people is 25%, according to a WB report.
The balance of power has never been settled between the central government, the Kurds, the Sunnis, and the Shiites.
Efforts to stabilize the situation
The government of Prime Minister Abdel Mahdi has introduced reforms to generate jobs, allocate land, increase social welfare, and dismiss corrupt officials. He has promised new housing for the poor, unemployment allowances, loans for young people, and dialogues with the protestors without the presence of the armed forces. On October 24th he submitted to the parliament revisions to the constitution and laws and state budget for 2020, aimed at rebuilding a democratic, prosperous country where all people can enjoy equal rights.