Shafaq News/ Iraq's Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani is facingmounting internal pressure from factions within the powerful ShiiteCoordination Framework, as accusations of power monopolization, incompletepolitical reforms, and controversial agreements with the US and KurdistanRegional Government fuel growing discontent within his own ranks.
How Al-Sudani Came to Power
Mohammed Shia al-Sudani was selected on October 13, 2022, to lead a newgovernment after months of political deadlock caused by internal disputes amongmajor factions. His appointment ended a year-long crisis stemming fromcontested parliamentary elections. Later that month, Iraq's parliament approvedhis cabinet, officially making him the country's prime minister.
At 52, al-Sudani brought experience from his previous roles as Iraq'shuman rights minister and labor and social affairs minister. However, his riseto power was contentious. His nomination faced resistance from the movement ledby Muqtada al-Sadr, a key rival in Iraq's Shia political landscape. Al-Sadr'sfaction boycotted the government, leaving a large group outside the politicalframework.
Al-Sudani's support came from the Coalition of the State Administration,including the influential Coordination Framework—a bloc of pro-Iran Shiafactions controlling 138 out of 329 parliamentary seats. The coalition alsoincluded Sunni and Kurdish parties, such as the groups led by ParliamentSpeaker Mohammed al-Halbousi and the two main Kurdish factions, the KurdistanDemocratic Party and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan.
In Iraq's post-2003 political system, which emphasizes power-sharingacross ethnic and sectarian lines, al-Sudani's nomination by the Iran-backedCoordination Framework was significant. This bloc gained dominance in parliamentafter the withdrawal of al-Sadr's 73 lawmakers, part of a strategy to pressurerivals into forming a government. Al-Sadr's exit allowed the CoordinationFramework to solidify control.
Despite securing the position, al-Sudani's appointment sparked publicoutcry. His nomination, announced on July 25, triggered widespread protests ledby al-Sadr's supporters, who stormed the Green Zone in Baghdad, demanding hiswithdrawal. Undeterred by the unrest, al-Sudani proceeded to form hisgovernment.
Born in southern Iraq in 1970, al-Sudani's political career has beenshaped by Iraq's turbulent history. Saddam Hussein's regime executed his fatherfor ties to the Iran-backed Islamic Dawa Party. Al-Sudani played a role in the1991 Shia uprisings, staying in Iraq while many others fled.
After the 2003 US-led invasion that toppled Hussein, al-Sudani heldseveral government roles, including mayor of Al-Amarah in 2004 and governor ofMaysan. Under Nouri al-Maliki and Haider al-Abadi's administrations, he servedas human rights minister (2010-2014) and labor and social affairs minister(2014-2018).
In 2020, amid mass anti-government protests, al-Sudani resigned from theDawa Party, which was facing accusations of corruption. Some analysts suggested that his ambitions for higher office likely drove this decision,distancing himself from the party's internal issues.
When former Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi resigned in 2019 afterdeadly protests, al-Sudani was considered a successor, alongside then-caretakerPrime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi. However, under pressure to nominate someoneacceptable to protesters, al-Sudani withdrew his candidacy.
By 2022, al-Sudani led the Euphrates Movement, which secured threeparliamentary seats in the prior election. His alignment with the ShiaCoordination Framework, now the largest bloc, strengthened his bid for primeminister.
Al-Sadr's withdrawal from politics on August 29, 2022, deepened thepolitical crisis. His supporters stormed parliament again, leading to violentclashes that left at least 30 dead. These protests were driven by widespreadfrustration over corruption, the ruling elite, and foreign influence in Iraq.Demonstrators strongly opposed al-Sudani and figures like Nouri al-Maliki,accusing them of corruption and poor governance.
While al-Sudani continues to manage Iraq's complex politicalenvironment, he now faces rising opposition within the Coordination Frameworkover his handling of critical issues, including unfinished political reforms,accusations of power concentration, and agreements with the US and theKurdistan Regional Government.
Power Monopoly Claims
Rahman al-Jazaeri, a leader in the State of Law Coalition, told ShafaqNews that "recent meetings have revealed that part of the CoordinationFramework, including State of Law, is dissatisfied with al-Sudani's government,particularly over his failure to deliver on the political agreement and hislack of seriousness in completing the project endorsed by the Framework."
Al-Jazaeri further criticized al-Sudani's leadership, accusing him of"monopolizing" power by appointing individuals close to his tribe tokey positions, including the recent appointment of Mohammed Juhi to the primeminister's office. "This affects the Framework's approach to leadershipchanges in the premiership," he said.
He also condemned al-Sudani's "unilateral" decisionsconcerning the Kurdistan Region, particularly in allocating funds withoutholding the regional government accountable for overdue payments to Iraq'sMinistry of Finance. "These actions were taken without consulting theFramework," al-Jazaeri added.
The State of Law senior official noted that some members of theFramework are also discontented with al-Sudani's agreements with the UnitedStates, which include decisions affecting Iraq's economic situation, such ascutting salaries of Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) members and closingcertain banks. The recent protests and al-Sudani's failure to expel US forcesfrom Iraq have further fueled opposition within the Framework, al-Jazaeri said.
Opposing Factions, PotentialProtests
However, al-Jazaeri acknowledged that another faction of theCoordination Framework supports a second term for al-Sudani, including the blocled by Labor Minister Ahmed al-Asadi, Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq, led by Qaisal-Khazali, and allied groups. He also speculated that the Victory Alliance(Al-Nasr), headed by former Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, and some civil andcommunist factions may align with al-Sudani's government.
"There is a split within the Framework," al-Jazaeri said,"between those who support him to continue his term and those who opposehis continued leadership." He warned that opposition factions mightorganize protests similar to the mass "Tishreen" demonstrations thaterupted in 2019 and suggested that unaligned political parties may join forceswith these protesters.
Al-Jazaeri predicted that further opposition could lead to a"million-man march," similar to the protests that forced theresignation of former Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi.
Al-Sudani's Nomination and Growing Popularity
Political analyst Mujasha al-Tamimi told Shafaq News that al-Sudani'snomination by the Coordination Framework for the premiership was initiallydriven by the need to manage the conflict between the Sadrist Movement and theFramework.
"The Coordination Framework nominated al-Sudani reluctantly, as hewas the last political figure under their umbrella," al-Tamimi said."Other candidates were ruled out to avoid provoking the SadristMovement."
Al-Tamimi explained that al-Sudani was seen as a neutral figure whocould bridge differences within the Framework and avoid antagonizing theSadrist Movement or the Tishreen protesters. However, al-Tamimi added thatal-Sudani's growing popularity has now become "a source of tension withinthe Framework, particularly as his political rise could reduce theirparliamentary influence ahead of future elections."
"The growing popularity of al-Sudani may negatively affect theparliamentary strength of the Coordination Framework," al-Tamimi said,warning that this could lead to internal divisions if al-Sudani participatesindependently in the next elections.
Early Political Rivalry
Sabhan al-Mulla Ji'ad, a political advisor to al-Sudani, attributed theopposition to early party competition ahead of the next elections. He toldShafaq News that some factions fear al-Sudani may form a new political blocthat transcends traditional sectarian lines.
"These objections are likely fueled by concerns that al-Sudani maylead a cross-sectarian bloc in the next elections, given his growingpopularity," Ji'ad said, noting that much of the criticism stems frompolitical and personal interests.
Ji'ad dismissed claims of al-Sudani's underperformance, highlighting hisgovernment's record on overseeing projects and monitoring financialexpenditures. "Al-Sudani's government has been the best-performing since2003," he said.
Despite the internal disagreements within the Coordination Framework,Ji'ad downplayed the rift, calling it a natural political difference that couldbe resolved through negotiation. "There are no major fractures within thealliance," he concluded.