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Iraq’s Political Crisis and Erbil-Baghdad Relations on UN Security Council Agenda

6/10/2025

By Dler Mohammed

ERBIL  — 

The United Nations Security Council is set to convene Tuesday evening to review a report on Iraq’s current political and humanitarian situation, with a particular focus on the increasingly strained relationship between the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in Erbil and the federal government in Baghdad.

The meeting will include a detailed briefing by Mohamed Al Hassan, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Iraq and head of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI).

According to diplomatic sources, part of the discussion is expected to center on the controversial decision by some UN member states to support the withdrawal of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) from Iraqi territory as a mean to de-escalate ongoing tensions with Turkey.

Hassan’s report will also shed light on key developments in Iraq’s political and security landscape, as well as challenges in humanitarian affairs. Notably, the report is anticipated to highlight worsening tensions between Erbil and Baghdad following Iraq’s decision to halt salary disbursements to civil servants in the Kurdistan Region.

The move by Iraqi Finance Minister Taif Sami to suspend payments has drawn criticism from KRG officials, who emphasize they have fully complied with the terms of the federal budget law. Erbil accuses Baghdad of using financial pressure to punish the Kurdish population, deepening the rift between the two governments.

KRG representatives have reiterated their commitment to constitutional and budgetary obligations, stating that despite their compliance, the federal government continues to withhold salaries under various pretexts, creating a humanitarian crisis and eroding trust.

Tensions between the Kurdistan Region and the federal government of Iraq have escalated over the past year, largely driven by disputes over oil revenue sharing, budget allocations, and governance. The salary crisis has become a flashpoint in this broader conflict, with the KRG repeatedly calling for Baghdad to fulfill its legal and constitutional duties. The role of international actors, including the United Nations, is seen as critical in mediating and potentially resolving these ongoing disputes.

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