Iraq President Files Lawsuit against Prime Minister over Unpaid Kurdistan Salaries
Iraq’s President, Abdul Latif Rashid, has filed a lawsuit against Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani over the non-payment of civil servants’ salaries in the autonomous Kurdistan region, highlighting a growing rift within the country’s leadership.
The lawsuit, which was filed last month against Sudani and Finance Minister Taif Sami, was publicly revealed on Sunday by Rashid’s adviser, Hawri Tawfiq.
The case, presented to Iraq’s highest court, seeks a ruling that ensures salaries are paid “without interruption,” despite ongoing financial disputes between Baghdad and the regional government in Erbil.
Iraq’s public sector is plagued by inefficiency and corruption, and analysts suggest that Sudani and Rashid have long had political disagreements. While public sector employees received their salaries for January, they are still awaiting their December pay.
Tawfiq stated that the lawsuit was only made public following protests over delayed payments in Sulaimaniyah, the second-largest city in Kurdistan and Rashid’s hometown.
Kurdistan Regional President Nechirvan Barzani recently expressed gratitude to Sudani for his cooperation on financial matters, including salary payments.
On Sunday, hundreds of protesters from Sulaimaniyah attempted to demonstrate in Erbil, but local police used tear gas to disperse them, according to local media reports. Additionally, a group of teachers has been holding a sit-in in Sulaimaniyah for two weeks, with 13 teachers going on a hunger strike in protest.
Last year, Iraq’s top court ruled that the federal government should directly cover the salaries of public sector employees in Kurdistan, bypassing the regional administration—a demand long advocated by workers in Sulaimaniyah.
However, officials have stated that payments have been inconsistent due to technical difficulties.
Political analyst Ihssan al-Shemmari pointed out that the lawsuit reflects a deepening divide between Rashid and Sudani. “We are witnessing a significant rift within the executive branch, and it is now playing out in the open,” al-Shemmari said.
In January, Sudani initiated an investigation into Rashid’s son’s company, IQ Internet Services. MP Hanan al-Fatlawi, addressing Rashid on X, remarked, “The fines on your son’s company, IQ, are enough to cover the salaries in Kurdistan.”
