Erbil and Baghdad suffered from instable ties before the insurgency of the Islamic State (IS) in Iraq; but the forces of the two governments cooperated in fight against the terrorist group which helped Kurds to control the disputed territories that both Kurds and Baghdad claim authority over. As the IS insurgency ended tensions between the two governments popped up as Baghdad sent forces to the disputed regions and made the Kurdish forces of Peshmerga to quit the areas that they controlled in fight against the IS; the situation and the referendum of independence be the region renewed disputes between the two sides.

Ties between Erbil and Baghdad are improving after Adil Abdul Mahdi was elected prime minister whom is a friend of the Kurds and is mending ties between Baghdad and Erbil.

To shed light on the current situation in Iraq and the relation between the Kurdish region and Baghdad, Kurdpress made an interview with Iraqi researcher Jamil. What follows is his answers to Kurdpress questions;

What is the current relationship between the Kurdistan Region and Baghdad?

I believe that the Kurdistan Region has failed to rebuild a relationship with Baghdad, the current structure is Baghdad giving handouts to the Kurdistan Region to keep it afloat but there is no genuine relationship due to the politics of the Kurdistan Region. The fight for power between the Barzani and Talabani family has left the region divided and vying for power against each other. Baghdad cannot reliably negotiate with the Kurdistan Region as obligations on deals are not fulfilled due to this power struggle.

Can Baghdad and Erbil agree on a specific position regarding Kirkuk?

They already have. When the Iraqi government regained control of Kirkuk and the Kurdistan Regional Government forces left the city it was clear that ultimate authority of the city lies with Baghdad as the Federal Government, not the KRG which administers only the Kurdistan Region. If the KRG had fought for Kirkuk I believe this position would be different but given the KRG left virtually entirely peacefully indicated an agreement between Erbil and Baghdad on Kirkuk and the rest of the disputed territories.

What would Baghdad's position be on independent oil sale by the Kurdistan Regional Government with outside nations/companies?

The last 3 administrations in power of Baghdad has not looked favorably to Kurdistan Regional Government independent oil sales and have punished the region in various economic and diplomatic ways. The current Adel Abdulmahdi administration has not pursued punishment of the KRG on independent oil sales just yet as the KRG has promised to send oil to the federal government oil authority this year. However, if the KRG fails to implement this then I suspect that the current administration will need to crack down harder than Haider al-Abadi's administration on the KRG to ensure compliance with federal authorities. The KRG is faced with a growing reality that the Federal Authority is very much in existence and will push and pull its weight unlike before. Prior administrations have even benefitted from the KRG's independent oil sale but this no longer works in a more mature Iraqi political sphere. The KRG would have benefitted greatly from a Saddam-like individual leading Baghdad as it would justify independent oil sales, however, they have been dealing with diplomatic administrations in Baghdad and the mindset in the KRG has not readied itself for this.

Reporter’s code: 50101