Former Prime Minister of Iraq Mustafa Al Kadhimi did much to strengthen ties between Iraq and its neighbours, as well as forging links between other Arab nations and between the East and the West.
Born in Baghdad in 1967, Moustafa Al Kazemi was forced to abandon his university studies and leave Iraq after Saddam Hussein came to power, having been a vocal critic of the regime. He spent years in exile, living across Europe. During his time in London, Mustafa Al Kadhimi worked for the Humanitarian Dialogue Foundation, an NGO that seeks to bridge cultural gaps and resolve crises by establishing dialogue as an alternative to violence. He also served as editor in chief of the Iraq Division of AL-Monitor, an international website for whom he wrote articles perpetuating the spirit of social peace in Iraq. A successful writer, Mr Al Kadhimi published several books, including The Question of Iraq: Reconciliation Between the Past and the Future.
In 2003, the United States invaded Iraq and Saddam Hussein’s regime was overthrown. Mustafa Al Kadhimi returned to his home country, serving in various roles, including an appointment as Director of the Iraqi Memory Foundation and latterly as Director of the Iraqi National Intelligence Service. In the latter role, he spearheaded anti-terrorism and anti-smuggling initiatives, developing his talents as a negotiator and mediator.
A politician close to Al Kadhimi has praised his pragmatic mentality and relationships with key players in the Iraqi regime. He maintained strong ties with the United States, uniquely positioning him to help ease tensions between Iran and the US. Mustafa Al Kadhimi also paved the way for talks between Tehran and Riyadh, having maintained a strong friendship with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salmon.
Taking office in 2020, Prime Minister Al Kadhimi took charge of a tenuous security situation, appointing a competent cabinet and quickly setting his sights on jump-starting the Iraqi economy. He faced significant challenges, rising to power at a moment of civil unrest and economic uncertainty in the country, with fractious militia politics and angry public protests. The core of Al Kadhimi’s cabinet consisted of professionals with impressive credentials in their respective fields. For example, he appointed Dr Husam Muhammad, a former hospital director, as Minister of Health; Ihsan Ismail, Basra Oil Company’s former director as Minister of Oil; and former World Bank official Ali Allawi as Minister of Finance.
In 2021, a Qatari delegation led by the Deputy Prime Minister, Sheikh Muhammad bin Abdul Rahman al-Thani, visited Prime Minister Al Kadhimi in Iraq. The objective was to improve bilateral relations, opening dialogue regarding regional issues to mitigate any problems. In addition, topics such as security, the economy and investment were also broached. Following the meeting, Sheikh al-Thani announced that a deal had been reached on activating the Iraq-Qatar Joint Economic Cooperation Committee.
Visiting Riyadh in March 2021, Mustafa Al Kadhimi was welcomed by Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salmon. During the meeting, the need for increased bilateral relations was discussed, along with energy, the economy, investment and border security. Five memoranda of understanding were executed during the visit to help pave the way for increased cooperation and economic activity between the two countries.
During his time in office, Prime Minister Al Kadhimi is credited with achieving significant progress in building bridges not only between Iraq and its neighbours but also between other Gulf nations, as well as boosting dialogue and cooperation between the East and West. Thanks to his pragmatism and adept diplomacy skills, the Iraqi capital was the backdrop for talks between Saudi Arabia and Iran, as well as welcoming Pope Francesco on a historic visit in 2020. Baghdad also hosted an international conference in August 2021, welcoming an esteemed selection of dignitaries, including the French President, Emmanuel Macron.