Iraq must conduct a national dialogue to help control the proliferation of weapons in the country and to build trust between security forces and the public, former prime minister Haider Al Abadi said on Friday.
Before assuming office last month, Prime Minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi laid out an agenda for his cabinet that highlighted placing all weapons under government control. He also listed fighting corruption and ensuring the safe return of displaced people among his priorities.
“The current government must act quickly, we need a national dialogue to solve this issue, to make an agreement on how we can get rid of arms,” Mr Al Abadi said during an online briefing hosted by the Chatham House think tank in London.
He said national dialogue would bring Iraqis together to draw up a road map towards a more inclusive, stable and prosperous state.
Mr Al Kadhimi's government must build “a healthy relationship” with security forces and must reinforce trust between the public and armed forces in order to move forward, said Mr Al Abadi, who served as prime minister from 2014 to 2018.
“Arms must not be used for political reasons,” he said, adding that this had resulted in the intimidation of officials in Baghdad.
“This must not be allowed, this is dangerous, we can lose our country if this continues,” Mr Al Abadi said.
A common agreement must be achieved between the different political parties on “where arms are kept, who can supervise and use them,” the former prime minister said.
“I hope this can be solved with the new government.”
As prime minister, Mr Al Abadi oversaw Iraq's war against ISIS after the extremist group seized control of about a third of the country in early 2014.
Iraqi government forces backed by the United States, Peshmerga fighters from Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdish region and paramilitaries raised to fight the extremists managed to reclaim all the territory from ISIS by December 2017.
The paramilitaries, known collectively as the Popular Mobilisation Forces, are predominantly from Iraq's Shiite majority and were largely trained, armed and supervised by Iran, with many maintaining close links to Tehran.
They are now officially a component of Iraq's security forces and wield great influence in politics and the economy, which some see as a threat to Iraq’s security and sovereignty.
The former premier said the new government needed to introduce accountability and transparency to succeed in its objectives.
“Not a single other country can save us. We have to save ourselves,” Mr Al Abadi said.
Mr Al Abadi advised the new prime minister to be transparent on how he intends to solve the challenges that face him.
“He must take the right choices for the benefit of the country and can only save the country by making hard decisions; safe decisions will not do much and cannot save the country,” he said.
Last October the country witnessed an unprecedented level of anti-government protests that led to the resignation of former prime minister Adel Abdul Mahdi.
Demonstrators were met with a violent response from security forces that killed hundreds and injured tens of thousands.
"Security is challenge, especially with the protesters on the streets," Mr Al Abadi said. "We took a lot of effort and sacrifice in building trust between public and the security forces."
He urged the new government to "bring back self confidence of our security forces and their relationship with the people".
Mr Al Kadhimi made a positive impression by calling for an investigation into the killing of protesters and the release of activists and demonstrators from prison.
He took office as protest movement made a revival, with Iraqis renewing their demands for an end to corruption and unemployment, an overhaul of the political system and the removal of the entrenched ruling elite.
by Mina Aldroubi
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