What al-Maliki’s return would mean for Iraq and the region

Nouri al-Maliki’s third term as prime minister is likely to escalate sectarian politics in the country.

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Two weeks ago, incumbent Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani announced his withdrawal from the premiership race. Amid political negotiations following the November elections, this move effectively paved the way for former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to return to power.

This development is not just an act of political recycling; it reflects the failure of Iraqi state-building after the United States invasion of 2003. Under al-Maliki, Iraq may well go back to the disastrous policies that in 2014 led to the rise of ISIL (ISIS).

What al-Maliki’s return would mean for Iraq and the region

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