A virus of another century’s conflict is governing the tribal families

Muhsen Adnan Ahmed

After more than 33 years of rule by the two-family scheme of the KDP and PUK and the dual-administration, regrettably, the situation of the people of Kurdistan economically, socially, psychologically, financially, and politically is in a state of decline. Unfortunately, these two families have led our people to abandon any life outside of Kurdistan, to the extent that they no longer recognize Kurdistan as their homeland, and have driven them into a state of severe crisis.

Unfortunately, our people are in a dire situation, and we have returned to the point of having to beg Baghdad for salaries. This is under the shadow of a failed and corrupt governance system led by the two-family structure of the KDP and PUK. We have raised our white flags and are heading to Baghdad.

Regretfully, not only in these past 33 years but for an entire century, our people have suffered under the dominance of the Jalali and Mullah families, who, since the September revolution of 1961, have brought only destruction and personal gains.

For many years now, there has been a conflict between the sons and relatives of these two families, who are striving to erase and replace each other. This indicates that we must expect another half-century of conflict until they reconcile at the cost of our people and then resume their internal wars for personal gain. These tribal and familial rivalries continue while their ambitions for power persist, and theft, corruption, and mafia-like activities thrive under their rule. Our people are forced to accept whatever decisions they make and live under a regime that only seeks to suffocate them.

Our people must wake up. These families must come to an end. After all, what have their ancestors done other than theft and fratricide? They came to power through deception and now aim to erase one another and control the Kurdish people!

If we want reform, we must speak out about these corrupt families. Unfortunately, our people are stuck between them, and things will only worsen as long as they remain in power.

The people must not stay silent. It is necessary that the KDP and PUK no longer remain in power. The nation must form a broad national front and decide its future. A living nation is one that always lives with hope, where each individual sees themselves as a leader and does not depend on anyone to move forward.

If our people have the will, they can overthrow even the strongest dictatorship, so what are the KDP and PUK compared to that?

For years, these two families have undermined the educated class of the Kurdish people. They cannot even forget their basic demands and try to convince everyone that these families are irreplaceable. They ignore the prosperity and lives in advanced nations and instead feed our people fratricide, internal division, and loyalty to tribalism, all in exchange for an inadequate salary or benefit.

This is called raising a hungry nation. A hungry nation is easy to control. Some cannot even express their suffering under the tyranny of the KDP and PUK. They bow their heads, cry in silence, and dream of a better life, but only approach death in despair. That is why I must say this is a tribal, nepotistic regime. If our people do not awaken and oppose them, then the future will be even darker than today.

We must raise a conscious generation, reject tribalism, and not allow our youth to become pawns of these tribes. These families have brought only corruption from their ancestors.  These two families are planning another century of rule for themselves. But I am confident that our people are more aware than ever and are thinking about real change.