Between Claims of Success and the Suffering of Citizens: The Realities of Barzani and Talabani Rule

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Rasti Kamal Saleh – Activist

At a time when the authorities in Baghdad and the Kurdistan Region are engaged in political rivalry, and the leaders of the two ruling families—particularly figures such as Mansour Barzani and Qubad Talabani—use their media platforms to stage a narrative of “continuous success” and “stability,” the reality of people’s lives has reached breaking point. These hollow and glittering slogans can no longer conceal the hell that party- and family-based rule has created for the citizens of the Kurdistan Region.

Imposed Hunger and the Collapse of Basic Infrastructure

The authoritarian rule of the KDP and PUK has handed the Kurdistan Region’s economy over to corruption and plunder. Civil servants’ salaries have been turned into hostages of party interests, while delays in payment have become a normal occurrence. Young people are drowning in unemployment and are being driven towards dangerous migration routes.

The most basic necessities of life—from drinking water and electricity to healthcare—have been allowed to deteriorate, while shadow companies linked to the two ruling families reap millions of dollars in profits at the expense of a suffering population.

Repression of Thought, Imprisonment and the Use of Coercive Force

An authority that fears public discontent has deployed every instrument of repression at its disposal. According to troubling reports by international organisations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch (HRW), freedom of expression has been severely suppressed. Independent journalists, activists and dissenting voices face arrest, torture and fabricated charges.

Rather than protecting national security, the security forces have become, in effect, private family militias used to intimidate, silence and suppress anyone who raises their voice to demand fundamental rights.

As an Activist: Putting the Leaders on Trial Is the Only Formal Path

“The disastrous situation in the Kurdistan Region is the direct result of plunder, corruption, and authoritarian family- and party-based rule. Statements and propaganda by figures such as Mansour Barzani and Qubad Talabani about ‘success’ amount to a reckless insult to the suffering, hunger and bloodshed endured by citizens.

The era of silence is over. The time has come for all leaders and powerful figures associated with these two families to be brought before an independent national court and held accountable under the law for the alleged plundering of public wealth, suppression of freedoms and impoverishment of the population, with the strongest penalties permitted by law imposed where guilt is proven.

Justice for the people cannot be erased through authoritarianism; accountability is the only way forward.”