Private Eye Criticizes Barzani Family for Corruption in Kurdistan

The Barzani family, which holds significant power in the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), has been harshly criticized by Private Eye, the United Kingdom’s leading news and current affairs magazine. The publication described the Barzani family as a “mafia outfit dedicated to lining their own pockets,” highlighting the widespread corruption that has allegedly allowed the family to amass considerable wealth abroad while neglecting the needs of Kurdistan’s civil servants, teachers, and doctors.

According to the report, the Barzani family’s actions have severely undermined efforts to diversify the economy of Kurdistan. The magazine pointed to the 2021 arbitration proceedings brought by British oil and gas company Genel Energy against the KRG, accusing it of illegally terminating two gas production sharing contracts. Additionally, the report cited Sirwan Barzani’s refusal to pay a $1.65 billion arbitral award after allegedly defrauding a joint venture between Kuwait’s Agility Public Warehousing Company and France’s telecom company Orange.

Private Eye warned that the KRG’s treatment of international investors, combined with the Barzani family’s corruption, poses a significant threat to the region’s economic stability and growth.