Al Anbar governorate election, 2009
Encyclopedia
The Al Anbar governorate election of 2009 was held on 31 January 2009 alongside elections for all other governorates
outside Iraqi Kurdistan
and Kirkuk
.
s. The sitting governorate council was elected in the Iraqi governorate elections, 2005. These elections took place at the same time as the Iraqi legislative election, January 2005
and were boycotted by nearly all Sunni Arab parties. The Iraqi Islamic Party
was the only significant Sunni Arab party to put up candidates but they also withdrew from the ballot days before the election.
The turnout in Anbar was 2% for the legislative elections and only 0.5% for the governorate election. Therefore although the Iraqi Islamic Party has traditionally been stronger in Mosul, they ended up with nearly all the seats on the governorate council.
From 2004, the governorate became a major site of the insurgency in Iraq directed against the Iraq government and occupying United States army. However, the formation in September 2006 of the Anbar Salvation Council
was a turning point, and led to the american-backed tribal forces driving al-Qaeda in Iraq
and other insurgents out of al-Anbar.
which ran the council since 2005 and various parties linked to the Awakening movements
formed by tribal leaders and funded by the United States to fight against al-Qaeda in Iraq
. Analysts predicted the IIP standing on their own would be "wiped out" in Anbar by the Awakening movements. the Iraqi Islamic Party formed the Coalition of Intellectuals and Tribes together with uniting the Islamic Party
, the gathering of Anbar’s Tribal Leaders and Intellectuals, Iraq’s People’s Conference and the Independent Tribal National Gathering.
Lists associated with the Awakening movements included the Iraq Awakening and Independents National Alliance
and the National Front for the Salvation of Iraq
. The Alliance was led by Sheikh Ahmed Abu Risha
, Sheikh Amir Ali al-Sulaiman and Sheikh Hameed al-Hayyes Sheikh al-Hayyes left the Alliance before the election and contested as head of the "Anbar Salvation Council" list.
The National Front was led by Sheikh Ali Hatim, the tribal leader of the Dulaim
tribal confederation - the largest in Anbar - and has previously clashed with Abu Risha's brother, Abdul Sattar Abu Risha
, when he was the head of the Anbar Salvation Council. The Front claimed the support of the Anbar Salvation Council
, the Al-Anbar Awakening Congress, and the Council of Al-Anbar Sheikhs.
The Tribes of Iraq Coalition
, headed by Hamid al-Hais is another list which claims to be backed by tribal leaders.
Saleh al-Mutlak's Iraqi National Dialogue Front is the only significant list that doesn't rely on support from tribal leaders, being based on former Ba'ath Party supporters.
, and started firing in the air to celebrate victory. Iraqi police quickly dispersed the groups and announced a curfew.
Early leaked results indicated that the lists backed by the IIP had won 12 of the 29 seats on the council - the largest number for any party. Sahawa supporters accused the IIP of adding 100,000 fraudulent ballot papers and threatened a violent reaction if it was confirmed. Sheikh Ahmed Abu Risha
threatened to "transfer our entity from a political to a military one" and "to fight the Islamic Party and the [Electoral] commission". The IIP condemned the threats of violence saying this behaviour would "take us back to the Middle Ages"
The Deputy Prime Minister of Iraq and IIP member, Rafi al-Issawi
, called for a recount with people accused of fraud prosecuted. Iraqi National Dialogue Front leader Saleh al-Mutlaq
said most of the lists thought the IIP had manipulated the vote, he had seen fraudulent ballots himself and the vote had been "tainted".
The Electoral Commission said they had received a flood of complaints which they were investigating - including some serious complaints that could alter the outcome of the vote. Commission officials met with Abu Risha, assured him they would not tolerate any forgery and asked him to avoid confrontation with the IIP.
Following the election, the Iraq Awakening and Independents National Alliance nominated as governor Qasim Abid Muhammad Hammadi al-Fahadawi
, a businessman who had recently been running a construction company in the United Arab Emirates
. He was elected by 24 votes to 3 and formed a government including all parties except for the Iraqi Islamic Party's three members. Dr. Jassim al-Halbusi was elected chairman of the provincial council.
Governorates of Iraq
||Iraq is composed of 18 provinces :#Baghdād #Salāh ad-Dīn #Diyālā #Wāsit #Maysān #Al-Basrah #Dhī Qār #Al-Muthannā #Al-Qādisiyyah...
outside Iraqi Kurdistan
Iraqi Kurdistan
Iraqi Kurdistan or Kurdistan Region is an autonomous region of Iraq. It borders Iran to the east, Turkey to the north, Syria to the west and the rest of Iraq to the south. The regional capital is Arbil, known in Kurdish as Hewlêr...
and Kirkuk
Kirkuk
Kirkuk is a city in Iraq and the capital of Kirkuk Governorate.It is located in the Iraqi governorate of Kirkuk, north of the capital, Baghdad...
.
Background
The province is overwhelmingly populated by Sunni ArabArab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
s. The sitting governorate council was elected in the Iraqi governorate elections, 2005. These elections took place at the same time as the Iraqi legislative election, January 2005
Iraqi legislative election, January 2005
Elections for the National Assembly of Iraq were held on January 30, 2005 in Iraq. The 275-member National Assembly was a parliament created under the Transitional Law during the Occupation of Iraq...
and were boycotted by nearly all Sunni Arab parties. The Iraqi Islamic Party
Iraqi Islamic Party
The Iraqi Islamic Party is currently the largest Sunni Islamist political party in Iraq as well as the most prominent member of the Iraqi Accord Front political coalition. It is currently part of the government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki...
was the only significant Sunni Arab party to put up candidates but they also withdrew from the ballot days before the election.
The turnout in Anbar was 2% for the legislative elections and only 0.5% for the governorate election. Therefore although the Iraqi Islamic Party has traditionally been stronger in Mosul, they ended up with nearly all the seats on the governorate council.
From 2004, the governorate became a major site of the insurgency in Iraq directed against the Iraq government and occupying United States army. However, the formation in September 2006 of the Anbar Salvation Council
Anbar Salvation Council
Anbar Salvation Council is a collection of tribal militias in the Al Anbar province of Iraq, formed by former Baathists and nationalists to fight al-Qaeda in Iraq and other associated terrorist groups. In Arabic the council is known as Sahawa Al Anbar, abbreviated SAA when referred to by the US Army...
was a turning point, and led to the american-backed tribal forces driving al-Qaeda in Iraq
Al-Qaeda in Iraq
Al-Qaeda in Iraq is a popular name for the Iraqi division of the international Salafi jihadi militant organization al-Qaeda. It is recognized as a part of the greater Iraqi insurgency....
and other insurgents out of al-Anbar.
Campaign
More than 520 candidates stood in Anbar, from 37 party lists. The main contest was between the Iraqi Islamic PartyIraqi Islamic Party
The Iraqi Islamic Party is currently the largest Sunni Islamist political party in Iraq as well as the most prominent member of the Iraqi Accord Front political coalition. It is currently part of the government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki...
which ran the council since 2005 and various parties linked to the Awakening movements
Awakening movements in Iraq
The National Council for the Awakening of Iraq , also known as the Sunni Awakening movement Anbar Awakening or the Sons of Iraq program, are coalitions between tribal Sheikhs in a particular province in Iraq that unite to maintain security in their communities.-About:The movement started among...
formed by tribal leaders and funded by the United States to fight against al-Qaeda in Iraq
Al-Qaeda in Iraq
Al-Qaeda in Iraq is a popular name for the Iraqi division of the international Salafi jihadi militant organization al-Qaeda. It is recognized as a part of the greater Iraqi insurgency....
. Analysts predicted the IIP standing on their own would be "wiped out" in Anbar by the Awakening movements. the Iraqi Islamic Party formed the Coalition of Intellectuals and Tribes together with uniting the Islamic Party
Islamic party
An Islamic party is a party that works for promoting Islam while an Islamic political party is a political party that promotes Islam as a political movement by offering nominees for election in a democracy - of which there are several in the Islamic world. They are important to distinguish from...
, the gathering of Anbar’s Tribal Leaders and Intellectuals, Iraq’s People’s Conference and the Independent Tribal National Gathering.
Lists associated with the Awakening movements included the Iraq Awakening and Independents National Alliance
Iraq Awakening and Independents National Alliance
The Iraq Awakening and Independents National Alliance is an Iraqi political coalition formed to contest the Al Anbar governorate election, 2009. It obtained 8 out of 29 seats - the highest of any party list....
and the National Front for the Salvation of Iraq
National Front for the Salvation of Iraq
The National Front for the Salvation of Iraq is a political party in Iraq. It developed out of the Awakening movements and is mostly made up of Sunni Muslim tribal leaders from Al-Anbar province, an ethnic Arab region....
. The Alliance was led by Sheikh Ahmed Abu Risha
Ahmed Abu Risha
Sheik Ahmed Abu Risha is a Sunni leader in the Al-Anbar province leading a movement of Sunni tribesmen, the Anbar Salvation Council...
, Sheikh Amir Ali al-Sulaiman and Sheikh Hameed al-Hayyes Sheikh al-Hayyes left the Alliance before the election and contested as head of the "Anbar Salvation Council" list.
The National Front was led by Sheikh Ali Hatim, the tribal leader of the Dulaim
Dulaim
Dulaim or Dulaimi or Al Duliam or Dulaym is one of the largest of Arab tribes , with over seven million people. The confederation's history goes back to pre-Islamic times and millions descend from the original tribe today in Iraq and neighboring countries such as Syria and Jordan.The Dulaim tribe...
tribal confederation - the largest in Anbar - and has previously clashed with Abu Risha's brother, Abdul Sattar Abu Risha
Abdul Sattar Abu Risha
Abdul Sattar Abu Risha - Sheikh Abdul Sattar Eftikhan al-Rishawi ad-Dulaimi الشيخ عبد الستار افتيخان الريشاوي الدليمي - was a high-profile Iraqi tribal sheikh...
, when he was the head of the Anbar Salvation Council. The Front claimed the support of the Anbar Salvation Council
Anbar Salvation Council
Anbar Salvation Council is a collection of tribal militias in the Al Anbar province of Iraq, formed by former Baathists and nationalists to fight al-Qaeda in Iraq and other associated terrorist groups. In Arabic the council is known as Sahawa Al Anbar, abbreviated SAA when referred to by the US Army...
, the Al-Anbar Awakening Congress, and the Council of Al-Anbar Sheikhs.
The Tribes of Iraq Coalition
Tribes of Iraq Coalition
The Tribes of Iraq Coalition also known as the Anbar Salvation Council is an Iraqi political coalition formed to contest the Al Anbar governorate election, 2009 which won 2 out of 29 seats....
, headed by Hamid al-Hais is another list which claims to be backed by tribal leaders.
Saleh al-Mutlak's Iraqi National Dialogue Front is the only significant list that doesn't rely on support from tribal leaders, being based on former Ba'ath Party supporters.
Results
Following the vote, supporters of the IIP and the Sahawa gathered in the capital, RamadiRamadi
Ramadi is a city in central Iraq, about west of Baghdad. It is the capital of Al Anbar Governorate.-History:Ramadi is located in a fertile, irrigated, alluvial plain.The Ottoman Empire founded Ramadi in 1869...
, and started firing in the air to celebrate victory. Iraqi police quickly dispersed the groups and announced a curfew.
Early leaked results indicated that the lists backed by the IIP had won 12 of the 29 seats on the council - the largest number for any party. Sahawa supporters accused the IIP of adding 100,000 fraudulent ballot papers and threatened a violent reaction if it was confirmed. Sheikh Ahmed Abu Risha
Ahmed Abu Risha
Sheik Ahmed Abu Risha is a Sunni leader in the Al-Anbar province leading a movement of Sunni tribesmen, the Anbar Salvation Council...
threatened to "transfer our entity from a political to a military one" and "to fight the Islamic Party and the [Electoral] commission". The IIP condemned the threats of violence saying this behaviour would "take us back to the Middle Ages"
The Deputy Prime Minister of Iraq and IIP member, Rafi al-Issawi
Rafi al-Issawi
Dr. Rafi Hiyad al-Issawi is the current Deputy Prime Minister of Iraq from the Iraqi Islamic Party. He was approved by the Iraqi Council of Representatives on 19 July 2008....
, called for a recount with people accused of fraud prosecuted. Iraqi National Dialogue Front leader Saleh al-Mutlaq
Saleh al-Mutlaq
Saleh Muhammed al-Mutlaq is an Iraqi politician who is the head of Iraqi Front for National Dialogue, the fifth largest political list in Iraq's parliament. Since 21 December 2010, he has been one of the three deputy prime ministers of Iraq....
said most of the lists thought the IIP had manipulated the vote, he had seen fraudulent ballots himself and the vote had been "tainted".
The Electoral Commission said they had received a flood of complaints which they were investigating - including some serious complaints that could alter the outcome of the vote. Commission officials met with Abu Risha, assured him they would not tolerate any forgery and asked him to avoid confrontation with the IIP.
Following the election, the Iraq Awakening and Independents National Alliance nominated as governor Qasim Abid Muhammad Hammadi al-Fahadawi
Qasim Abid Muhammad Hammadi al-Fahadawi
Qasim Mohammad Abid Hammadi al-Fahadawi is an Iraqi politician and businessman who has been the Governor of Al Anbar province since April 2009....
, a businessman who had recently been running a construction company in the United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
. He was elected by 24 votes to 3 and formed a government including all parties except for the Iraqi Islamic Party's three members. Dr. Jassim al-Halbusi was elected chairman of the provincial council.