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| Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi | |
|---|---|
| Name | Haider al-Abadi |
| Native name | حيدر العبادي |
| Office | Prime Minister of Iraq |
| Term start | 2014 |
| Term end | 2018 |
| Predecessor | Haider al-Abadi (as Prime Minister-designate) |
| Successor | Adil Abdul-Mahdi |
| Birth date | 1952 |
| Birth place | Baghdad |
| Party | Islamic Dawa Party |
| Alma mater | University of Technology, Baghdad, University of Manchester |
Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi was an Iraqi politician who served as Prime Minister of Iraq from 2014 to 2018, leading Iraq during the war against ISIL and large-scale reconstruction efforts. Born in Baghdad and educated in Iraq and the United Kingdom, he was a senior figure in the Islamic Dawa Party and held ministerial roles in post-2003 Iraqi administrations. His premiership intersected with regional actors such as Iran, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia and international partners including the United States, United Kingdom, and European Union.
Al-Abadi was born in Baghdad into a family associated with the Shia Islam community and the Iraqi middle class, studying electrical engineering at the University of Technology, Baghdad before pursuing postgraduate studies at the University of Manchester where he completed a PhD in electrical engineering. His academic training connected him to institutions such as the Iraqi Academic community, the British higher education system, and professional networks across Europe and the Middle East. During the Ba'ath Party era and the Iran–Iraq War, his trajectory mirrored that of many Iraqi technocrats who later joined the post-2003 political order represented by parties like the Islamic Dawa Party and coalitions such as the United Iraqi Alliance.
Al-Abadi entered national politics after the 2003 invasion of Iraq through involvement in the Islamic Dawa Party and parliamentary roles in the Council of Representatives of Iraq. He served in cabinets of leaders including Nouri al-Maliki and worked alongside figures from blocs such as the State of Law Coalition, Iraqi National Alliance, and Kurdistan Democratic Party. Al-Abadi held the post of Minister of Communications in earlier administrations and was active in legislative committees that interfaced with institutions like the Central Bank of Iraq and the Independent High Electoral Commission. His rise reflected intra-party contests within the Islamic Dawa Party, negotiations with blocs led by Ammar al-Hakim, Muqtada al-Sadr, and rapprochement efforts with the Kurdistan Regional Government and leaders such as Masoud Barzani.
Appointed Prime Minister amid the collapse of Iraqi security positions to Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), al-Abadi formed a government that sought backing from the United States Department of Defense, Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, Shia militias, and international coalitions including the Global Coalition to Counter ISIL. His premiership navigated crises involving the Battle of Mosul (2016–17), the Fall of Mosul, and operations in Ramadi and Tikrit, coordinating with commanders from the Iraqi Counter Terrorism Service and political leaders like Hoshyar Zebari and Fuad Masum. He faced parliamentary debates with leaders from the Supreme Judicial Council of Iraq and opponents such as Nouri al-Maliki while engaging with diplomatic counterparts including John Kerry and Sergei Lavrov.
Al-Abadi pursued reforms aimed at administrative efficiency, anti-corruption, and public service delivery, promoting measures within ministries such as the Ministry of Finance (Iraq), Ministry of Interior (Iraq), and Ministry of Oil. He sought to reduce patronage associated with blocs like the State of Law Coalition and negotiated with trade unions, civil society groups, and NGOs including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International on governance and human rights concerns. His measures touched on institutional reforms involving the Independent High Electoral Commission, budgetary procedures linked to the Council of Representatives of Iraq, and decentralization debates with the Kurdistan Regional Government.
Al-Abadi led Iraq during major counteroffensives against ISIL forces, coordinating multi-front campaigns such as the Battle of Ramadi (2015–16), the Siege of Fallujah (2016), and the Battle of Mosul (2016–17), drawing on capabilities from the Iraqi Army (post-2003), Popular Mobilization Forces, and the Iraqi Counter Terrorism Service. He navigated international military relationships with the United States Central Command, NATO, and advisory missions from France and Russia, while balancing political influence from Iran and domestic figures like Ammar al-Hakim. Post-conflict priorities included securing liberated cities such as Ramadi, Fallujah, and Mosul against remnants of ISIL and addressing displacement overseen by agencies like the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Organization for Migration.
Facing oil revenue shocks and fiscal shortfalls, al-Abadi managed economic policy through interactions with the Ministry of Finance (Iraq), the Central Bank of Iraq, and international lenders including the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. Reconstruction programs targeted infrastructure in provinces such as Anbar Governorate, Nineveh Governorate, and Anbar, coordinating with multinational firms from China, Turkey, Germany, and Italy and negotiating contracts involving the Iraqi Ministry of Oil, South Oil Company, and international oil companies like Shell and ExxonMobil. Efforts included budget reallocations, subsidy reforms debated with parliamentarians from blocs like the State of Law Coalition and Citizens Alliance, and appeals for aid at donor conferences attended by representatives of the European Union and the United Nations.
Al-Abadi advocated a form of national reconciliation that sought to bridge divisions among Shia Islam parties, Sunni Arab leaders, and the Kurdistan Regional Government, engaging with regional actors including Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey, and international partners such as the United States and Russia. His legacy is debated among commentators from outlets like Al Jazeera and The New York Times and analysts at institutions such as the Brookings Institution and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace for his role in defeating ISIL while confronting economic and political challenges tied to figures like Nouri al-Maliki and movements such as Muqtada al-Sadr's. Long-term assessments consider his impacts on institutions like the Council of Representatives of Iraq and the Independent High Electoral Commission and on reconstruction across provinces including Nineveh, Salaheddin Governorate, and Anbar Governorate.
Category:Prime Ministers of Iraq