First Published: 2017-10-19

Power shifts again in Iraq's multi-ethnic Kirkuk
In Kirkuk where three weeks ago a Kurdish independence referendum was being held, huge Iraqi flags are now strung from palm trees and across buildings.
Middle East Online

Iraqis hand out national flags in Kirkuk.

KIRKUK - With the return of Kirkuk to Iraqi control, the balance of power appears to have shifted between the ethnic communities in the Kurdish-majority city, to the delight of its Turkmen residents.

"Before we couldn't proudly declare that we are Turkmen, now our flag is flying over Kirkuk's citadel again," said Omar Najat, 23.

Three weeks before, the disputed city's Kurds were gleefully taking part in a Kurdish independence referendum in open defiance of Baghdad.

Today, the election posters have been torn down, as well as those of the September 25 referendum's chief advocate, Iraqi Kurdish leader Massud Barzani.

Huge Iraqi flags have been strung from palm trees and across buildings, although Kurdish flags have been left flying from lampposts.

In the Kurdish neighbourhood of Rahimawa, business has been slow for the few shops that have reopened such as tyre salesman Abu Sima, 36, as he awaits a return to normality.

His nephews and nieces had to wait for schools to reopen in the wake of the upheaval on Sunday as Iraqi forces entered the city.

In three days and with barely any resistance from Kurdish peshmerga fighters, Iraqi forces took control of the whole of the oil-rich province of Kirkuk, whose ownership has long been disputed between Baghdad and the autonomous Kurdish region in the north.

For fear of violence on Sunday, Abu Sima and his wife joined thousands of other families, mostly Kurds, in fleeing the city. But like most others, they have returned.

- 'We had to come back' -

"We had to come back because we, the Kurds, are the majority, we were the original residents of Kirkuk," he said.

In his fabrics store at the heart of the market in the shadow of the Ottoman-era citadel, Omar Najat couldn't agree less with that historical assessment.

"That there (the citadel) is Ottoman, Turkish, and Kirkuk is Iraqi Turkmen," he insisted.

"Now that Baghdad is in charge, we have security, not like before when we had another power in place," said the young man in skinny jeans and slim-fitting shirt.

He was referring to Kirkuk's governor Najm Eddine Karim who was fired by Baghdad for bringing the referendum to the province but refused to step down, until Iraqi security forces seized control of his office on Monday.

He had previously gone on television to urge Kurdish residents to take up arms to resist the entry of Iraqi forces into the city.

Near a central square where a giant blue Turkmen flag stamped with a crescent and star has been hoisted, Turkmen merchant Abu Hussein is a firm believer in the coexistence of Kirkuk's 800,000 residents.

The Kurds make up two-thirds of its population, 25 percent are Turkmen and the rest Arab Muslims and Christians.

Kirkuk is not one of the three provinces that have been part of the autonomous Kurdish region in Iraq since the US-led invasion of 2003 toppled dictator Saddam Hussein.

It is in an area disputed between Baghdad and the Kurds who claim it is theirs historically, since Saddam's forces chased them out and replaced them with Arabs.

"We know how to live alongside each ether," said Abu Hussein, seated next to a Kurdish friend in traditional shalwar baggy trousers.

The Kurdish shopkeeper next door has an all-Arab workforce.

"It's not just the past year or two, we've all been living together for decades," said Abu Hussein, a 47-year spice seller.

"As for the politicians, that's something else," he said before slipping back inside his store.

For Mohammed Hamdani, a 55-year-old Sunni Arab, any blame lies on politicians in Baghdad and Arbil, the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan.

"They can't agree between themselves and it's us, ordinary people, who pay the price," said the Arab, wearing a yellow jalabiya robe and colourful prayer cap.

Hamdani's request is straightforward: "Whoever our leaders are, all we ask of them is one thing: that they give us security and the means to feed ourselves."

 

Hamas calls US unity comments ‘blatant interference’

Power shifts again in Iraq's multi-ethnic Kirkuk

Erdogan says may shut Iraqi border at any moment

Haley: Iran must be judged in totality of its aggressive behaviour

Jobless Tunisians seek new migration routes to Europe

OPEC chief pleased with oil market rebalancing

Turkish police detain leading civil society figure

G7, tech giants meet to tackle terror online

Iraq’s Kurdish regional government open to Baghdad talks

Tensions flare among Yemen's rebels

Baghdad court issues arrest warrant for Iraqi Kurd VP

Erdogan, Nigerian counterpart to ramp up cooperation

Russian medics operate on Yemen's Saleh despite embargo

Baghdad condemns oil deal between Russia’s Rosneft, Kurds

Syrian general accused of journalist deaths killed in Deir Ezzor

Raqa liberators ready for civilian handover, on to next battle

Revolutionary Guards say Iranian missile program will continue

Erdogan calls on three major mayors to resign

ICC investigating several war crimes in Mali

Tunisian couple jailed for 'public indecency' over car kiss

Next round of Syria talks at end October

Gazans hope Palestinian reconciliation ends their woes

PSG's Khelaifi to be quizzed in Swiss World Cup probe

UN urges de-escalation in Iraq

EU says Israeli settlements illegal under international law

Kurdish independence goes from dream to dust

Female commander more than just poster girl for Raqa victory

Saudi airline flies to Baghdad for first time in 27 years

Wanted Dead: France's approach to IS jihadists

Saudi Arabia to monitor interpretations of prophet's sayings

Italy busts Libyan diesel smugglers

Khamenei vows to 'shred' nuclear deal if US pulls out

Fate of IS fighters in Raqa uncertain

Turkish Red Crescent concerned by Idlib humanitarian ‘drama’

US firm to build solar plants in Gaza

Ghost city Raqa scanned for survivors, bombs

Bahrain accuses Iran of harbouring 160 'terrorists'

Qatar says Gulf crisis hindering fight against IS

Qatar emir calls for talks on visit to Indonesia

Iraq calls on BP to help develop Kirkuk oil

Israeli forces raid Palestinian media offices linked to Hamas

French parliament is set to pass new anti-terror law

Baghdad says mission accomplished in Kurd operation

Israel says no to Palestine talks until Hamas disarms

IS territory down to almost 10% of 2014 ‘caliphate’