Muqtada al-Sadr’s followers and rivals were both focused on his vague call to await “important matters” and the instruction for his movement’s officials to not leave Iraq during Ramadan. This ended his five-month long silence on political matters. Al-Sadr’s apparent awakening came following the governments of Baghdad and Erbil agreed to pay salaries to employees in the Kurdistan region. The deal was part of a previously approved agreement and seems to be a reflection of settling the dispute between Saudi Arabia and Iran. According to insider sources, representatives from the “coordinating framework” have taken advantage of al-Sadr’s absence and believe that the Baghdad-Erbil agreement is the cornerstone of a rising alliance. A Shiite political source reported that the coordinating framework was ready to establish new rules for Iraqi politics. However, the Sadrist movement is expected to counter any attempts to change the rules and may initiate a return to political activity. If certain regional settlements impose a different reality, then actions may go beyond attempts to abort the proposed election law. Al-Sadr’s elusive message left many intrigued by the speculated “important matters.”
Muqtada al-Sadr’s supporters, like his opponents, were preoccupied with a vague call from him to await “important matters”, with his movement’s officials not to leave Iraq during the month of Ramadan, apparently breaking his 5-month fast on political speech.
It seemed that there was an “awakening” of al-Sadr to the impact of new rules for the political equation in Iraq, which appeared strongly in the agreement between the governments of Baghdad and Erbil to pay the salaries of employees of the Kurdistan region, as part of a deal “approved by the coordination framework, in a side reflection of the settlement between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Iran.” According to informed political sources.
Representatives from the “coordinating framework” saw that the Baghdad-Erbil agreement laid the cornerstone of a rising alliance, taking advantage of the absence of the “Sadr movement.”
A Shiite political source told Asharq Al-Awsat that “the coordination framework is fully prepared to install new rules for Iraqi political life,” but “the leader of the Sadrist movement will not allow the coordination framework to move forward in changing the rules, away from its influence,” expecting “an imminent move by tenderness.” To put the stick in the wheel, and perhaps pave the way for the return of his political activity.
Informed sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that “the expected moves may go beyond an attempt to abort the proposed election law, if the ongoing regional settlements impose a different reality and will prompt al-Sadr to move quickly.”
Al-Sadr breaks his silence with a vague invitation to watch “important matters.”
It remains to be seen what exactly Muqtada al-Sadr has in store with his vague call to await “important matters.” However, it is clear that his absence from the recent agreement between Baghdad and Erbil has been noted by the “coordinating framework” representatives, who are looking to install new rules for Iraqi political life. Al-Sadr may not allow these changes to take place without his influence, and it is expected that he will make a move soon to assert himself back into the political arena. Whatever happens, it is clear that the political situation in Iraq remains complex and full of uncertainty.
