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Nouri al-Maliki

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Nouri al-Maliki is a prominent Iraqi politician who shaped the nation during a period of intense transition.

نوري المالكي شاب
نوري المالكي شاب

Born on June 20, 1950, in the village of Janaja, he grew up in the Abu Gharaq region. He was a member of the Al-Ali Tribe, which is part of the larger Bani Malik tribe. His grandfather, Muhammad Hasan Abi al-Mahasin, was a significant historical figure. He served as Iraq's Minister of Education under King Faisal I and was a poet. These roots in Iraqi leadership and education likely influenced al-Maliki's later political career.

Al-Maliki's path to power began with political dissent. In the late 1970s, he joined the Islamic Dawa Party, which opposed the government of Saddam Hussein. Because the party was outlawed, al-Maliki fled Iraq on July 16, 1979. He spent 24 years in exile living in Jordan, Syria, and Iran.

Barack Obama & Nouri al-Maliki in Baghdad 4-7-09 2
Barack Obama & Nouri al-Maliki in Baghdad 4-7-09 2

During this time, he rose to become a senior leader of the Dawa Party. He worked as a political officer in Damascus and edited the party newspaper, Al-Mawqif. He also joined the Joint Action Committee to coordinate opposition against the Hussein regime.

Following the 2003 invasion of Iraq, al-Maliki returned to his home country. He immediately took on roles to help rebuild the government structure. He served as a deputy leader in the Supreme National Debaathification Commission. This group worked to remove former Ba'ath Party officials from the military and government. In 2005, he was elected to the transitional National Assembly. He also participated in the committee that drafted Iraq's new constitution, which was passed in October 2005.

In 2006, al-Maliki became the first full-term prime minister of post-Saddam Iraq.

Nuri al-Maliki and Abd al-Qadir
Nuri al-Maliki and Abd al-Qadir

His first cabinet was formally sworn in on May 20, 2006. During his first term, he faced the difficult task of managing security and insurgent groups. He famously signed the death warrant for Saddam Hussein in December 2006. Al-Maliki stated that executing the former leader was necessary to respect the rights of Hussein's victims. This period was marked by efforts to stabilize the nation amidst ongoing conflict.

Al-Maliki's leadership style and political choices became points of major debate. In 2010, he formed a second government that included all main parliamentary blocs.

George W. Bush and Iraqi PM Nuri al-Maliki-Dec2008
George W. Bush and Iraqi PM Nuri al-Maliki-Dec2008

During this second term, he held several powerful roles simultaneously. He acted as the Interior Minister, Defense Minister, and National Security Minister. While he worked with the Multi-National Force, his relationship with the United States changed over time. He also faced criticism for his close ties to officials in Iran.

His tenure was also defined by significant political and social challenges. Many people, including local Iraqis and American officials, criticized his administration. They alleged that he favored Shia political and military figures over Sunni Arabs and Kurds. This favoritism was seen by some as a cause of sectarian violence. Furthermore, there were widespread allegations of corruption during his eight years in power. Some reports suggested that hundreds of billions of dollars had vanished from government accounts.

In 2014, the political situation shifted following defeats to the Islamic State. Under significant pressure, al-Maliki announced his resignation as prime minister on August 14, 2014. However, his influence in Iraqi politics did not end with his premiership. In September 2014, he was elected as one of Iraq's three vice presidents.

Nouri Kamil Al-Maliki (3487677293)
Nouri Kamil Al-Maliki (3487677293)

He held this office through several attempts to abolish the position. His career reflects the complex struggle for power and stability in modern Iraq.

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File:نوري المالكي شاب.jpg
نوري المالكي شاب.jpg
File:Barack Obama & Nouri al-Maliki in Baghdad 4-7-09 2.JPG
Barack Obama & Nouri al-Maliki in Baghdad...
File:Nuri al-Maliki and Abd al-Qadir.jpg
Nuri al-Maliki and Abd al-Qadir.jpg
File:George W. Bush and Iraqi PM Nuri al-Maliki-Dec2008.jpg
George W. Bush and Iraqi PM Nuri...
File:Nouri Kamil Al-Maliki (3487677293).jpg
Nouri Kamil Al-Maliki (3487677293).jpg
File:Speaker Pelosi and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki (3518945573).jpg
Speaker Pelosi and Iraqi Prime Minister...
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