Provincial Iraqi Control

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The objective of the Iraqi Government and Multi-National Forces in Iraq is to achieve the transition of responsibility for each of the 18 provinces in Iraq from the Coalition to the Iraqi civil authorities, both national and local. Most attention on the issue is understandably focused on progress towards security within the provinces, both in terms of the threat from insurgents and the capability of the Iraqi Security Forces, but other factors, such as the competence and capacity of local governance is also important.^{[citation needed]}

Provinces are subject to regular assessment by the Iraqi government and the Coalition; when a province appears to be ready, a recommendation is made to the Iraqi Ministerial Committee for National Security, with the Prime Minister making the final decision.

1 Provinces under Iraqi Control
2 References
3 See also
4 External links

[edit] Provinces under Iraqi Control

Provincial Security Transition Assessment As of August 2007

As of the end of 2007, nine provinces had successfully completed transition to provincial Iraqi control: al Muthanna, Dhi Qar, Najaf, Maysan, Dahuk, Arbil, Sulaymaniyah, Karbala and Basra.

Muthanna was the first, on 13 July 2006, when Australian, Japanese and British forces from Multi-National Division-South East transferred responsibility to the Governor and local authorities. With a small and homogeneous Shia population, there had been very little militia violence and few attacks on Coalition forces in the preceding months, encouraging good progress in developing the capacity of the Iraqi Security Forces there. Equally, the Governor of Muthanna enjoyed a good local mandate, having been re-elected in local elections in January 2005. ^[1]

Dhi Qar, also within the area of responsibility of the British-led MND-SE and the responsibility of the Italian and Romanian brigade, was handed over on 21 September 2006. ^[2]. Australian troops in MND-SE remain available to provide security support to the Iraqis in both Muthanna and Dhi Qar, should they request it.

Najaf, which had been garrisoned by first Polish, then US forces, was handed over on 20 December 2006. ^[3]

In April 2007, Maysan province became the 4th to transition to provincial Iraqi control. ^[4]

On May 30, 2007, the 3 provinces making up the Kurdish Regional Government transitioned to provincial Iraqi control, bringing the total count to 7. ^[5]

In October 2007, Karbala became the eighth province to transfer to provincial Iraqi control. The transfer of Basrah in December 2007 marked the half-way point in transferring all provincial security over to Iraqi security forces.^[6]

The meaning of Basra's addition to the list of provinces under Iraqi control is questionable: in March and April of 2008, battles raged between the al-Maliki government and al-Sadr's Mahdi Army^[7]; an Iranian-brokered agreement led to the end of that conflict, but al-Sadr's Mahdi Army remained in control of Basra^[8]; moreover, the smuggling of Iraqi oil from Basra to Iran continues to sap the al-Maliki government of financial strength ^[9] .