Iraq cannot restore its sovereignty by disarming militias alone

Iraq is approaching a decisive test of its sovereignty. Following the end of the US-led coalition’s military mission in federal Iraq on 30 September 2026, Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has set a new deadline of 30 June 2027 for bringing powerful armed factions under state control. The plan begins with a 90-day halt to military activity before moving towards weapons control and the integration of fighters into official security institutions. Yet the refusal of influential factions to surrender their autonomy reveals a deeper problem. Baghdad is attempting to discipline armed organisations that have become embedded in the political order it seeks to reform. The distinction matters. Iraq is not dealing simply with armed groups operating beyond the reach of the […]