PM advisor: unifying armed groups under state control remains a priority

BAGHDAD — Hussein Alawi, advisor to the Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, says that there are pressures on the Iraqi state to take a stance on the “phenomenon of weapons outside state control”.

He confirmed that political dialogues are ongoing to unify weapons “under the banner of the commander-in-chief of the armed forces.” He added that armed factions must consider national interests and take into account the strength of the state’s decisions, emphasizing that the state’s voice has been louder than others calling for participation in the regional war.

Excerpts from Alawi’s interview with Al-Hadath Channel:

Mr. Al-Sudani defended the idea of Iraq’s stability, particularly in light of ongoing regional developments that favor the national state. This aligns with the statement issued by the religious authority supporting efforts to bolster the rule of law and ensure that weapons are exclusively under the state’s control.

The Prime Minister engaged in dialogues with all armed factions opposing the United States and managed to restore balance after the repercussions of the Gaza events impacted Iraq. We are continuing on the path of supporting stability in the country.

Over the past months, the Iraqi government has demonstrated a unified decision-making process and cohesion within its armed forces. This has enabled it to prevent Iraq from slipping into a regional war. There is ongoing political movement toward unifying arms under the banner of the commander-in-chief of the armed forces.

Through these political dialogues, factions are now expected to make decisions that prioritize national interests, the will of the Iraqi people, the guidance of the religious authority, and the strength of the state. The developments in Syria presented a difficult moment, but the collective faith in the Iraqi state remains the foundation of this trajectory.

There is pressure to address the phenomenon of arms outside the control of the state. It is important to recognize that consolidating weapons under state authority is a task postponed since the victory over ISIS in Mosul.

The Iraqi state has been tested during the current regional crisis, and its decision-making voice has prevailed over others calling for participation in the war. The prime minister rejected the notion of venturing into the unknown, a stance aligned with the guidance of the religious authority and the will of the Iraqi people.