Diwaniyah council dismisses eight officials in response to protests over ‘poor service conditions’

DIWANIYAH — The Diwaniyah Provincial Council held an emergency session Saturday, dismissing directors and deputies from eight service departments in response to week-long protests over deteriorating public services, exacerbated by recent rains.

Council president Mohammed Shakhir Al-Ghanimi chaired the meeting, attended by the majority of members, to address growing discontent among residents.

A statement from the council’s media office said the session focused on “addressing the governorate’s poor service conditions and discussing measures to improve services for residents.”

As part of the session, the council reviewed protesters’ demands and voted to remove several officials, including the Director of Municipalities and the Deputy Director of the Diwaniyah Electricity Distribution Branch. Leaders of other key departments, such as the Women and Children’s Hospital and Afak General Hospital, were also dismissed.

“This is part of the council’s reform efforts to enhance the performance of government institutions and improve the services provided to citizens,” the statement read, adding that the council is committed to “listening to the voices of the streets and working in a manner that serves the interests of Diwaniyah’s residents.”

Diwaniyah, located in southern Iraq, has seen a surge in protests over the past year. More than 50 demonstrations were reported between early summer and the end of July 2024. Protesters cite chronic issues such as water shortages, unreliable electricity, delayed projects, and corruption as key drivers of unrest.