Basra Governor Asaad Al-Eidani speaks during a televised interview, stating that his governorate does not need militia groups to maintain security.
Media Monitor
Basra governor says governorate ‘does not need’ militia groups
BASRA — Basra Governor Asaad Al-Eidani said his governorate does not need militia groups to maintain security, saying that state institutions are fully capable of handling security challenges.
“Basra does not need factions [militia groups], even though they protected the country during the ISIS crisis,” Al-Eidani said in an interview with state-owned channel Iraqia TV. “But our governorate is not like Mosul, for example. While the security challenges here are considerable, the level of lawlessness has significantly decreased compared to previous years.”
He stressed that security in Basra is handled by official institutions rather than armed groups or tribal forces.
Some excerpt from Al-Eidani’s interview on Iraqia TV:
“Basra does not need factions, even though they protected the country during the ISIS crisis. But our governorate is not like Mosul, for example. While the security challenges here are considerable, the level of lawlessness has significantly decreased compared to previous years. Many foreign diplomats now move around without security details, which reflects our security capabilities.
Security in Basra relies on state institutions, not on tribes or factions. Our security forces are the best-equipped among the governorates, regardless of the support provided by the Ministry of Interior. As a governorate, we have provided all types of equipment to security sectors, except for weapons.
I am the least reliant on security details. The people of Basra know me and see me driving my own car. Anyone can pass by my house normally. The security situation in the country does not require excessive protocols, and each person has their own way of managing affairs.
The drug issue is the most urgent security challenge for us in Basra. Our governorate is open to three countries and serves as a corridor for international trade. Despite that, we continue to combat international traffickers and have arrested many of them. Drugs today pose a major challenge for the entire country.”
