Tal Afar pushes for Abu Maria to gain subdistrict status to improve services

NINEVEH — A committee from Iraq’s Planning Ministry visited Tal Afar, Nineveh Governorate, to review a proposal to convert Abu Maria, one of the district’s largest villages by population and area, into a subdistrict, local officials told 964media.

The move aims to improve services and ease administrative pressure on Tal Afar’s center. The village suffers from chronic infrastructure issues, prompting renewed calls for its elevation in administrative status.

Tal Afar district director Khalil Mohsen told 964media that the request was first submitted to the Nineveh governorate administration before the national census but was postponed. “We renewed the request after the census, and a committee from the Planning Directorate visited the area, met with local leaders, and reviewed conditions on-the-ground,” he said.

Mohsen said the village qualifies based on its population and size and could incorporate more than 10 nearby villages, including Kisk, Al-Ashiq, and Al-Abtisha. Current budget allocations, he said, are only enough for small projects like renovating schools or resurfacing roads.

“Subdistrict status would allow for more organized service delivery and reduce the burden on the district center,” he said.

Bashar Al-Mubarak, a tribal leader, said the official communal boundaries of the village have not changed since the 1960s and remain limited to two square kilometers, even though the population now exceeds 20,000.

“Homes outside the official village boundary lack electricity and water,” he said, adding that subdistrict recognition would expand official limits and allow for services from municipal and police departments.

Village representative Thaer Ali Mahmoud said they submitted formal requests to the district administration with support from over ten nearby villages. “This change would reduce pressure on Tal Afar and ease the burden on local residents, who struggle with access to essential services,” he said.

Mahmoud also noted the village’s sacrifices during the Islamic State offensive, saying, “We lost around 80 people.”

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