Iraq’s PM Zaidi says intelligence service must stay out of party, sectarian quotas

BAGHDAD — Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi on Thursday said the Iraqi National Intelligence Service must be kept out of the quota system that shares out posts among parties, factions and sects, three days after he removed its chief.

Zaidi spoke during a visit to the service’s headquarters, where he met its leaders and officers, his media office said in a statement. The service represents all Iraqis and plays a key role in protecting the country’s security and stability, he said.

He praised the sacrifices the service had made and the work it had done in recent years, and he pledged his full support for its officers and staff, according to the statement. The government would meet all of the service’s needs and would train it and develop its capabilities using the latest scientific and technical methods, he said.

Zaidi also called for security efforts to be doubled to defend the country and protect its security and stability. He said the crises and wars in the region meant security work had to be stepped up in every field.

The statement did not mention a new head for the service. Zaidi removed Hamid al-Shatri as head of the service by executive order on Monday. He gave no reason, and no successor has been named.

On Tuesday the government’s Security Media Cell denied social media claims of a plan to appoint a figure from a particular region or group to lead the service. It said any new head would be announced officially.

Former Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani appointed Shatri in December 2024 to lead the intelligence service, which reports to the prime minister. A lawmaker from Sudani’s coalition said Tuesday that Zaidi was working to replace officials in 50 posts. Since taking office in May, Zaidi has replaced the national security adviser and the heads of the National Security Service, the Counter-Terrorism Service and the Federal Police.

Since 2003, Iraq’s quota system, known in Arabic as muhasasa, has divided government posts among the main parties and sectarian and ethnic groups. Sudani called this month for replacing the quota system with a government formed by a parliamentary majority.