New Iraq prime minister after five months of deadlock

Mustafa al-Kadhimi takes the oath of office in Baghdad after being appointed Iraq's prime minister (7 May 2020) — Image captionMustafa al-Kadhimi is a 53-year-old former head of the Iraqi National Intelligence Service

Iraq's parliament has approved a new government, ending months of deadlock as the country battles an economic crisis and the coronavirus pandemic.

Former intelligence chief Mustafa al-Kadhimi, the third man to be nominated to replace Adel Abdul Mahdi since November, was sworn in as prime minister after Wednesday night's vote.

"The security, stability and blossoming of Iraq is our path," he tweeted.

However, Mr Kadhimi will not start his term with a full cabinet.

Political factions are still negotiating over the candidates for the key ministries of oil and foreign affairs, while lawmakers rejected his picks for trade, justice, culture, agriculture and migration.

The US and the United Nations welcomed the formation of a new government, but urged Mr Kadhimi to move swiftly to address Iraq's problems.

Who is Mustafa al-Kadhimi?

The 53-year-old Shia Muslim is seen as a political independent and a pragmatist.

He is a former journalist who wrote against former President Saddam Hussein from exile in Iran and the UK before the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.

An Iraqi protester walks past a poster rejecting new Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi in Tahrir Square, Baghdad, Iraq (7 May 2020) — Image captionAnti-government protesters rejected Mr Kadhimi's nomination

He served as head of Iraqi National Intelligence Service (Inis) from 2016 until last month, when he was tasked with forming a government. The two previous candidates, Mohammed Allawi and Adnan al-Zurfi, withdrew after failing to win enough support in parliament.

Mr Kadhimi was able to win the backing of the biggest political blocs, and was reportedly considered an acceptable choice by the US and neighbouring Iran. But he still had to compromise on his list of proposed ministers several times.

What challenges does he face?

Mr Kadhimi told lawmakers on Wednesday that his government "will provide solutions, not add to the crises" facing Iraq.

Before Covid-19 reached the country in March, thousands of people were taking to the streets of the capital, Baghdad, and many southern cities to express their anger at endemic corruption, high unemployment, dire public services and foreign interference.

Media captionIraqi protesters vow to remain on the streets until their demands are met.

More than 500 protesters were shot dead by security forces and unidentified gunmen during five months of unrest. Thousands of others were injured.

The protesters' demands included sweeping away Iraq's political system, which allocates positions to political parties based on ethnic and sectarian identity, encouraging patronage and corruption.

Mr Kadhimi has pledged that his government will organise early elections and to hold those responsible for killing the protesters to account.

He must also deal with the Covid-19 pandemic, which has so far killed 102 Iraqis and the Iraqi healthcare system has limited capacity to contain, as well as the collapse in global oil prices and economic contraction that it has caused.

Iraqi women search for recyclable items at a rubbish dump in Baghdad, Iraq (6 May 2020) — Image captionThe World Bank has warned that the poverty rate in Iraq may double

Oil sales account for about 90% of government revenue, and Mr Kadhimi faces a struggle to continue paying public sector wages. Officials in the caretaker administration were considering cuts to civil servants' benefits and allowances.

The World Bank has projected that Iraq's gross domestic product (GDP) will contract by 9.7% this year, the country's worst annual performance since 2003.

The jihadist group Islamic State (IS) has also stepped up attacks, apparently seeking to take advantage of security forces being focused on the pandemic.

Street in Baghdad, Iraq (4 May 2020) — Image captionIraq's economic outlook has markedly worsened over the past six months

Iraq and the US will meanwhile launch a "strategic dialogue" next month to discuss relations that were strained severely in January by the killing of top Iranian general and an Iraqi militia commander in a US drone strike in Baghdad.

Iran retaliated by launching missiles at an Iraqi military base hosting US forces, and allied militias were accused of carrying out rocket attacks on other bases.

The Iraqi parliament voted to end the US troop presence following the drone strike, but the decision has yet to be implemented.

What was the reaction to the new government?

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo welcomed the new government in a telephone call with Mr Kadhimi and "discussed the urgent hard work ahead", a state department statement said.

Mr Pompeo also announced a 120-day extension for a waiver on US sanctions to allow Iraq to buy electricity from neighbouring Iran as "a display of our desire to help provide the right conditions for success".

In a statement, UN Special Representative Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert urged Mr Kadhimi to complete the formation of his cabinet, warning that he faced "an uphill battle" and there was "no time to spare".