The Impact of the Kirkuk Issue on Relations between the Iraqi Federal Government and the Kurdistan Regional Government: A Descriptive and Analytical Study

The Iraqi federal experience raised a lot of controversy, discussion, and disagreement, as a result of which problems emerged between the Iraqi federal authorities and the Kurdistan Region authorities, as the relationship between the Kurds and successive Iraqi governments went through several curves since the emergence of the Iraqi state in (1921), and was characterized by tension at times, and stability in favor of the Kurds by achieving gains. To them, at other times, until Security Council Resolution No. (688) was issued in (1991), which constituted a historic opportunity for the Kurds to establish an entity semi-independent of Baghdad’s influence in Kurdistan. Relations between the Iraqi federal authorities and the Kurdistan Region after (2003) were characterized by disagreements. Deep, historically rooted around fundamental and crucial political and administrative issues. These controversial issues have begun to develop towards recurring crises between the federal government and the regional government, which have reached military confrontations that have lasted for decades. These crises have been left, to this day, without radical solutions, which has led to them being used from time to time for political purposes. Perhaps the most important of these controversial issues between the government is The federal government in Baghdad and the regional government in Erbil represent the issue of Kirkuk and the disputed areas. on the other hand
The adoption of the Iraqi Constitution in 2005 was the most important turning point in the history of the Kurdistan Region ever, as this Constitution provided for (relatively) broad powers for the region, and it became more independent within the framework of a federal state. Articles (41) and (113) of the constitution is the necessary legal authority for the regional authorities, and the President of the Republic became a Kurdish nationalist, and the Peshmerga forces were recognized as part of the federal military system and are funded from the federal budget. Despite the importance of this constitution for the political life of the Kurdistan Region, it was the cause of many political problems. Between the Iraqi federal authorities and the regional authorities because some articles in this constitution carry more than one interpretation.
In this regard, this study aims to identify the merits of the Kirkuk issue, its dimensions, and its legal and constitutional aspects, by delving into the drivers and regional and international repercussions, as well as reviewing a historical reading of this complex issue and its consequences on the mutual relations between Erbil and Baghdad.