Arab Tribes’ Spokesperson Praises Stability & Progress in Kirkuk Under Governor Rebwar Taha

Al Arabiya

Statue in Kirkuk pays tribute to the Peshmerga.

Muzahim al-Hewitt, the official spokesman for the Arab tribes in the disputed areas between Erbil and Baghdad, has confirmed that Kirkuk province is currently enjoying security and stability, while also witnessing tangible progress in reconstruction and coexistence.

Speaking to PUKMEDIA, Hewitt stated: “Mr Rebwar Taha, the current Governor of Kirkuk, has delivered significant services to the Arab areas since assuming office—surpassing the record of some former Arab governors, who were responsible for deepening sectarian and ethnic crises.”

He added that Kirkuk today stands as “an example of peaceful coexistence among its diverse communities, marked by remarkable stability in both security and development.”

Rebwar Taha, a member of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), assumed office just over a year ago, following the PUK’s great success in the Iraqi provincial elections, contested under the “Kirkuk is Our Strength & Will Coalition.” Since then, the governorate has undergone significant changes, ranging from improved service provision to efforts aimed at resolving sectarian and ethnic tensions among the province’s diverse communities.

s the spokesman for the Arab tribes, Hewitt’s remarks stand as a testament to the contributions made by the Kurdish governor from the PUK to the province of Kirkuk.

The disputed areas, often referred to as the “in-between areas,” encompass Kirkuk, Shingal (Sinjar), Tal Afar, Khanaqin, and others. These regions are characterised by ethnically and religiously diverse populations—including Kurds, Arabs, and Turkmen—and contain significant oil and gas reserves. 

Under the former Ba’ath regime, Arabisation policies forcibly displaced many Kurds, replacing them with Arab settlers. Article 140 was designed to address the complex identity and administrative issues of these areas, mandating a process of normalisation, census, and referendum to determine their final status.

As the largest of the disputed territories, Kirkuk endured years of neglect and ethnic tensions, with the legacy of Arabisation remaining evident for many years under the tenure of the former acting governor.



PUKMEDIA