Iraqi Kurdistan referendum stirs up tensions

摘要

London—Iraq's autonomous and oil-rich Kurdistan region holds a non-binding referendum on independence on September 25, stoking nationalism within much of northern Iraq and condemnation almost everywhere else. The outcome is sure to be in the affirmative and will have zero impact on Kurdistan's status, although various actors may increase pressure on the autonomous administration. The Kurdistan Regional Government was formed in 2005 following decades of resistance to oppressive Iraqi regimes and its own civil war that scarred it along party lines. Although it has not yet passed a regional constitution, and the legitimacy of the president and parliament are questionable, the KRG's de facto government has kept the region moving forward, defending itself against the Islamic State militant group, and signing oil and gas contracts with the world's largest oil companies and regional players. Here we outline the current situation: