ALMOST every day brings reports of exploding cars, suicide bombings and attacks that kill dozens of people throughout Iraq. The country is experiencing the worst wave of violence in five years, with some 2,800 people killed since April, and growing fears that sectarian tensions between Sunnis and Shiites could plunge the country into civil war.
“The Iraqi government is increasingly relying on the security forces to maintain control over the country,” Maria Fantappie who studies Iraq for the International Crisis Group and lives in Baghdad said. “The Sunni population within Iraq does not feel represented within the Baghdad central government.”
Although according to Fantiappe a reliable census has never been done, estimates are that between 20 and 40 percent of the population are Sunni. While Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki is a Shiite, Parliament Speaker Osama Al-Nujaifi is a Sunni, and Al-Maliki’s deputy, Roj Nuri Shawis, is Kurdish.
“There are more and more fears of the return of the sectarian violence because attacks have targeted both Sunnis and Shiites,” Fantiappe said. “On the social level, there is more and more mistrust among the different communities.” The growing tensions come more than two years after the final American troops left Iraq, having been deployed there for eight years. Many in Iraq are questioning whether the country today is any better off than it was before the US invasion, or under long-time dictator Saddam Hussein.
“It is worse now than when the Americans were here,” Nabil Mohammed, a professor of international relations at Baghdad University, said. “People can’t say that things are getting better or are going to be better in the near future. People are just looking for something to help them survive.”
In April, provincial elections were held, with 8,000 candidates vying for 378 seats. But the campaign was marred by widespread violence, including the assassinations of fourteen of the candidates, most of them Sunnis. Al-Qaeda’s Islamic State of Iraq faction claimed responsibility for bombings that swept through Shiite areas. Since then, the level of violence has continued to increase. Since the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan last week, almost every day has brought new attacks.
National elections are scheduled for March of next year. Analysts say they see little hope that there could be a political solution to the sectarian violence.
“Some people say an independent party could bring all the parties together to find a solution and get out of this situation,” Nabil Mohammed said.
