Abbasi and Juburi forge strong Sunni coalition in Ninewa ahead of elections

Two prominent Sunni figures, Defense Minister Thabit Al-Abbasi and former Mosul Governor Najm Al-Juburi, have joined forces in what is shaping up to be a fiercely contested electoral race in Ninewa province.

At a press conference on Monday, Abbasi’s political party Hasm al-Watani announced a new electoral front with Ninewa Li-Ahliha (Ninewa For Its People), a party founded by Najm Al-Juburi in 2023. The party’s leadership now includes Abdullah Al-Yawar, the tribal chief of the powerful Shammar tribe, as president, and Muhannad Al-Juburi, Najm’s son, as secretary general. Muhannad emerged as the most popular candidate in Ninewa during the 2023 provincial council elections, securing a commanding 57,000 votes, well ahead of all rivals. Meanwhile, Yawar is returning to frontline politics after a 13-year absence.