Sudani faces election pressure over failed investigations

Over the past week two incidents have undermined the credibility of the Sudani government as it heads into the November elections. The partial collapse of the Atishi overpass in Karbala and revelations of large-scale oil mixing and smuggling operations, which led to new US sanctions, left the government scrambling to contain the fallout.

In both cases Sudani moved quickly to announce investigative committees. Yet, as with many inquiries before, the absence of tangible remedial action and meaningful accountability has reinforced the perception that these committees serve mainly to absorb public anger before fading into silence. In an election season this pattern risks becoming a potent line of attack for Sudani’s opponents.