Taif Sami’s reform credentials will be put to the ultimate test as she takes over Finance Ministry

Taif Sami, the long-time Ministry of Finance official takes the helm as one of three female ministers in Muhammad al-Sudani’s cabinet. The Baghdad University graduate has worked in the finance ministry since 1985 and became director general of the budget department in 2010 (serving as acting DG between 2008-2010) before being appointed deputy minister in 2019. A divisive figure that is seen by some as an outdated bureaucrat, and by others as a strong-minded and competent technocrat, Sami’s performance as finance minister will be closely scrutinised to see if she has the will to undertake much-needed reforms.