Reconciliation in Iraq:
Singular or Plural
By Mokhtar Lamani
Senior visiting fellow – CIGI – Canada
Former Ambassador and Special Envoy of the Arab League to Iraq
It is inappropriate to consider the question of national reconciliation in Iraq without first recognizing the unique nature of the challenge. The best path to redemption in Iraq remains dialogue between those in power, those in opposition, the forces of the occupation, international donors and of the many different antagonists. The problems that have faced Iraqis since 2003, between supporters and adversaries of a political process under occupation, have merged with other challenges, splintering Iraqi actors and causing an unprecedented fragmentation of Iraqi society. What is needed therefore is not one sole initiative but rather a plethora of Iraqi reconciliations. These reconciliations require the acceptance of an inclusive political process that guarantees the participation of all Iraqis and builds a nation based on the principle of equal citizenship and a guarantee a diverse and just society for all.
The fragmentation of the Iraqi political scene has evolved in a climate of complete mistrust and the near-absolute absence of serious dialogue between the different actors.
Further, the regional and international environment is not making the resolution of Iraq’s problems any easier:
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