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DUHOK, Kurdistan Region - Truck drivers on the road from Duhok to Mosul report that too many checkpoints and levying by government and armed groups hamper their business to the cost of billions of dollars a year.
“Drivers suffer a lot," Mohammed Farhan, truck driver said. "They keep us waiting and take money from us by force."
According to Farhan, each driver has to pay 15,000 IQD ($12.50) to each checkpoint.
The Iraqi government decided in early December to remove all customs checkpoints on inter-provincial roads, but no implementation has been seen on the ground.
The Kurdistan Region has “as a gesture of goodwill” opened roads leading to Mosul from Erbil and Duhok.
“[Kurdistan] Region has opened all roads for us and facilitated our movement; we do not have an issue in this regard.” Hassan Fatih, a driver told Rudaw.
Duhok and Mosul are two major transit points for imports from Turkey and Europe into the Kurdistan Region and Iraq.
Trade volume on this road was estimated at $8 billion a year, before the ISIS invasion of 2014 and the subsequent Iraqi take over three years later. That number dropped to $6 billion in 2018.
Ayad Hassan, head of Duhok chamber of commerce said the Iraqi government must rein in the military and other armed forces in the area.
“The Iraqi government has to coordinate with the military authorities in the area, including Hashd al-Shaabi in order for its own laws to be implemented.” Hassan said.
“Drivers suffer a lot," Mohammed Farhan, truck driver said. "They keep us waiting and take money from us by force."
According to Farhan, each driver has to pay 15,000 IQD ($12.50) to each checkpoint.
The Iraqi government decided in early December to remove all customs checkpoints on inter-provincial roads, but no implementation has been seen on the ground.
The Kurdistan Region has “as a gesture of goodwill” opened roads leading to Mosul from Erbil and Duhok.
“[Kurdistan] Region has opened all roads for us and facilitated our movement; we do not have an issue in this regard.” Hassan Fatih, a driver told Rudaw.
Duhok and Mosul are two major transit points for imports from Turkey and Europe into the Kurdistan Region and Iraq.
Trade volume on this road was estimated at $8 billion a year, before the ISIS invasion of 2014 and the subsequent Iraqi take over three years later. That number dropped to $6 billion in 2018.
Ayad Hassan, head of Duhok chamber of commerce said the Iraqi government must rein in the military and other armed forces in the area.
“The Iraqi government has to coordinate with the military authorities in the area, including Hashd al-Shaabi in order for its own laws to be implemented.” Hassan said.
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