Turkey welcomes appointment of Kirkuk Turkmen governor

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Turkey’s foreign ministry on Tuesday welcomed the appointment of a Turkmen politician as governor of the multi-ethnic province of Kirkuk, following the controversial resignation of the previous Kurdish governor.

Mohammed Samaan Agha, leader of the Iraqi Turkmen Front (ITF), was elected Kirkuk governor on Thursday after months of negotiation over forming the local government. The vote took place during a provincial council session that had been postponed multiple times.

"The election of a Turkmen governor in Kirkuk, a city known for its cultural diversity and pluralistic character, is an extremely important and historic development in terms of inclusivity, fair representation, and strengthening social peace," the Turkish foreign ministry said in a statement.

"We also view this as the delayed recognition of a legitimate right for our Turkmen kin, who are an essential component of Iraq and Kirkuk," it added. 

The vote required navigating the deeply divided 16-seat Kirkuk Provincial Council, where at least nine members are needed to form a quorum and pass decisions. The council includes six Arab members, five from the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), two from the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), and two representing the Turkmen component. The single Christian quota seat is aligned with the PUK.

Agha’s election follows the resignation of former governor Rebwar Taha of the PUK. Taha was appointed during a special council session held at Baghdad’s al-Rasheed Tulip Hotel in the heavily fortified Green Zone in early August 2024, marking the return of a Kurdish governor to Kirkuk for the first time since 2017.

Agha’s appointment marks the first time a Turkmen has held the post since 1924, making him the first Turkmen governor in over a century.

The process drew strong opposition from the KDP, which rejected the agreements that paved the way for Thursday’s vote. Party leader President Masoud Barzani issued a statement condemning what he described as “suspicious al-Rasheed Hotel deals,” arguing they undermine the will of voters and the future of Kirkuk’s residents. He stressed that the province should serve as a model of coexistence and said the KDP has historically made sacrifices to protect the rights of all communities.