Shingal men hope for police jobs as part of security agreement

SHINGAL, Iraq — Nearly 8,000 people have registered to be policemen in Shingal as part of a recent agreement to improve security in the disputed area. 

“We are young people from Shingal. We’ve come here to register to be policemen as it was agreed upon by Baghdad and the Kurdistan Region. We are jobless and have come to be employed,” said Najim Khid. 

A “historic” agreement was signed on October 9 over security and governance in Shingal, which lies in territory disputed between Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).

A number of groups have vied for control of the strategic district near the Syrian border since its liberation from the Islamic State (ISIS). 

Ahmad Mulla Talal, spokesperson for Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi said that 2,500 people - 1,500 Yezidis from IDP camps and 1,000 young men from Shingal - would form a force responsible for security in the region.

Applicants should be between 18 to 35, must hold a sixth-grade certificate, be in good health and not have a criminal record.

A new mayor will also be elected and rehabilitation and administration of Shingal will be jointly coordinated by Erbil and Baghdad, according to the agreement. 

“2,500 people is not enough for Shingal,there will still be unemployed people. We want them to increase the number, either for the police or another kind of employment. A lot of us are unemployed,” said Mushin Murad. 

According to Shingal Mayor Mahma Khalil, unemployment stands at 60 percent.

“If this recruitment is implemented, unemployment will decrease among people of Shingal without any political or religious discrimination,” he told Rudaw. 

Translation by Sarkawt Mohammed