27 Sep 2017 | 07:24 AM UTC
Iraq: Kirkuk under nighttime curfew Sep. 25
Kirkuk placed under nighttime curfew September 25 following Kurdish independence referendum; unrest possible
Event
Continuing political tensions linked to the referendum on Kurdish independence on Monday, September 25, have prompted city authorities in Kirkuk to impose an overnight curfew. It has not yet been announced if the curfew will be renewed over the coming days, but authorities may again impose short-notice restrictions in response to events.
Context
The governments of Iraq, Iran, and Turkey, all of which share similar concerns over their Kurdish populations’ aspirations for autonomy, have all opposed the referendum. Kirkuk is located outside the constitutionally agreed boundaries of the Kurdish Region of Iraq (KRI) and is claimed by both Federal Iraq and the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG). The KRI officially includes three provinces (Erbil, Dahuk, and Sulaymaniyah), though Kurdish Peshmerga forces were able to capture much of the disputed territories across northern Iraq during the fight against Islamic State (IS).
In addition to the referendum, Iraqi Security Forces are currently clearing IS from the Hawijah enclave in southwest Kirkuk. Major clearance operations in the past have seen high-profile attacks in Kirkuk, though it is considered unlikely given IS’ current disarray and the security footprint in the province.
Advice
Individuals in Iraq are advised to monitor the situation closely. The US Embassy in Iraq has advised its citizens to avoid travel to the disputed territories between the KRG and the Iraqi government on the referendum day. Kurdish authorities have announced that they will release referendum results within 72 hours; the greatest risk for inter-ethnic strife is during this period in the more mixed-ethnicity “disputed territories” currently under KRG control.
The security environment in Iraq remains complex. Although travel is permissible in some areas, other areas should be considered strictly off limits. Professional security advice and support should be sought prior to all travel. While Iraqi Kurdistan is relatively far from the frontlines of the campaign against the Islamic State, Kirkuk is only 60 km (37 miles) from current hostilities in Hawijah.
