Syria/Iraq Program head at Konrad-Adenauer-Foundation; Ex-Sahel and Reuters Mideast/Africa correspondent; Author of Understanding Libya since Gaddafi
Lebanon
Joined January 2014
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I’m very excited to report that @reaktionbooks has scheduled publication of my book on the Sahel crises for April 2027. reaktionbooks.co.uk/work/the…
I spent the afternoon in the Damascus suburb al-Hajar al-Assad which was barrel-bombed and besieged by the Assad regime. Amid all the destruction you always see the resilience of Syrians rebuilding their homes and opening new businesses - I met several who came from Europe. Syria needs our continued support.
Venue of tonight’s German national day was the National Museum in Damascus which I had last visited in March 2011.
Sharing a few thoughts from my trip last week to northern Iraq (Erbil and Sulaimaniya), my first to Iraq since 2020. I came many times as Reuters journalist since 2010 - Iraq is one of my favourite countries. Lovely people who suffer so much despite the enormous oil wealth.
11. The new PM al-Zaidi has sought to disarm militias. The US withdrawal was meant to go in hand in hand with a militia disarmament by 30 Sept. Some have responded but those firmly pro-Iran predictably say no. The Iran war is helping them to resist as there is obvious (some) solidarity with Tehran in the Shi'ite solidarity camp.
12. Since 2003, ever-looming tensions with minority Kurds and Sunnis have been eased by sharing oil revenues among all parties/armed groups - big spending party at the expenses of services. This model is at risk with the lost oil revenues (and mounding debt). And the weaker the state becomes, the stronger will the militias emerge who can offer jobs and social security to members - they are like unemployment job centers.