Despite its vast oil wealth, Iraq continues to suffer from deteriorating infrastructure due to decades of wars and political turmoil, resulting in prolonged power outages that the national grid and generators cannot handle.
Years of conflict have left the country’s infrastructure in a state of disrepair, exacerbated by frequent power cuts during the scorching summer months when temperatures in southern provinces often reach 50 degrees Celsius.
Many villages in Diwaniyah have endured years of water shortages caused by persistent four-year drought and reduced river flow.
On July 13, 2024, protesters set tires ablaze to block a road in the Ghams area of Diwaniyah province.
The demonstration was held to express frustration over the worsening daily electricity supply.
Iraq, rich in oil reserves, has long struggled with a fragile infrastructure due to extensive damage from wars, sanctions, and neglect.
The country‘s power grid has been particularly affected, leading to chronic electricity shortages that intensify during the summer. This situation has sparked frequent protests as citizens demand reliable electricity and water supplies.
The government faces challenges in meeting these demands due to ongoing political instability and economic constraints, further complicated by environmental factors such as drought and reduced river inflows.
Iraq’s Trade Minister and head of the Iraqi team for World Trade Organization (WTO) accession, Atheer Daoud Al-Ghureiri, announced the resumption of negotiations to join the WTO after a pause of over 16 years.
According to a statement from Riyadh Fakher Al-Hashemi, Director of the Foreign Relations Department, reported by the Iraqi News Agency (INA), “Iraqi negotiation teams have commenced their preparatory meetings at the WTO headquarters in Geneva, in anticipation of the third meeting of the Working Party on Iraq’s Accession.”
