Shafaq News / Kurdistan Region’s President, Nechirvan Barzani, announced his support for the demands of protesting teachers in Al-Sulaymaniyah.

According to a statement from the Kurdish presidency, President Barzani was closely monitoring the situation for striking teachers and civil servants, which entered its several-day-long duration, with some resorting to hunger strikes.

The statement added that resolving the salary and financial issues remains a demand, confirming, “Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has made extensive efforts in coordination with the federal government of Iraq.”

Regarding the recent approval of the federal budget law, Barzani expressed hope that it will ultimately resolve the salary and financial issues facing the Kurdistan Region.

“The message and demands of the teachers and civil servants have reached all relevant parties. We call for them to consider the health implications and quickly resolve the issue of unpaid salaries,” he stated.

Kurdistan’s President further reaffirmed that the Region will continue its efforts to resolve all outstanding issues with the federal government of Iraq.

Earlier today, protests erupted in the city of Al-Sulaymaniyah as demonstrators called for the resolution of salary-related issues and expressed solidarity with hunger strikers protesting deteriorating living .

A teacher on hunger strike was hospitalized yesterday, marking the sixth day of a sit-in outside the United Nations office in Al-Sulaymaniyah.

The Kurdistan Region is facing a severe salary crisis, with unpaid public sector wages for December 2024 and January 2025 sparking widespread unrest.

The crisis stems from a long-standing financial dispute between the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and the federal government in Baghdad.

Baghdad demands that the KRG transfer all oil production to the State Organization for Marketing of Oil (SOMO), with revenues directed to the national treasury. In contrast, the KRG maintains that it should be allowed to deduct production costs before transferring funds.

Uncertainty persists regarding when and how the crisis will be resolved, leaving public sector wages and services in a precarious state.