Iraq: Nineveh governor dismissed

Parliament’s 28 May vote to remove Nineveh governor Atheel Al-Nujaifi from office was primarily a response to his efforts to lobby the United States Congress to provide direct military aid to Sunni Arabs. Nujaifi’s Mutahidun bloc has invested substantial energy into lobbying Congress and Washington DC opinion-makers, sending multiple delegations to the US and hiring Virginia-based firm Chartwell Consultancy to assist in his efforts. According to papers filed to the US Department of Justice, Chartwell’s $100,000-a-month fee, for three months from 8 September 2014, was to be paid by Nujaifi’s personal funds.