There are lots of pieces of false information floating around on local social media sites regarding the protests in #Sulaymaniyah province. First of all, the majority of the protests lack any sort of organization. Secondly, these are not the mass protests as we witnessed in 2011.

In the most volatile areas, they number in the hundreds, not one place has seen thousands of protesters in one place at one time. Furthermore, the lack of organization of the protestors makes it difficult to identify their actual demands. They are by and large no older than 25.

Since they are all so young, to ask that the KRG pays salaries on time isn’t logical as it’s hardly likely at of them are KRG employees though it’s feasible that their parents could be civil servants. What is unfortunate is the direction the protests have taken.

From the very beginning, the use of violence towards security forces has been clear for all to see. Yes these people are frustrated & have lost all hope in the KRG, they see no future for themselves & are venting but these are not the means to achieve whatever goals they have.

It is not acceptable in any way whatsoever to burn government property, nor private property as has happened so far on multiple occasions. They are not all peaceful protestors but in fact some are rioters & many of them are resorting to criminal acts which will not be tolerated.

Many agree with their demands, myself included, and also agree that KRG has failed at governing this region, not just the current cabinet but in the last several cabinets. The current prime minister has completely ignored facts on the ground & seems disconnected from the people.

We have overburdened the KRG with too many employees, there was no real long term strategy to build a sustainable infrastructure in the KRI nor was there a strategy to create a thriving private sector. The opposite has happened, with many sectors being dominate by the parties.

What is telling is the anger towards KDP in the Sulaymaniyah province. KDP has for years tried to keep Sulaymaniyah down, taking all investment into Erbil, in the hope of weakening PUK, but the side effect of that has been even more rejection of the KDP as dominant force in KRG.

People are also fed up of PUK for not doing enough to represent their base voters, who predominantly hail from Sulaymaniyah province, along with pockets in Erbil province.

After this settles down, which it will, the KRG, and more specifically PUK & Gorran, needs to reassess how they plan to govern in this process within the framework for the KRG. The current system is not sustainable, and if not amended, will do greater long term damage to the KRG

If this current system of governance continues and KDP isn’t willing to budge on decentralization, transparency on the oil & gas portfolio, as well as making concessions to reach a long term deal with Baghdad, PUK & Gorran have some very difficult decisions to make.