Ferry disaster shines spotlight on corruption in Iraq

BAGHDAD: A governor on the run, officials summoned to court and candidates accused of bribing councillors: the Mosul ferry disaster has brought renewed attention to the scourge of corruption in Iraq.

Nationwide horror over the March 21 capsizing of the overloaded riverboat in the northern city of Mosul, which claimed 100 lives, mostly of women and children, has given way to a clamour for provincial officials to be put on trial.

Graft is endemic across Iraq, not only in the city the Islamic State group controlled for three years before their expulsion in July 2017. The country ranks among the world’s worst offenders in Transparency International’s annual Corruption Perceptions Index. Since 2004, a year after the US-led invasion that ousted Saddam Hussein, a total of $218 billion has vanished into the pockets of shady politicians and businessmen, according to parliament. That is more than Iraq’s GDP. Few officials have been brought to account, and amnesties have allowed many to evade justice, only partially repaying the stolen funds. For the past week, the cry of “corruption is killing us” has been ringing across Mosul. A parliamentary report compiled by 43 deputies has warned that corruption risks re-igniting sectarian tensions long exploited by jihadists. It could also impede the rebuilding of Mosul, much of which was reduced to rubble during the year-long battle to evict IS.