At a Glance

• Iraq’s Federal Commission of Integrity and the Kurdistan Region’s Integrity Commission have agreed to strengthen cooperation against corruption.
• The two bodies will work to improve coordination on arrest warrants, judicial orders, and rulings.
• They pledged to pursue corruption suspects and recover funds obtained through corruption.
• The commissions also agreed to expand cooperation in training, awareness, and prevention.

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Federal and Kurdistan Region oversight bodies have agreed to deepen coordination on combating corruption and protecting public funds.

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Key Statements and Focus Area

• No Safe Haven: “There is no safe haven for corrupt individuals, nor for the proceeds obtained from corruption.” — Joint statement by the Federal Commission of Integrity and the Kurdistan Region Integrity Commission.
• Shared Responsibility: “Protecting public wealth and combating corruption is a shared national responsibility that administrative boundaries cannot hinder.” — Joint statement by the two commissions.

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The agreement was announced following a visit by the President of the Federal Commission of Integrity and his delegation to the Kurdistan Region, at the invitation of the President of the Kurdistan Region’s Commission of Integrity.

The visit included a series of meetings focused on strengthening cooperation and coordination between the two oversight institutions in combating corruption.

In their joint statement, the commissions reaffirmed their readiness to raise the level of cooperation in line with the Iraqi Constitution and applicable legislation, including the Federal Commission of Integrity and Illicit Gains Law No. 3 of 2011, as amended, and the Kurdistan Region Commission of Integrity Law No. 3 of 2011, as amended.

The two institutions said closer coordination would complement the work of oversight bodies across Iraq and strengthen efforts to protect public wealth and state institutions.

They also stressed the need to expand the operational role of anti-corruption institutions across Iraq and simplify procedures so that administrative or geographic boundaries do not obstruct cooperation.

A particular focus was placed on cooperation in implementing arrest warrants, judicial orders, and court rulings. The commissions said such coordination would prevent individuals wanted in corruption cases from using administrative or geographic boundaries to avoid legal proceedings.

The two bodies pledged to work jointly to track wanted individuals and bring them before the competent judiciary.

They also said closer coordination would help identify and recover funds obtained through corruption crimes and return them to the public treasury, in accordance with the Constitution, laws, and judicial rulings.

The commissions further agreed to strengthen cooperation in training, public awareness, and preventive measures. They said these efforts would improve the effectiveness of oversight institutions and promote a culture of integrity, transparency, and accountability.

The two bodies also expressed appreciation for support from the judiciary, legislature, and executive branches at both federal and regional levels. They highlighted the judiciary’s role in providing the constitutional and legal framework for investigation and accountability procedures.

They also welcomed support from the Presidency of the Republic and the Presidency of the Kurdistan Region for the work of oversight institutions.

FYI

Iraq's 2026 anti-corruption campaign, marked by coordinated dawn raids by elite units, has resulted in the detention of numerous high-ranking officials and lawmakers across the country. To combat the evasion of prosecution, federal and Kurdish authorities are strengthening judicial coordination and formalizing extradition protocols to close loopholes between jurisdictions.

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