Atheel al-Nujaifi, the governor of Ninevah province, does not seem concerned by the criticism and calls to dismiss him after Mosul fell to the Islamic State (IS) earlier this year. Instead, Nujaifi appears intent on imposing himself as an essential player in the liberation of the city. He is currently visiting Washington to promote his vision of what needs to be done. Mosul's liberation, however, cannot be left only to Nujaifi’s efforts. It will require representation from all the city's ethnic, religious and sectarian communities.

Nujaifi's views on Mosul coincide with those of Turkey, which he thinks should play a key role in expelling IS, given its geographical location and historical relations. Nujaifi accompanied Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on a Nov. 21 visit to a Kurdish peshmerga camp supervised by the Turkish army in Diana, in northern Erbil.

Following the visit, Nujaifi posted on Facebook the same day that he agreed with Davutoglu on Turkey training volunteers from Ninevah to fight IS like it is doing with its training of peshmerga. He also wrote, “We are waiting for the Kurdistan Region to locate the camp, and we will start registering the names of volunteers.” On Nov. 27, Nujaifi posted, “After we get the approval of the Kurdistan Region to open a camp for civilian volunteers from Ninevah — including tribes and residents of the province’s cities and all political parties willing to declare war against IS — we will start the practical steps and register the names of volunteers in Dahuk and Erbil. This effort will mainly focus on Arab societies, which must have a clear role in the liberation of their regions.”

According to Nujaifi, two camps have so far been established to train fighters: the Mosul Liberation Force and the Western Mosul Force. He said that the announced preparations for the liberation of the city represent only 10% of the actual steps being taken on the ground and between him and Iraqi and foreign officials. The reality, however, does not seem to reflect Nujaifi’s words.