Protesters in central and southern Iraq are demanding the sacking of governors and local government administrators. The protests have spread to Kirkuk, where demonstrators called for removing the governor and other local officials, calling them representatives of corrupt parties.
On Oct. 28, 2019, the Council of Representatives voted to dissolve the governorate councils and authorize the governor to manage financial and administrative matters. It also voted to end the work of the district, provincial and local councils. In the ongoing demonstrations that broke out in reaction, protesters have been targeted by unknown armed groups. More than 700 have been killed and near 30,000 wounded.
