Vision Foundation

At the Vision Foundation headquarters, and with the participation of military, legal, and constitutional experts, a decision by Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Alzaidi regarding the reactivation of the Office of the Commander-in-Chief of the Iraqi Armed Forces after a 12-year hiatus was thoroughly analyzed.

On Thursday, August 27, 2026, the Vision Foundation for Strategic Studies organized a seminar and open panel discussion titled: (A Strategic Vision on the Reactivation of the Office of the Commander-in-Chief of the Iraqi Armed Forces), presented by Dr. Sana Kamal, a legal and constitutional expert.

During the sessions, the functions of the Office of the Commander-in-Chief were dissected, the Prime Minister's authorities over the office were discussed, and all dimensions were examined from a constitutional perspective.

The seminar highlighted that the Office of the Commander-in-Chief will hold authority over the majority of ministries, which was described as a risk pointing toward the monopolization of powers. Because the office possesses the authority to rotate, appoint, and mobilize military units, its operations could potentially be deemed unconstitutional if mishandled.

However, the Vision Foundation seminar did not focus solely on negative aspects; it was noted that if the office operates correctly and constitutionally, it could serve as a mechanism to resolve disputes between the Kurdistan Regional Government and the Federal Government, as well as a tool to unify the state's military components.

During the open discussion, it was strongly emphasized that the Kurdistan Region must closely monitor the ongoing changes in Iraq, as the country is passing through major and extensive transformations, and the Region must safeguard its status and its legal and constitutional powers.