Masrour Barzani Announces New Steps to Accelerate Peshmerga Reform Amid U.S. Criticism of Slow Progress

Peregraf

Under the supervision of Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has introduced new measures to accelerate reforms in the Ministry of Peshmerga, as international partners raise concerns over stalled progress in unifying Kurdish forces.

At a meeting on Monday with Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs, Barzani said several "important decisions" had been taken to advance the reform agenda, particularly regarding financial accountability and force structure. "All components of the Peshmerga must have only one accounting unit within the framework of the Ministry of Peshmerga and under the supervision of the KRG Ministry of Finance," he declared. He added that the reorganization of Peshmerga units would proceed "in line with government reforms."

Barzani also emphasized the need to protect the rights of Peshmerga veterans, ordering the expedited processing of retirement transactions and instructing officials not to let "legal or technical issues" delay salaries or benefits. He renewed his call on Baghdad to unify Peshmerga salaries with those of their Iraqi army counterparts, arguing that "the Peshmerga is part of Iraq’s defense system and their entitlements should reflect that."

Persistent Challenges

Despite these steps, Peshmerga reform remains fraught with challenges. A July 2025 report from the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Inspector General warned that political rivalries, financial constraints, and stalled integration continue to undermine unification efforts.

At the heart of the issue is the 2022 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the U.S. and KRG, which outlined a four-year roadmap to integrate partisan forces—specifically KDP-aligned Unit 80 and PUK-aligned Unit 70—into a single, non-partisan structure under the Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs (MoPA).

However, U.S. officials say progress has been minimal. "Despite formal commitments, Peshmerga units remain fragmented along party lines, with little meaningful progress toward true unification," the report noted.

Analysts point to the deep-rooted rivalry between the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) as the core obstacle. Both parties maintain control of their affiliated units, undermining MoPA’s authority. This has allowed corruption to persist, including the problem of "ghost soldiers" appearing on payrolls.

Without dismantling these partisan structures, observers warn, reforms risk failure. "It’s not enough to focus solely on the Peshmerga. Broader reform of Kurdistan’s internal security forces and their party control is essential for long-term stability," the U.S. report emphasized.

International Support at Risk

Since 2016, the U.S. and European partners have provided funding, training, and equipment to professionalize the Peshmerga. Yet coalition support is conditional: only non-partisan units officially recognized under MoPA are eligible for stipends and aid. Currently, about 72,000 soldiers have been transferred into Regional Guard Brigades, leaving thousands still outside the reform framework.

Budget disputes between Erbil and Baghdad have further complicated the process, delaying salaries and eroding morale. U.S. officials have hinted that future assistance could be curtailed if Kurdish leaders fail to meet their commitments under the MoU.

The Kurdistan Region now faces a pivotal choice. Observers argue that without genuine political will from both KDP and PUK, efforts to create a professional, unified Peshmerga force could collapse.

For Barzani, Monday’s announcements signal determination to push forward with reforms. But with U.S. frustration mounting and internal divisions persisting, the question remains whether these new measures will be enough to bridge the partisan divide—or whether the reform project will continue to stall.