About Mustafa Al Kadhimi
Former Prime Minister of Iraq and Veteran Human Rights Advocate.
Who is Mustafa Al Kadhimi?
Born in Baghdad in July 1967, Mustafa Al Kadhimi is best known as the former Prime Minister of Iraq. Widely regarded as a principled and resilient leader, he has dedicated his life to public service, relentlessly pursuing his commitment to democracy, human rights and justice.
Moustafa Al Kazemi attended the University of Technology in Baghdad, graduating with a bachelor’s degree from the National Heritage College. He initially studied electrical engineering, before shifting focus and majoring in law. Mr Al Kadhimi was forced to live in exile throughout much of Saddam Hussein’s reign, having opposed the regime early on.
Journalism & Cultural Work
From 1985, Mr Al Kadhimi divided his time between Iran, Sweden, Germany and the United Kingdom, forging a successful career as a journalist, award-winning writer and documentary producer. Later appointed Director of the Iraq Memory Foundation, Mustafa Al Kadhimi played a critical role in documenting atrocities committed by the Saddam Hussein regime, helping to preserve an important chapter in the country’s history.
Having contributed to various multinational media outlets and produced documentaries for major television networks over the years, Mustafa Al Kadhimi is also a co-founder of the Iraqi Media Network and led Radio Free Europe in Iraq.
Intelligence Leadership
National Legacy & Recognition
In May 2020, Mustafa Al Kadhimi was sworn into office as Prime Minister of Iraq, leading the country at a time of significant financial uncertainty. One of his greatest achievements was the launch of his ‘White Paper’ for economic reform. In it, Mr Al Kadhimi set out over 200 measures designed to promote fiscal responsibility, increase governmental transparency and reduce corruption, confronting the influence of armed factions and militias.
Mustafa Al Kadhimi negotiated a transition of the US military presence in Iraq, paving the way for the withdrawal of US troops from the country in 2021. Mr Al Kadhimi and his government also oversaw the return of more than 17,000 cultural artefacts that had been looted and taken overseas.
In 2022, Mustafa Al Kadhimi was awarded the prestigious Légion d’Honneur, France’s highest national order of merit. This was presented to him in recognition of his contribution to improving regional stability, with Mr Al Kadhimi having brokered dialogue and eased tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia by mediating between the two countries.
