Massoud Barzani promotes his grandson Areen to lieutenant

Massoud Barzani promotes his grandson, Areen Barzani, to lieutenant — Tribal leader and president of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), Massoud Barzani (L), promoted his grandson, Areen Masrour Barzani, to the rank of lieutenant, Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan, September 7, 2024. Photo: Barzani’s Press Office/via iKurd.net

HEWLÊR-Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan region,— Despite holding no official government position in Iraqi Kurdistan region, tribal leader and the president of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), Massoud Barzani, promoted his grandson, Areen Masrour Barzani, to the rank of lieutenant on Saturday.

This promotion follows Areen’s graduation from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS) in the UK, further solidifying the Barzani dynasty’s deep-rooted nepotism and tight grip on power.

Massoud Barzani continues to exert enormous influence in Iraqi Kurdistan, even as he holds no formal role, according to analysts.

The Barzani family, often referred to as the “Kurdish oligarchs,” has repeatedly been accused of exploiting their political dominance to accumulate vast wealth, particularly through oil revenues.

Critics argue that instead of serving the people of Iraqi Kurdistan, the Barzanis have enriched themselves while ordinary Kurds suffer from poverty, high unemployment, and rampant corruption.

The family’s domination of Kurdish politics is absolute. Massoud’s son, Masrour Barzani, is the region’s prime minister, and his nephew, Nechirvan Barzani, serves as president.

Observers view this as part of a larger strategy to keep power within the Barzani family, with many describing Iraqi Kurdistan as a near dictatorship where leadership is inherited rather than earned.

Politically and militarily, the Kurdish region remains deeply fractured. The Peshmerga, often portrayed as a unified Kurdish fighting force, is in reality divided into militias loyal to either the Barzanis’ KDP or the rival Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) led by the Talabani family. This division has weakened Kurdish unity and further entrenched the dominance of the ruling families, observers say.

The prime minister of Iraqi Kurdistan region Masrour Barzani (L) and his eldest son Areen Masrour Barzani, UK, January 2024. Photo: Barzani’s Press Office/X/via iKurd.net

Areen Masrour Barzani’s promotion has sparked concern among observers, who view it as part of the Barzanis’ long-term plan to secure the family’s control for future generations.

In addition, Areen has been criticized for flaunting his wealth on social media, where he frequently shares images of himself with luxury cars and expensive horses. Such displays of extravagance raise doubts about his suitability as a future leader in a region where many people struggle to make ends meet. His lifestyle, seen by many as disconnected from the realities of ordinary Kurds, suggests that he may not be the right figure to lead Iraqi Kurdistan toward a more just and equitable future.

Though Sandhurst is known for its prestigious military training, many see this as less about Areen’s merit and more about preparing another Barzani heir to continue the dynasty’s rule over Iraqi Kurdistan, further entrenching the region in nepotism and authoritarianism.