Reconstruction and Development denies claims of Al-Sudani government loans to African Countries

Baghdad-INA

The Reconstruction and Development Coalition issued a statement today, Saturday, clarifying that claims that Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' Al-Sudani granted loans to African countries are incorrect.

The coalition stated in a statement received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA): "The Reconstruction and Development Coalition wishes to clarify to the public the reality of what was stated in the remarks of MP Mohammed Al-Shammari regarding his claims that the government of Mohammed Shia al-Sudani granted loans to African countries,” It emphasized that "these statements depart from the truth, lack accuracy, involve misleading the public, and are an attempt at political targeting."

It added, "The loans referred to are not recent and were not granted during the Al-Sudani government Rather, they date back to the 1970s and 1980s, when the former regime provided oil shipments and loans to a number of Arab, African, and Asian countries for political purposes, before those loans escalated with the outbreak of its futile wars in the early 1980s."

It emphasized that "the loans due to Iraq are considered sovereign debts and are monitored by the Ministry of Finance, represented by the Iraqi Fund for External Development, in accordance with the signed contracts and relevant national and international laws."

It pointed out that "Iraq signed two loans with Tanzania on December 19, 1979, and February 9, 1980, totaling approximately 187 million dollars, additionally, a loan was signed with Uganda on March 7, 1981, valued at nearly 15 million dollars, and another with the Central African Republic on November 19, 1984, for around 7 million dollars,these figures are updated as of the end of 2024 and are reviewed annually in accordance with the principal loan amount, interest, administrative costs, and delay interest resulting from non-payment."

It emphasized that "throughout the tenure of the Al-Sudani government, the Cabinet has not issued any approval to reduce or settle any sovereign loan, rather, it directed the Ministry of Finance, the Iraqi Fund for External Development, and the specialized committee on the necessity of following up on the collection of these debts in accordance with the approved legal frameworks."

It pointed out that "launching such statements without referring to official sources represents a link in a systematic campaign to distort facts and undermine the decisions of the government of reconstruction and development, whose positive impact the citizen has felt in their daily life."

The coalition expressed its "confidence in the awareness of the Iraqi public and their ability to distinguish between facts and political allegations," reaffirming its "commitment to the approach of transparency, defending Iraq's interests, and pursuing its financial rights in accordance with the law."

It added: “We reserve the legal right to take the necessary measures against anyone who misleads public opinion or promotes inaccurate information aimed at distorting the facts and defaming state institutions and their symbols.”