12. British Iraq (1920-1932)

 

Crisis Phase (May 1, 1920-June 30, 1920): Britain was granted a League of Nations (LON) mandate to administer the territory of Iraq on May 1, 1920.

Conflict Phase (July 1, 1920-December 31, 1920): Iraqi Arab nationalists rebelled against the British government beginning in July 1920, and British troops suppressed the Arab nationalist rebellion in December 1920. Some 9,000 individuals, including 426 British government soldiers, were killed during the conflict.

Post-Conflict Phase (January 1, 1921-October 3, 1932): The British proclaimed Emir Faisal as King of Iraq on August 23, 1921. ‘Abd al-Rahman al-Naqib formed a government as prime minister on September 12, 1921. The Nationalist Party (NP) was established by Jafar Abu al-Timman was established in 1922. Kurdish tribesmen rebelled against the British government beginning on June 18, 1922. Prime Minister ‘Abd al-Rahman al-Naqib resigned on November 16, 1922, and ‘Abd al-Muhsin al-Sa’dun formed a government as prime minister on November 20, 1922. Prime Minister ‘Abd al-Muhsin al-Sa’dun resigned on November 15, 1923, and Jafar al-Askari formed a government as prime minister on November 26, 1923. Prime Minister Jafar al-Askari resigned on August 2, 1924, and Yasin al-Hashimi formed a government as prime minister on August 2, 1924. The People’s Party (PP) was established by Naji al-Suwaydi in August 1924. British troops suppressed the Kurdish rebellion in December 1924. Parliamentary elections were held in March 1925. Prime Minister Yasin al-Hashimi resigned on June 21, 1925, and ‘Abd al-Muhsin al-Sa’dun formed a government as prime minister on June 26, 1925. Prime Minister ‘Abd al-Muhsin al-Sa’dun resigned on November 1, 1926, and Jafar al-Askari formed a coalition government on November 21, 1926. Shiekh Mahmud, leader of the Kurds, fled to Iran in 1927. Prime Minister Jafar al-Askari resigned on January 8, 1928, and ‘Abd al-Muhsin al-Sa’dun formed a government as prime minister on January 14, 1928. Prime Minister ‘Abd al-Muhsin al-Sa’dun resigned on January 20, 1929, and Tawfiq al-Suwaydi formed a government as prime minister on April 28, 1929. Prime Minister Tawfiq al-Suwaydi resigned on August 25, 1929, and ‘Abd al-Muhsin al-Sa’dun formed a government as prime minister on September 19, 1929. Prime Minister ‘Abd al-Muhsin al-Sa’dun resigned on November 13, 1929, and Naji al-Suwaydi formed a government as prime minister on November 18, 1929. Prime Minister Naji al-Suwaydi resigned on March 11, 1930, and Nuri al-Sa’id formed a government on March 23, 1930. British and Iraqi representatives signed an agreement on June 30, 1930, which provided for the establishment of two British military aircraft bases in the country. Government troops and Kurdish demonstrators clashed in Sulaimaniya on September 6, 1930, resulting in the deaths of one government soldier and 14 civilians. Shiekh Mahmud led a Kurdish rebellion against the government beginning in February 1931. British military aircraft bombed the villages of Kani Kermanj, Shawazi, and Bagh Anaran on March 28, 1931. Shiekh Mahmud signed a ceasefire agreement with the government on May 15, 1931. Kurdish nationalists rebelled against the British government in April 1932, but government troops suppressed the rebellion in June 1932. Iraq formally achieved its independence from LON mandate under British administration on October 3, 1932. Some 100 individuals were killed in political violence between January 1921 and October 1932.

[Source: Clodfelter, 1992, 628-629; Ireland 1938; Langer, 1972, 1095; Longrigg 1953; McDowall, 1996, 151-183; Sluglett 1976.]