Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) (Iraq)
Basic Group Information
| Name assigned by coder: |
no
|
| PGM ID Number: |
232
|
| Country: |
Iraq |
| Date formed: |
Sept. 1, 1996 |
| Accuracy of date formed: |
month
|
| Details of Formation: |
The KDP was founded in 1946 by Molla Mustafa Barzani. It was not allied with the government at that time. It became a PGM for 24 hours in September 1996 when the government responded to the KDP’s calls for support in the fight against its rival PUK. The KDP allied with the government because of short-term necessity, after Western governments had refused to support the KDP in its fight against PUK. |
| Date dissolved: |
Sept. 2, 1996 |
| Accuracy of date dissolved: |
month
|
| Details of Termination: |
The temporary alignment ended after Iraqi troops helped the KDP to seize Erbil. Iraqi forces withdrew from Erbil and the KDP stated repeatedly that it was not allied with the government anymore. |
| Termination Type(s): |
PGM defects
|
Former and Successor Group Information
| Predecessor group(s): |
none
|
| Successor group(s): |
none
|
| Private Military Company? |
no |
| Former Group? |
yes |
| Former Armed Group? |
yes |
| Former Rebel Group? |
yes |
| Former Rebel Group UCDP ID: |
260 |
| PGM Becomes Rebel Group? |
yes |
| Successor Rebel Group UCDP ID: |
260 |
Government Relation, Support, and Training
| Government Relation: |
informal (type 1) |
| Created by the Government?: |
no |
Main Creating Government Institution: |
none
|
| Government Link(s): |
state (institution)
|
| If link to party, name of party: |
None |
| Training and Equipment: |
no |
| Shared Information and Joint Operations: |
yes |
| Shared Personnel: |
no |
| Type(s) of Material Support: |
self-maintained
|
| State Sponsor(s): |
none
|
| Other Connection(s): |
|
Group Characteristics
Ethnic Characteristics
| Ethnic Target(s): |
none
|
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Targeting: |
not applicable
|
| Ethnic Membership: |
Kurds (Iraq)
|
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Membership: |
given
|
| Ethnic Purpose: |
none
|
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Purpose: |
not applicable
|
Other Information
| Other Information: |
The Kurdistan Democratic Party is also known as Kurdish Demcratic Party. Iraqi Kurdistan Democrat Party (KDP) leader Mas'ud Barzani became President of the autonomous Kurdistan Region in northern Iraq in 2005. |
New Variables from Meta-Analysis
Purpose
| Purpose: |
The government supported the KDP because the KDP fought against the Patriotic Union (PUK). The KDP identified people opposed to the Iraqi government for the Iraqi troops. |
| Relative Benefit(s) of PGM Use |
knowledge
|
Treatment of Civilians
| Treatment of Civilians: |
The KDP showed the Iraqi troops the people opposed to the central government. |
| Type(s) of Violence against Civilians: |
unknown
|
Reasons for Membership
| PGM Members Coerced? |
no information |
| PGM Members Paid? |
no information |
| Reasons for Membership: |
|
| PGM Members Killed? |
no information |
PGM Size
Weapons and Training
Organisation
| Organisation: |
In 1996, Massoud Barzani led the KDP. They had no formal agreement with the government. The Iraqi government gave the KDP a 24-hours support against the PUK. They provided troops and military aid. In exchange, the KDP designated members opposed to the central government. |
Reference(s) for Meta-Analysis
Information was taken from news sources listed in the PGMD
Evidence
