Maamoon Sami Rasheed al-Alwani

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Governor
Maamoon Sami Rasheed al-Alwani
File:Anbar ceremony 2008-09-01.JPG
Maj. Gen. John Kelly and Gov. Maamoon Sami Rasheed al-Alwani sign provincial Iraqi control documents on Sep. 1, 2008.
Governor of Anbar
In office
May 2005 – April 2009
Appointed by Anbar Provincial Council (PC)
Preceded by Raja Nawaf Farhan al-Mahalawi[1]
Succeeded by Qasim Al-Fahdawi[2]
Personal details
Born 1957
Nationality Iraqi
Political party Iraqi Islamic Party (IIP)
Occupation Politician
Profession Structural Engineer[3]
Religion Sunni Islam

Maamoon Sami Rasheed al-Alwani was appointed governor of Iraq's Al Anbar province by the Anbar Provincial Council in May 2005, following the murder of the previous Governor, Raja Nawaf Farhan al-Mahalawi. He is a member of the Abu Alwani clan, part of the Dulaim tribe.[4] His name was found along with the names of other prominent Iraqi Sunni leaders who had been targeted for assassination in a captured al-Qaida in Iraq (AQI) document.[5]

Insurgents kidnapped Governor Alwani's son on September 6, 2005, but he was later safely returned.[6][7] Similarly, in March 2007, two of Governor Alwani's nieces were killed in improvised explosive device (IED) attacks.[3]

In late October 2007, Governor Alwani was part of a delegation of Anbari government and tribal officials that travelled to the United States to drum up support for reconstruction efforts in the province upon an official invitation from the US Department of State.[8] The following month, Governor Alwani had expressed to reporters that his primary concern was that a sectarian-divided Iraq would inspire meddling from Iran and other neighboring countries. He also invited private investors from the US to help develop Anbar's oil and natural reserves, located in the southern Akaz region.[9]

Assassination Attempts

Governor Alwani has survived at least 31 assassination attempts since assuming office in May 2005.[10]

On August 18, 2005, insurgents opened fire on the governor and a group of prominent Sunni Muslim clerics as they were meeting in Ramadi. Witnesses said Governor Alwani was holding talks with members of the Muslim Clerics Association in Ramadi's main Al Dawla al-Kabeer mosque when the gunmen opened fire. The governor and the head of the Muslim Clerics Association in Ramadi, Thamir al-Dulaimi, escaped injury but Dhahir al-Obeidi, head of the Sunni Endowment organisation, was wounded along with his deputy.

In early-May 2006, Governor Alwani escaped with minor wounds when a bomb exploded near his convoy. The bomb exploded as he was travelling to his office in Ramadi.[11]

On Christmas Day 2007, several mortar rounds slammed into the Governor's office at the Government Center in downtown Ramadi.[3]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Stubborn Man Tries to Govern in Violent Iraq - New York Times
  2. ↑ Karmah officials meet with Anbar government, aim to further cooperation
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Anbar Governor Vows To Keep Up Fight
  4. ↑ Proceedings Story - U.S. Naval Institute
  5. ↑ Townhall.com - Gabrielle Cusumano
  6. ↑ RFE/RL Newsline, 05-09-08
  7. ↑ Counterterrorism Blog: May 2006 Archives
  8. ↑ Anbar delegation heads to U.S. for support | Iraq Updates
  9. ↑ Anbar Officials Ask For More Support, Province Asks U.S. For Money To Rebuild, Help Expanding Police And U.S. Oil Investment - CBS News
  10. ↑ Bryan/College Station Eagle - [var content_section]
  11. ↑ Iraqi Governor Escapes Roadside Bombing, 3 Bodyguards Dead
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