Iraq's President Abdul Latif Rashid files lawsuit against Prime Minister Mohammed Al-Sudani.

Iraq's President Abdul Latif Rashid files lawsuit against Prime Minister Mohammed Al-Sudani.                                                                                                                                                                                   

Baghdad: Iraq’s President Abdul Latif Rashid has filed a lawsuit against Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani for failing to pay salaries to civil servants in Kurdistan, highlighting a rift within the country's top leadership. Rashid, who is from Kurdistan, filed the lawsuit last month, but the president’s advisor, Hawri Tawfiq, revealed the case on Sunday.

The case has been filed with Iraq's top court, seeking an order to ensure salary payments are “not interrupted” despite ongoing financial disputes between Baghdad and Erbil. Iraq’s public sector is plagued by inefficiency and corruption, and analysts say that Rashid and Al-Sudani have had long-standing disagreements.

While public sector workers have received their January salaries, they are still waiting for their December pay. Tawfiq stated that the case was only revealed now following protests in Sulaymaniyah city regarding missed payments.

Kurdistan Regional President Nechirvan Barzani recently thanked Al-Sudani for his cooperation on financial matters, including salary payments. However, analysts believe this incident has brought to light deep divisions between Rashid and Al-Sudani.

Political scientist Ihsan Al-Shemmari said, "We are now witnessing a significant division that is happening openly."