Iraqi prime minister vows unprecedented action against border corruption

Iraqi Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Ali Faleh Al-Zaidi has pledged to take "unprecedented and decisive" measures to combat corruption and manipulation at the country’s border crossings. He also directed authorities to accelerate the completion of border automation and to link crossings to a robust electronic system.

Al-Zaidi emphasized that border crossings serve as the nation’s economic, security, and sovereign gateways, stressing the need to end fraud, corruption, and manipulation, and to strengthen oversight of operations and revenues.

His remarks came during a visit to the headquarters of the Border Crossings Authority, where he addressed border directors and staff via video link, commending their efforts to protect Iraq’s sovereignty, economy, and the safety of its citizens, according to a statement from the prime minister’s media office.

Al-Zaidi instructed that all border crossings be integrated into a comprehensive electronic system, with daily reports on operations and revenues, and called for adopting international best practices in border management.

He also ordered that border crossings become self-financed, with tax and customs fees deducted before financial transfers, and that service fees be allocated for the development and rehabilitation of the crossings.