Muhammad Shayya al-Sudani

Al-Sudani was born in Baghdad on 4 March 1970,https://www.irfaasawtak.com/iraq/2022/10/13/السوداني-الرئيس-المكلف-بتشكيل-حكومة-العراق-معارضة-الصدريين?amp to a middle-class Shia Arab family.{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/who-mohammed-shia-al-sudani|title=Who Is Mohammed Shia al-Sudani?|website=washingtoninstitute.org|publisher=The Washington Institute for Near East Policy|first1=May|last1=Kadow|first2=Erik|last2=Yavorsky|date=18 November 2022|access-date=2 January 2023|archive-date=21 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221221040709/https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/who-mohammed-shia-al-sudani|url-status=live}} Hailing originally from the province of Maysan in southern Iraq, his father worked as an employee at the Agricultural Cooperative Bank of Iraq.{{cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.net/encyclopedia/2022/7/26/%d9%85%d8%ad%d9%85%d8%af-%d8%b4%d9%8a%d8%a7%d8%b9-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b3%d9%88%d8%af%d8%a7%d9%86%d9%8a|title=محمد شياع السوداني.. رئيس الوزراء العراقي|publisher=Al Jazeera|language=ar}} His father as well as five other members of his family were executed for being members of the Islamic Dawa Party, a banned party at the time that opposed the Ba'athist rule of Saddam Hussein in Iraq.

Al-Sudani graduated from the University of Baghdad and holds a bachelor's degree in agricultural science and a master's degree in project management.

In 1997, al-Sudani was appointed to the Maysan Agriculture Office. He subsequently was appointed to a number of senior positions in the office such as the head of the Agriculture department, head of the Ali Al-Sharqi City Agriculture department, and head of the Agricultural Production department. He was also the supervising engineer in the National Research Program with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.{{cite web |title=Muhammad Shiaa Al-Sudani |url=https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iraq/sudani.htm |website=GlobalSecurity.org |publisher=GlobalSecurity.org |access-date=2025-07-03}}

After the invasion of Iraq in 2003, al-Sudani worked as a coordinator between the Maysan province administration and the Coalition Provisional Authority. In 2004 he was appointed Mayor of Amarah City, and in the 2005 provincial elections he was elected as a member of Maysan Provincial Council. He was re-elected in 2009 and appointed Governor of Maysan.

{{cite web |date=2022-11-14 |title=LOSING IRAQ – to Iran |url=https://theinsightinternational.com/losing-iraq-to-iran-2022-11-14 |website=The Insight International |access-date=2025-07-03}}

He was appointed by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki as the Minister of Human Rights after the 2010 parliamentary election, being approved by parliament on 21 December 2010.

His ministry was in charge of finding mass graves in Iraq from the regime of Saddam Hussein. Two were found in 2011, one in Anbar and another in Al Diwaniyah.{{Cite news |last=الحيدري |first=نبيل |date=2011-08-10 |title=المقابر الجماعية في العراق...قصص َعذاب وهويات ضحاياها |url=https://www.iraqhurr.org/a/24289591.html |access-date=2024-08-25 |work=إذاعة العراق الحر |language=ar}}{{Cite web |last=ب |first=بغداد-أ ف |title=استخراج رفات 812 شخصا من مقبرة جماعية غرب العراق |url=http://www.alwasatnews.com/news/537109.html |access-date=2024-08-25 |website=صحيفة الوسط البحرينية |language=ar}} During 2011, he was briefly chairman of the Supreme National De-Baathification Commission/Justice and Accountability Commission for De-Ba'athification, which had the power to bar individuals from government for links to the former ruling Ba'ath Party.{{citation needed|date=June 2023}} He coordinated with the ministry of migration to help Iraqi citizens residing in Syria to return to Iraq during the Syrian Civil War.{{Cite web |title=وزارة حقوق الإنسان تجدد دعوتها العراقيين إلى العودة من سوريا {{!}} الحرة |url=https://www.alhurra.com/iraq/2012/08/30/%D9%88%D8%B2%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D8%AD%D9%82%D9%88%D9%82-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D9%86%D8%B3%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%AA%D8%AC%D8%AF%D8%AF-%D8%AF%D8%B9%D9%88%D8%AA%D9%87%D8%A7-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%82%D9%8A%D9%8A%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D9%88%D8%AF%D8%A9-%D8%B3%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A7 |access-date=2024-08-25 |website=www.alhurra.com |language=ar}}

He was minister in August 2014 when thousands of Yazidis were massacred in northern Iraq by the Islamic State (ISIL or Daesh). He described it as "a vicious atrocity" and said it was the "responsibility of the international community to take a firm stand against the Daesh" and to "start the war on Daesh to stop genocides and atrocities against civilians".{{Cite news|title = Exclusive: Iraq says Islamic State killed 500 Yazidis, buried some victims alive|url = https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iraq-security-yazidis-killings-idUSKBN0GA0FF20140811|newspaper = Reuters|date = 2014-08-10|access-date = 2015-08-16|archive-date = 2015-12-08|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151208072949/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-iraq-security-yazidis-killings-idUSKBN0GA0FF20140811|url-status = live}} He asked the United Nations Human Rights Council to launch an investigation into crimes against civilians committed by ISIL. He described their crimes as amounting to genocide and crimes against humanity.{{Cite web|title = UN Human Rights Council Requests Investigation into Daesh's Human Rights Abuses in Iraq|url = http://www.ijrcenter.org/2014/09/03/un-human-rights-council-requests-investigation-into-islamic-states-human-rights-abuses-in-iraq/|website = International Justice Resource Center|date = 3 September 2014|access-date = 2015-08-16|archive-date = 2015-06-27|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150627011019/http://www.ijrcenter.org/2014/09/03/un-human-rights-council-requests-investigation-into-islamic-states-human-rights-abuses-in-iraq/|url-status = live}} "We are facing a terrorist monster", he explained. "Their movement must be curbed. Their assets should be frozen and confiscated. Their military capacities must be destroyed."{{Cite web|title = UN backs inquiry of IS group's alleged crimes|url = http://krqe.com/2014/09/01/un-backs-inquiry-of-is-groups-alleged-crimes/|website = KRQE News 13|access-date = 2015-08-16 |first1 = John|last1 = Heilprin|first2 = Associated|last2 = Press|archive-date = 2014-09-27|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140927121454/http://krqe.com/2014/09/01/un-backs-inquiry-of-is-groups-alleged-crimes/ |url-status = dead}}

He was appointed minister of Labour and Social Affairs in 2014, and his post in the ministry of human rights was succeeded by Mohammed Mahdi Ameen al-Bayati in October 2014, when the government of Haider al-Abadi took office.{{Cite web|title=Iraq's human rights minister talks battling IS and the Speicher 'mass murder'|url=http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/iraqs-human-rights-minister-talks-battling-and-speicher-genocide-1241514602|work=Middle East Eye|date=10 July 2015|first1=Simona|last1=Sikimic|first2=Mary|last2=Atkinson|access-date=2 January 2023|archive-date=7 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150807010730/http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/iraqs-human-rights-minister-talks-battling-and-speicher-genocide-1241514602|url-status=live}}

During his political career, Al-Sudani has worked as the acting minister of a number of ministries: Agriculture, Finance, Migration and the Displaced, Industry and Minerals, and Trade.{{cite web |title=Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani's Biography |url=https://www.iraqiembassy.us/ku/node/7614 |website=Embassy of the Republic of Iraq in Washington, D.C. |location=Washington, D.C. |publisher=Embassy of the Republic of Iraq in Washington, D.C. |access-date=2025-07-03}}

File:Secretary Blinken Meets with Iraqi Prime Minister.jpg in April 2024]]

File:President Joe Biden shakes hands with Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani in the Oval Office.jpg in April 2024]]

File:Prime Minister Keir Starmer meets Iraq Prime Minister Al-Sudani (54266610408).jpg in January 2025]]

In a bid to end the 2022 Iraqi political crisis, the coordination framework officially nominated Al-Sudani for the post of prime minister in May 2022.{{cite web |date=25 July 2022 |title=Coordination Framework nominate Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani as candidate for Iraqi prime minister |url=https://pukmedia.com/EN/Details/74942 |access-date= |website=Patriotic Union of Kurdistan |archive-date=25 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220725213628/https://pukmedia.com/EN/Details/74942 |url-status=live }} He succeeded in forming a government, which was approved by the Council of Representatives on 27 October.{{cite web |date=27 October 2022 |title=Iraqi parliament approves new government headed by Mohammed Shia al-Sudani |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/iraq-lawmakers-approve-government-prime-minister-designate-sudani-2022-10-27/ |access-date= |website=Reuters |archive-date=2022-11-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221102111708/https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/iraq-lawmakers-approve-government-prime-minister-designate-sudani-2022-10-27/ |url-status=live }}

In January 2023, in an interview with The Wall Street Journal, al-Sudani defended the presence of U.S. troops in his country and set no timetable for their withdrawal, referring to the U.S. and NATO troop contingents that train and assist Iraqi units in countering the Islamic State, but largely stay out of combat, though he mentioned that the U.S.-led military coalition in Iraq is no longer needed.{{Cite news |date=15 January 2023 |title=Iraqi PM Backs Indefinite U.S. Troop Presence in Country: WSJ Interview |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2023-01-15/iraqi-pm-al-sudani-supports-indefinite-u-s-troop-presence-in-country-wsj-interview |work=US News & World Report |access-date=2023-01-18 |archive-date=2023-01-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230118023542/https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2023-01-15/iraqi-pm-al-sudani-supports-indefinite-u-s-troop-presence-in-country-wsj-interview |url-status=live }}

The Economist has said that al-Sudani is affiliated with the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), and his tenure has seen their influence further increase in Iraq.{{Cite news |date=8 June 2023 |title=The Iraqi militias are copying their overmighty cousins in Iran |url=https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2023/06/08/the-iraqi-militias-are-copying-their-overmighty-cousins-in-iran |access-date= |newspaper=The Economist |issn=0013-0613 |archive-date=20 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231220234802/https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2023/06/08/the-iraqi-militias-are-copying-their-overmighty-cousins-in-iran |url-status=live }} His government has increased the number of troops for the PMF by 116,000, increasing the total number to around 230,000, and has set its budget to US$2.7 billion. It has also launched a building company affiliated with the PMF, named after killed PMF commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis; the company gives preferential access to government contractors and the government has awarded the company with strategic land.

On 20 July 2023, al-Sudani expelled the Swedish ambassador to Iraq and revoked work permits for Swedish companies after Sweden permitted a planned Quran burning.{{Cite web |date=20 July 2023 |title=Prime Minister orders to withdraw the Iraqi Chargé d'Affairs in Stockholm, and instructs the Swedish Ambassador to leave Iraqi territory |url=https://ina.iq/eng/27673-prime-minister-orders-to-withdraw-the-iraqi-charge-daffairs-in-stockholm-and-instructs-the-swedish-ambassador-to-leave-iraqi-territory.html |access-date= |website=Iraqi News Agency |archive-date=20 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230720181004/https://ina.iq/eng/27673-prime-minister-orders-to-withdraw-the-iraqi-charge-daffairs-in-stockholm-and-instructs-the-swedish-ambassador-to-leave-iraqi-territory.html |url-status=live }}

On 10 October 2023, al-Sudani arrived in Moscow and met with Russian president Vladimir Putin.{{cite news |last=Mahmoud |first=Sinan |date=10 October 2023 |title=Iraqi leader Al Sudani in Moscow to discuss Middle East situation with Putin |url=https://www.thenationalnews.com/mena/iraq/2023/10/10/iraqi-leader-al-sudani-in-moscow-to-discuss-middle-east-situation-with-putin/ |work=The National |access-date=17 November 2023 |archive-date=17 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231117232518/https://www.thenationalnews.com/mena/iraq/2023/10/10/iraqi-leader-al-sudani-in-moscow-to-discuss-middle-east-situation-with-putin/ |url-status=live }} On 21 October 2023, he called for a ceasefire in the Gaza war.{{cite web |last1=Al-Rahim |first1=Rend |title=Iraq, Sudani, and the War on Gaza |date=25 October 2023 |url=https://arabcenterdc.org/resource/iraq-sudani-and-the-war-on-gaza/ |work=Arab Center Washington D.C. |access-date=17 November 2023 |archive-date=29 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231029031013/https://arabcenterdc.org/resource/iraq-sudani-and-the-war-on-gaza/ |url-status=live }} File:سید علی خامنه‌ای و محمد شیاع السودانی.jpg in November 2023]] In November 2023, during a meeting with Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi, he described the Hamas attack on Israel as "a result of years of criminal policies of the Zionist regime against the people of Gaza."{{cite news |title=Raisi meets Sudani, says Iran and Iraq have 'common position' on Gaza war |url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/raisi-meets-sudani-says-iran-and-iraq-have-common-position-on-gaza-war/3045375 |work=Anadolu Agency |date=6 November 2023 |access-date=17 November 2023 |archive-date=17 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231117232520/https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/raisi-meets-sudani-says-iran-and-iraq-have-common-position-on-gaza-war/3045375 |url-status=live }}

On 17 February 2024, he met with German chancellor Olaf Scholz in Munich while he was attending the Munich Security Conference where he met with various world leaders.{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=2024-02-17 |title=Iraqi PM Mohammed Shia al Sudani meets with German Chancellor Olag Scholz in Munich, Germany at the Munich Security Conference |url=https://ina.iq/eng/31448-al-sudani-holds-a-meeting-with-olaf-scholz.html |access-date=2024-02-25 |work=Iraqi News Agency |page=1 |archive-date=2024-02-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240225165908/https://ina.iq/eng/31448-al-sudani-holds-a-meeting-with-olaf-scholz.html |url-status=live }}

In April 2024, al-Sudani condemned the Israeli bombing of the Iranian embassy in Damascus.{{cite news |title=Iraqi PM, Iranian president discuss Israeli attack on Iranian consulate in Syria |url=https://english.news.cn/20240404/01f9af6ff91a4c84a1ee31486da42291/c.html |access-date=12 April 2024 |agency=Xinhua News Agency |date=4 April 2024 |archive-date=3 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240403215207/https://english.news.cn/20240404/01f9af6ff91a4c84a1ee31486da42291/c.html |url-status=live }} Also in this same month he visited the United States and met with President Joe Biden.{{cite web |title=Baghdad Is Ready for a New Chapter in U.S.-Iraq Relations |url=https://www.usip.org/publications/2024/04/baghdad-ready-new-chapter-us-iraq-relations |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240426052626/https://www.usip.org/publications/2024/04/baghdad-ready-new-chapter-us-iraq-relations |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 26, 2024 |website=United States Institute of Peace |language=en}} Also he received the Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and they signed a revolutionary project called the Iraq Development Road.{{cite news |title=Turkish President Erdogan makes rare state visit to Iraq |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2024/04/22/turkish-president-erdogan-makes-rare-state-visit-to-iraq_6669164_4.html |date=22 April 2024 |language=en}}

In May 2024, he attended the memorial ceremony for late President Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash, in the Iranian capital, Tehran.{{cite news |title=Iran’s Khamenei leads prayers at Raisi memorial before tens of thousands |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/5/22/irans-khamenei-leads-prayers-at-raisi-memorial-before-tens-of-thousands |work=Al Jazeera |language=en}}

In September of 2024 at the UNGA he condemned the Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon and met various leaders who discussed bilateral relations with him.{{cite web |title=Iraq {{!}} General Debate |url=https://gadebate.un.org/en/78/iraq |website=gadebate.un.org |language=en |date=22 September 2023}}

During the 2024 Syrian opposition offensives against the Assad regime, he stated that "what is happening in Syria today is in the interest of the Zionist entity Israel, which deliberately bombed Syrian army sites in a way that paved the way for terrorist groups to control additional areas in Syria."{{Cite news |date=December 3, 2024 |title=Iraq will not be just a 'spectator' in Syria, prime minister says |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/iraq-will-not-be-just-spectator-syria-prime-minister-says-2024-12-03/ |work=Reuters}} However, he avoided intervening in the conflict on the side of Bashar al-Assad despite pressure to do so from some domestic groups.{{Cite web |last=Azhari |first=Timour |publisher=Reuters |date=2024-12-06 |title=Iraq considers Syria intervention as rebels advance |url=https://theprint.in/world/iraq-considers-syria-intervention-as-rebels-advance/2392182/ |access-date=2024-12-10 |website=ThePrint |language=en-US}}

In April 2025, he made an unannounced visit to Qatar and met with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.{{Cite web |title=Exclusive: Iraqi PM meets Syrian transitional President in Qatar for rare security talks |url=https://shafaq.com/en/Iraq/Exclusive-Iraqi-PM-meets-Syrian-transitional-President-in-Qatar-for-rare-security-talks |access-date=2025-04-18 |website=Shafaq News |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=IraqiNews |date=2025-04-17 |title=Iraqi PM meets Syrian President in secret Doha visit |url=https://www.iraqinews.com/iraq/iraqi-pm-meets-syrian-president-in-secret-doha-visit/ |access-date=2025-04-18 |website=Iraqi News |language=en-US}}

Al-Sudani is married and has four sons.

{{notelist}}

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{{IraqiPMs}}

{{Arab country leaders}}

{{Current heads of government}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sudani, Mohammed Shia}}

Category:Living people

Category:1970 births

Category:Iraqi Muslims

Category:University of Baghdad alumni

Category:Human rights ministers of Iraq

Category:Industry ministers of Iraq

Category:Labour ministers of Iraq

Category:Social affairs ministers of Iraq

Category:Governors of Maysan Governorate

Category:Prime ministers of Iraq

Category:Maysan Governorate in the Iraq War