Nizar Amedi: From Badinan to the Palace of Salam

Iraq 11:36 AM - 2026-04-27

Nizar Amedi: From Badinan to the Palace of Salam.

In a historic parliamentary session held on 11 April 2026, the Iraqi Parliament elected Nizar Amedi, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) candidate, as President of the Republic of Iraq.

Amedi secured a decisive mandate after receiving 208 votes in the first round of voting, placing him ahead of rival candidates. In the second round, which saw 249 out of 329 members of parliament participate, he won 227 votes, formally confirming his election as President of the Republic.

The election marks a significant political milestone for Iraq, bringing to the presidency a seasoned statesman with extensive experience in governance, diplomacy, and constitutional affairs, as well as a long record of service at the highest levels of the Iraqi state.

Who Is Nizar Mohammed Saeed Mohammed (Nizar Amedi)?

Personal Information

• Date and Place of Birth: 6 February 1968 – Amedi District, Duhok Governorate, Iraq
• Marital Status: Married, father of four children
Born in Duhok, educated in Mosul, and later living and working in Sulaymaniyah and Baghdad, Amedi developed a deep practical understanding of the political, institutional, and social landscape across both Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.

Professional Profile

Nizar Amedi is an Iraqi political, governmental, and diplomatic figure with more than four decades of public service experience. His career includes senior roles within the Iraqi state, advisory positions to three Presidents of Iraq, and service as Iraq's Minister of Environment.

He possesses extensive experience in state administration, national consensus-building, constitutional governance, and international representation. He combines technical academic expertise with deep political and diplomatic experience, alongside a strong record in fostering agreement between the federal government and the Kurdistan Region.

He is highly skilled in managing relations between Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government, with a clear understanding of the constitutional and political complexities underpinning this relationship. He has played a practical role in addressing and resolving such challenges.

Amedi has maintained close working relationships with Kurdish political parties and major political forces in Baghdad, built through his service under Presidents Jalal Talabani, Fuad Masoum, and Barham Salih. He is widely regarded as experienced in managing political differences, building consensus, and supporting national unity.

International Experience and Public Policy

He has over 20 years of senior governmental and political experience, including serving as Senior Adviser to the President of the Republic with the rank of minister and ministry undersecretary, and as Minister of Environment.

He has represented Iraq at numerous regional and international forums, including Arab Summits in Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait, as well as major United Nations conferences and meetings, including:

• COP21 – Paris (2015)
• COP28 – United Arab Emirates (2023)
• United Nations Environment Assembly – Nairobi (2023)
• United Nations Water Conference – New York
He has also undertaken official visits to Geneva, Washington, Tehran, Riyadh, Muscat, and St Petersburg, and has been a regular member of presidential delegations involved in foreign policy coordination and diplomatic engagement.

Key Skills and Competencies

• National leadership and governance
• Strategic decision-making
• Consensus-building and coalition management
• Constitutional and institutional governance
• Presidential and executive advisory roles
• Diplomacy and international representation
• Crisis management and negotiation
• Environmental policy and sustainable development
• Central–regional relations

Qualifications and Experience

• Extensive direct experience within the Office of the President of Iraq
• Senior leadership roles within the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK)
• Cabinet-level executive experience
• Regional and international diplomatic engagement
• Long-standing cooperation with United Nations agencies and international organisations

Languages

• Arabic
• Kurdish

Education

• Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering – University of Mosul

Political and Organisational Experience

• Member of the PUK Leadership Council until 2023
• Member of the State Administration Coalition (2022–present)
• Member of the PUK Political Bureau (2023–present)
• Head of the PUK Political Bureau in Baghdad (2024–present)
• Worked in the Office of the Secretary-General of the PUK (1993–2003)

Professional Experience

Minister of Environment – Republic of Iraq (2022–2024)
• Formulated and implemented national environmental policy in line with constitutional and international obligations
• Strengthened Iraq’s engagement in climate change and sustainable development
• Represented Iraq in international forums and led official delegations
• Advanced environmental diplomacy as part of national policy
Senior Adviser to the President of the Republic (2005–2022) (rank of minister and ministry undersecretary)
• Advised on constitutional and political affairs
• Served as liaison between the Presidency and constitutional institutions and regional authorities
• Supported government formation processes and national crisis management
• Oversaw presidential decisions and official correspondence

Key Achievements:

• Contributed to the institutional stability of the Presidency across three terms
• Played a role in managing key constitutional and political crises
• Strengthened the Presidency’s role as a guarantor of national unity