Avoiding Iraq’s fragmentation

As Iraq heads towards parliamentary elections on 30 April, a combination of political and sectarian divides, poor governance and terrorist attacks continue to add to instability in the country. The risk of regional spill-over is considerable. Meanwhile, there is a strong chance that the increasingly authoritarian Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki, will win a third mandate. This could take Iraq to the brink of fragmentation. While facing many political obstacles, progress towards decentralisation could offer the best option to prevent further destabilisation and preserve the unity of the country.