Resources, City Spotlights Nineveh

City Spotlight: Nineveh, Iraq

Nineveh Governorate, located in northern Iraq and bordering Syria, comprises nine districts, with Mosul as its largest city and provincial capital. Home to a diverse population of approximately 4 million, Nineveh has a history of peaceful coexistence among various ethno-religious groups. However, the region faced significant challenges during the partial occupation by ISIS between 2014 and 2017. Since then, Nineveh has focused on reconstruction, rehabilitation, reintegration and reconciliation to restore stability and rebuild community harmony.

Representatives from Nineveh’s capital Mosul first engaged with the Strong Cities Network’s Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Regional Hub during its launch in Rabat, Morocco, in March 2023. The Governorate has since participated in pivotal events, including the first Iraqi country roundtable in May 2023 and the second regional workshop in early 2024.

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What is the local government concerned about?

Nineveh continues to address the repercussions of violent conflicts, particularly from Al-Qaeda and ISIS. After the 2003 US-led invasion, Mosul became a base for Al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI), leading to widespread violence, sectarian strife and attacks targeting religious and ethnic minorities such as Christians, Yazidis and Shabaks. ISIS’ occupation further devastated the region, damaging infrastructure, displacing populations and fracturing its social fabric.

The Governorate faces significant challenges in reintegrating internally displaced persons, especially those perceived to have ties to ISIS. Many returnees experience stigma and socio-economic exclusion, exacerbating local tensions and creating risks of retaliatory violence. Efforts to repatriate Iraqis from Syrian camps, such as al-Hol, and reintegrate the families through the Al-Jad’a Center in Nineveh, face resistance from affected communities, including Yazidis, who view returnees with suspicion. Addressing unemployment, hate and stigma remains critical to reducing vulnerabilities to violent extremism.

How is the local government responding?

Nineveh has launched a series of initiatives in collaboration with national, local and international stakeholders. These efforts aim to strengthen social cohesion, support the rehabilitation and reintegration of internally displaced persons and adopt a whole-of-society approach to preventing violent extremism. Key initiatives include:

Establishing a Subcommittee for the Prevention of Violent Extremism: Created in 2022 and led by the Deputy Governor, this subcommittee oversees the implementation of Iraq’s National Strategy to Combat Violent Extremism at the local level. With representation from local government officials and civil society, the subcommittee coordinates initiatives to prevent violent extremism under a participatory local action plan.
Public Education and Internally Displaced Persons Reintegration Initiatives: Through workshops, seminars and roundtables, the Governorate raises awareness about violent extremism and promotes IDP the reintegration of internally displaced persons. These events engage religious and tribal leaders, students, youth and community associations to foster dialogue, reduce stigma and address reintegration challenges.
Local Peace Agreements to Strengthen Social Cohesion: To strengthen social cohesion, the Governorate facilitates local peace agreements, such as those in Al-Baaj District and villages in Tel Afar’s Zummar sub-district. These agreements aim to prevent retaliatory violence and promote coexistence. Nineveh facilitated 10 such agreements, showcasing its commitment to reducing tribal tensions and fostering community harmony.

Through these initiatives, the Governorate is seeking to tackle the complex challenges of violent extremism, community fragmentation and reintegration of internally displaced persons. By fostering stakeholder collaboration, empowering local communities and implementing targeted programmes, the Governorate is working toward a more resilient and inclusive society, ultimately aiming to contribute to lasting peace and stability in the region.

What’s next?

With Strong Cities’ support, Nineveh, and its cities of Mosul and Tel Afar, are advancing community initiatives to prevent hate, extremism and polarisation. As part of a project to prevent violent extremism funded by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the Governorate is operationalising city-level action plans tailored to local needs.

As part of the project, violent extremism prevention subcommittees and the Deputy Governor participated in a national workshop organised by the Strong Cities MENA Regional Hub in September 2024 to advance the implementation of Local Plans of Action. The workshop shared valuable insights and good practices from other committees across Iraq, as well as from cities across Strong Cities regional and global membership.

Additionally, the Governorate will continue advancing its violent extremism prevention action plan through collaboration with government agencies, local organisations and international bodies such as UNDP and IOM. Planned activities include seminars, training sessions, support for community initiatives and public awareness campaigns.

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