An investigative committee dispatched by Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani arrived in Kirkuk’s Prde (Altun Kupri) subdistrict on Monday to examine recent protests led by supporters of the Iraqi Turkmen Front. The demonstrations erupted over the appointment of a Kurdish official to a key administrative position, reigniting tensions in the ethnically diverse region.

Last week, Turkmen Front supporters blocked the main Erbil-Kirkuk highway, smashed windows, and set fires in protest against the appointment of a Kurdish woman as municipal director. The unrest peaked on Thursday when demonstrators shut down the road before security forces dispersed the crowd.

Protesters are demanding that one of the three top local positions—municipal director, mayor, or police chief—be given to a Turkmen representative. The Kirkuk Provincial Council has since formed a committee to address their demands.

Abdullah Mirwais, a member of the Kirkuk Provincial Council, told Rudaw that the prime minister’s delegation, led by Ahmad al-Fatlawi, head of the high committee for interprovincial cooperation, met with Kirkuk Governor Rebwar Taha before visiting Prde to assess the situation. A detailed report will be submitted to Sudani with recommendations.

Mirwais suggested that the dispute is politically driven, tied more to upcoming elections than genuine concerns over representation.

"The position was previously held by a Kurd—meaning a Kurd was removed and another Kurd was appointed. It's not that a Turkmen was replaced. This is about gaining future seats; the issue is more about elections," he said.

Despite the protests, Prde’s mayor, Abdulmutalib Najmadin, stated in late June that Turkmens hold 12 out of 17 local administrative positions, including directors of hospitals, banks, and emergency police.

"Kurds are the majority in Prde, but we have always shown flexibility," Mirwais said. "Unfortunately, some politicians mislead the [Turkmen] community. We believe in coexistence between Kurds, Turkmens, and Arabs, which is why most positions are held by them."

The Iraqi Turkmen Front, a major political force in Kirkuk, has long claimed the city as historically Turkmen. The recent protests also saw participation from Turkmen members of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) and the Badr Organization, according to Rudaw reporters.