Eighteen days have passed since Foreign Minister Fouad Hussein has been absent from government activities following the death of his wife. He has notably missed significant events that have occurred in Iraq recently, raising questions about the propriety of a minister in such a vital sovereign position neglecting his duties while Iraq is engaged in various external economic and security matters, alongside the potential resurgence of regional security tensions.
On April 7, 2024, Minister Fouad Hussein’s wife passed away, and since then he has refrained from performing any government tasks despite increasing regional and global developments, as well as Iraq’s external activities. There have been leaks regarding Hussein’s illness, suggesting he may have cancer and intends to resign; however, he has personally denied this in an interview with a Kurdish media outlet, asserting that he is in good health and will return to his duties soon.
Hussein has also been absent from critical external and diplomatic events in Iraq, including Prime Minister Al-Sudani’s visit to the United States and President Erdogan's visit to Iraq, both of which are significant and unprecedented. Additionally, there has been an increase in security tensions in the region, including missile exchanges and an unknown explosion at a Popular Mobilization Forces camp in Babil days ago.
