The ninth Sulaimani Forum will convene on April 16-17, 2025, at the American University of Iraq-Sulaimani, addressing critical challenges facing Iraq, the region, and the world. This year’s main theme, “Regional Peace,” will attract high-level participation from regional and international leaders, with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani expected to attend alongside Kurdish officials and global dignitaries.
A Distinguished Regional Platform
The Sulaimani Forum stands as the most established and influential political dialogue platform in the Kurdistan Region. Since its inception in 2013, it has provided a prestigious stage for leaders, intellectuals, and decision-makers from across the Middle East, Europe, America, and around the world. The forum regularly hosts heads of state, diplomats, senior officials, academics, and analysts from leading political and intellectual institutions.
This year’s event is being organized in coordination with prominent international institutions, including Chatham House, the Italian Institute for International Affairs (IAI), the Issam Fares Institute at the American University of Beirut, the Century Foundation, and the International Crisis Group.
In addition to Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and several Iraqi cabinet ministers, Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister Masrour Barzani and various KRG ministers are expected to participate. According to the forum’s agenda, other notable attendees will include Patriotic Union of Kurdistan President Bafel Jalal Talabani, Kurdistan Region Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani, Wisdom Movement leader Ammar al-Hakim, UN Representative Mohammed Hassan, KDP Political Bureau Executive Committee member Hoshyar Zebari, and Dr. Barham Salih, founder of the American University of Iraq-Sulaimani.
Critical Regional Discussions
The forum will feature discussions on Iraq’s upcoming elections and domestic political situation, examining how internal changes align with regional and international developments. Regional issues will also be thoroughly explored, including the new government in Damascus, developments in Lebanon, and increased focus on the challenges facing Western Kurdistan.
Debates will cover a wide spectrum of topics beyond politics, including economics, environment, law, human rights, health, energy, and numerous other pressing issues. The Sulaimani Forum serves as a unique gathering point where thinkers, experts, specialists, and decision-makers from Kurdistan, Iraq, the region, and the world converge to discuss regional and global concerns.
Historical Development
The Sulaimani Forum, initiated by the Center for Regional and International Studies at the American University of Iraq-Sulaimani, has evolved significantly since its first session in 2013. Each forum has addressed critical issues of its time:
The inaugural forum held on March 12-13, 2013, focused on “The Geopolitics of the Middle East.” The second session followed on March 4-5, 2014, examining “Challenges of the Middle East,” while the third convened on March 11-12, 2015.
The fourth Sulaimani Forum began on March 16, 2016, at the American University and continued for two days. The fifth forum, held on March 8-9, 2017, adopted the theme “Post-ISIS Era: Ending the Cycle of Conflict, Toward Sustainable Solutions,” with discussions centered on finding appropriate solutions for deadlocked issues in the post-ISIS landscape.
The sixth session took place on March 6-7, 2019, under the title “Iraq and Neighboring Countries: Toward a New Regional System.” The seventh forum was held on March 15-16, 2023, with the theme “After 20 Years: Iraq and the Region Amid New Global Challenges,” featuring participation from numerous international and regional politicians.
The eighth Sulaimani Forum convened on April 17, 2024, with the theme “Middle East Conflicts,” sponsored by Channel 8 and attended by dozens of political and academic figures from within the Kurdistan Region, Iraq, and abroad.
Now, the ninth Sulaimani Forum will take place on April 16-17, 2025, with “Regional Peace” as its central theme. Discussions will explore the Middle East and North Africa within the changing global system, with special focus on Iran, Iraq, and developments in the Levant. The forum will also examine regional economic integration, northeastern Syria, and implications for Iraq, alongside Iraq’s upcoming elections and emerging political movements.
As the most prestigious gathering of its kind in the region, the Sulaimani Forum continues to provide an essential platform for dialogue on the most pressing challenges facing Iraq and the Middle East in an increasingly complex global environment.
