ADM expels Yonadam Kanna amid deepening internal rift

In a dramatic turn of events, Yonadam Kanna, the former secretary-general of the Assyrian Democratic Movement (ADM), the main Assyrian political group in Iraq, has been expelled from the very movement he helped found. The ADM says the decision was necessary in light of recent statements and actions Kanna has undertaken, which it says run counter to its constitution and principles.

The decision, announced by current secretary-general Yacoob Gorgis during an interview on the Noqza Assyrian talk show, follows an escalating confrontation between the former ADM leader and the movement’s current leadership.

In a recent lengthy interview with Assyria TV’s Zaya Yaro, Kanna shared his view of the dramatic developments. According to him, the problems began when the current leadership brought in 37 new members and granted them full voting rights in the movement’s general conference, an action he says violates the ADM’s internal rules. Without spelling it out explicitly, the former ADM secretary-general alluded to the move being part of an internal power struggle, one that shifted the voting balance away from the faction loyal to him through the inclusion of new members he claims do not qualify.

The move prompted Kanna and his supporters to boycott the movement’s 11th general conference, deepening divisions between the two factions. The rift became acute and spilled into public view with the approach of Iraq’s parliamentary elections held in early November this year.

"They are incompetent"

Throughout the interview, Kanna portrayed the current leadership as incompetent and inactive. He claims the new leadership has failed to achieve its goals across four national and regional elections since he stepped down. He accused them of lacking an active presence, particularly in Baghdad, where he says decisions are made, saying:"If you want to change a law you have to be in parliament, not outside and complain."

He further accused the leadership of alienating Assyrians from the Syriac and Chaldean churches through a more forceful assertion of Assyrian identity, implying a lack of diplomatic approach and experience.

Kanna also criticized the ADM leadership for attempting to present itself as the force behind the return of the NPU to the Nineveh Plain Region, saying that it was mainly church pressure and claiming instead that he personally had played a behind-the-scenes role.

"No agreement with the KDP"

Kanna categorically denied claims that he has brokered a deal with the KDP, the Kurdish political party controlled by the Barzanis. "It's not true, this is a lie and they should be ashamed of themselves for claiming this." He says the coordination is instead with a council consisting of Turkmen, Sunni groups, and the KDP. He also rejected claims that Emad Youkhanna, the Assyrian quota seat winner from Kirkuk, received 17,000 votes from the KDP through its forces, insisting that the votes came from various groups, not only the KDP.

He portrayed his role in securing Emad Youkhanna’s victory for the Assyrian quota seat in Kirkuk as precisely the kind of proactive work the ADM should have undertaken. He further argued that his actions, as well as Youkhanna’s decision to run, do not violate the ADM’s formal boycott of the elections. According to Kanna, the boycott explicitly barred only members of the leadership from contesting seats, implying that Youkhanna, who currently holds no formal position within the ADM, was not bound by this decision.

"They cannot expel me"

Responding to Yako Yako’s announcement of his exclusion, made during a live talk show, Kanna said he has not received anything in writing. "I haven't received any official letter expelling me, which shows the level of unproffiosnality," he said. When the presenter noted that the ADM claims the letter was sent to his email and asked whether he could check his inbox, Kanna insisted that no one can expel him. "They cannot expel me, for it to be according to the rules and regulations of the ADM it needs to be voted by a general conference."

Towards a permanent split?

In the interview, Kanna avoided blaming his successor directly, placing responsibility instead on figures around Yacoob Gorgis, whom he said have their own agenda and have placed him in this position. "Some of them were not even born when we established the ADM, and they will teach me about the path of the ADM?" he said in a dismissive tone.

He revealed that 200 current ADM members have signed a document complaining about the current leadership’s actions, suggesting that several hundred more share the sentiment but chose not to sign. "What they will decide to do going forward I don't know, but they can count on my support," he said, his clearest indication yet of a potential formal split. At the same time, he proposed that a special general conference could be convened to resolve the conflict.

A precedent

The ADM has experienced splits before. In 2013, disillusioned members defected to form the Sons of Mesopotamia political party, citing mistrust and misguided leadership under Kanna, a monopolization of authority, continued violations of party principles and regulations, and strategic disagreements. In March 2024, it was announced that the party would dissolve in order to reunify with the ADM following the election of Yacoob Gorgis as general secretary.