Nineveh's governor wants Assyrians to return
The current governor of Nineveh says he wants Assyrians not only to stay, but to return – and he is taking concrete steps to improve life for them across the province.
Abdul Qader al-Dakhil, de facto governor of Nineveh since 2023, has made it his mission to encourage Assyrians to return to the province, particularly to Mosul, the provincial capital.
A Sunni Arab, al-Dakhil has engaged with several Assyrian groups and leaders both in Iraq and abroad in a manner that stands in sharp contrast to many of his predecessors, signaling a positive shift reminiscent of the change in tone Turkish officials have shown toward Assyrians from Turkey.
Al-Dakhil has actively supported the return of Assyrians through infrastructure projects, cultural initiatives, and direct engagement with the community. During his meetings with Assyrians in the United States, he expressed his intention to develop projects that would encourage members of the Assyrian diaspora to come back.
In February 2025, the governor received an Assyrian delegation from America, reportedly showing great interest in their concerns and affirming that Assyrians are the indigenous population of the region. He outlined the projects his administration is pursuing to improve conditions for Assyrians. The visit was followed a month later by his own trip to Detroit, home to one of the largest Assyrian communities in the United States mainly consisting of Assyrians from the Chaldean Catholic Church, where he toured various associations established by the community.
He has overseen the renovation of the long-neglected road leading to the Mar Matti Monastery and launched reconstruction work at historic Assyrian sites, including the Maskanta Church, one of Mosul’s oldest churches. Al-Dakhil has also supervised the rebuilding of the Church Complex of Hosh Al-Bi’aa in Mosul’s Old City and inaugurated the nuns’ House of Prayer at Al-Saa’a Church following its reconstruction, along with several other restoration projects of Assyrian religious sites. Perhaps more importantly, he is actively directing infrastructure projects to the neglected Assyrian villages and towns in the Nineveh Plain Region.
Affiliated with the “Nineveh for its People” alliance, al-Dakhil represents a Sunni Arab political bloc within the province. He has consistently called for political unity in Nineveh and urged local factions to avoid internal conflict and focus on reconstruction and service delivery. He has said he intends to accelerate the pace of development in the province and is keen on attracting capital and investments. He is actively cultivating cooperation and exchanges with different international actors, as well as meeting with foreign ambassadors to Iraq to explore collaborations and investments.
His efforts extend beyond Mosul and into the towns of the Nineveh Plain, where he has sought to strengthen ties with local Assyrian leaders and coordinate support for community needs.
Al-Dakhil was appointed acting governor in late November 2023 by decision of the Iraqi Prime Minister, replacing Najim Abdullah al-Jubouri, a sunni Arab who resigned amid allegations of past links to Saddam Hussein’s Ba’ath regime. Al-Dakhil, considered close to al-Jubouri, had served as his deputy and accompanied him in key official meetings, according to reports in Iraqi media.
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While many Iraqi politicians since the fall of Saddam have spoken warmly of the “Christians” without delivering results, the governor of Nineveh stands out for coupling words with tangible actions that benefit Assyrians. His approach mirrors the shift in tone and policy seen in Turkey toward its Assyrian population. Whether al-Dakhil marks the beginning of a broader change in Iraq’s attitude toward Assyrians, or remains an exceptional case driven by personal conviction, is yet to be seen.
