An excited hum emanates from two rooms filled with people chatting together quietly, a few puffing on cigarettes, as they eagerly await their appointments with Mosul’s new governor.
Najm Al Jabouri, the general who led Mosul to victory against ISIS in 2017, took office last month.
Mr Al Jabouri sits calmly in his office as people take turns to approach him, to relay concerns or to ask for help.
On the streets of the city, the scale of the job in front of him is clear. Although some renovation has started, buildings remain piles of rubble, mechanical innards spill from mangled cars and missing walls leave former homes gaping wide open.
The city has been plagued by corruption and residents are fed up with the lack of action by authorities to rebuild their city two years after the end of the war. Mistrust in their leaders only deepens as time goes on.
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West Mosul remains in ruins amid corruption scandals and a lack of action by authorities. All photos by Charlie Faulkner for The National -
Inside Mar Giwargis Monastery in Assyrian town Karemlash. -
Father Thaabit standing outside Mar Giwargis Monastery in Assyrian town Karemlash which was liberated from ISIS in October 2016. -
In the west of Mosul where destroyed buildings are still waiting to be rebuilt two years after the city was liberated from ISIS. -
A resident of Assyrian town Karemlash enters the Mar Giwargis Monastery during the evening. -
Twenty-five-year-old Mohamed Al Rahou who is now starting to rebuild his family home with the help of a local NGO. -
The view of Assyrian town Karemlesh, located 23km south east of Mosul, Iraq, from the roof of St Barbara Church. -
The Mosul Grand Mosque, formerly known as the Saddam Mosque, built in the name of Saddam Hussein. It remains unfinished. -
Mohammad Zaki Abdulrahman believes Najm Al Jabouri's relationship with the US will benefit Mosul. -
The level of destruction inflicted on Mosul during the war is still very clear to see. -
Mohammad Zaki Abdulrahman sells petrol to support his family. -
Mosul residents have lost faith in the authorities amid corruption scandals and a lack of action to rebuild the city. -
Pockmarked and crumbling buildings are a powerful reminder of the suffering endured by the city during the battle against ISIS. -
Reconstruction has begun in Mosul but much of the west still remains in ruins two years on since it was liberated from ISIS.
Mr Al Jabouri says he has a plan to revive the shattered city and has started work since taking office on November 24.
"I have a dream to rebuild my city, to see my people live in dignity with the resources they need to live in good conditions," he tells The National. "My dream is to rebuild Mosul into a great city.
“More than 11,000 police officers have returned to work and that means 11,000 families have found resources to live on.”
By the end of the month, Mr Al Jabouri says, work will start on 130 projects to rebuild schools, medical clinics, roads and bridges, for which the city’s residents have longed since Mosul was liberated two years ago.
Mr Al Jabouri has pledged to bring stability to the province and is focused on attracting private investment.
But while he is trying to get to work, there is another issue to deal with – the controversy surrounding his appointment.
Critics say Mr Al Jabouri’s appointment was illegitimate as the Iraqi Parliament announced the dissolution of provincial councils at the end of October to tackle the nationwide anti-government protests.
The former governor, Mansour Al Mareed, has also refused to step down, saying he had no knowledge of the letter that was supposed to convey his resignation.
Despite this, the Nineveh Provincial Council voted to accept Mr Al Mareed’s resignation on November 19 and Mr Al Jabouri was appointed as his replacement five days later.
Grey areas when it comes to the legality of Mosul’s governors are no new thing, says Dr Renad Mansour, research fellow at the London think tank Chatham House and Iraq policy research institute IRIS.
“The governor previous to Al Mareed was elected while in exile because ISIS was still in control of Mosul at the time,” Dr Mansour says.
The same governor, Nawfal Al Akoub, fled the country after an arrest warrant was issued for corruption after a deadly ferry sinking in which he was accused of negligence.
But researcher Dr Mahmoud Al Najjar, based in Iraq, says the decree issued by Iraq’s President Barham Salih and signed by Mr Al Jabouri legitimises the appointment.
A final decision is due to be made by the Federal Supreme Court of the Iraqi Judicial Council, but this is merely a legal procedure, Dr Al Najjar says.
He said it had been postponed because of the protests in Baghdad.
In a mainly Sunni city, Mr Al Mareed’s close relationships with Shiite militias known as the Popular Mobilisation Forces and Iraq’s influential neighbour Iran was not welcomed.
By contrast, Mr Al Jabouri was chosen by the US to lead the offensive in Mosul, boasts a strong relationship with the Kurdistan Regional Government, is a member of a powerful Sunni tribe and is heralded as a local hero by Mosul citizens.
“What’s interesting about Al Jabouri is that while he was commander of operations he was very concerned about the PMF,” says Dr Mansour.
This, as others have highlighted, could cause tension considering the prevalent role the group plays in the province’s security.
Mr Al Jabouri says he is encouraging the PMF to “build bridges” within the community and to co-ordinate security with coalition forces.
ISIS still poses a threat to the area and officials have warned the militants are regrouping in the desert. The new governor says he is keen to calm fears and attract international investment.
This may be an uphill battle, considering that when ISIS stormed the city, most army and police units abandoned their posts and fled.
“We have three army divisions and more than 26,000 policemen, as well as tribal forces and, until now, the coalition forces have strongly supported us in Mosul,” Mr Al Jabouri says.
“Yes, we are near the border of Syria and Turkey, but we have enhanced security forces on the border."
But he says international help is key because the money provided by Baghdad is a drop in the ocean when it comes to the scale of repairs needed.
“We receive $1 billion a year from the central government and this is a very small amount considering the destruction of Mosul," Mr Al Jabouri says.
"I believe we need more than $15bn to fix the education sector, health sector and the infrastructure."
On the streets of the city, the new governor has his supporters.
Mohammed Abdulrahman sits at the side of the road selling bottles of petrol to support his family of eight. He spent 14 years in the army and before the war he was a lorry driver.
Mr Abdulrahman says he is suspicious of the circumstances around Mr Al Jabouri's election as governor but believes he is the most capable person to protect Mosul because of his tribal affiliations.
Mohamed El Rahou, 25, who is receiving assistance from a local charity to rebuild his family’s house, is also optimistic.
“We need Al Jabouri because he’s stronger," Mr El Rahou says. "He’s supported by the people and he has support from America.”
He is unable to find work but believes the former general is the man to reignite the city’s economy.
In the nearby village of Karemlash, about 20 kilometres from Mosul, Father Thaabit tells The National that Mr Al Jabouri's local roots instil confidence in the community.
“People didn’t know the old governor but Mr Al Jabouri is from the area," Mr Thaabit says. "We believe he will deliver a proper plan to reconstruct the province.”
Mr Al Jabouri says he believes the city is behind him.
“I feel confident that I have support of people in Mosul. I think because of my history with the people they stand with me. I hope they give me a chance to deliver my dream."
