Abdul Rahman Arif
Who was Abdul Rahman Arif?
Military officer who served as President of Iraq from 1966 to 1968 after succeeding his brother Abdul Salam Arif. His presidency ended when the Ba'ath Party seized power in a bloodless coup.
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Abdul Rahman Arif (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Abdul Rahman Mohammed Arif al-Jumayli was an Iraqi military officer and politician, serving as the third president of Iraq from April 16, 1966, to July 17, 1968. Born in Baghdad on April 14, 1916, he was the older brother of Abdul Salam Arif, Iraq's second president. His unexpected rise to power happened after his brother died in a helicopter crash in southern Iraq in April 1966. The Iraqi parliament quickly confirmed Abdul Rahman as the new president, keeping the family's control over the Iraqi government. His presidency continued the pan-Arab nationalist policies of his brother's administration, but he faced growing pressure from different political groups within Iraq. During his time in office, Abdul Rahman Arif tried to keep Iraq's neutral stance in regional conflicts while dealing with increasing internal opposition from the Ba'ath Party and other political groups. His administration faced economic problems and political instability that had troubled Iraq since the 1958 revolution that deposed the monarchy. He also had to manage tricky relationships with neighboring countries, especially during the tense period after the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. His presidency abruptly ended on July 17, 1968, when the Ba'ath Party, led by Ahmad Hassan al-Bakr and supported by a young Saddam Hussein, executed a bloodless coup that removed him from power. After his ousting, Abdul Rahman Arif went into exile and spent the rest of his life away from Iraqi politics. He died in Amman, Jordan, on August 24, 2007, at the age of 91.
Before Fame
Abdul Rahman Arif grew up during the last years of Ottoman rule and the early British Mandate in Iraq. He pursued a military career during the monarchy, serving in the Royal Iraqi Army, where he honed his leadership skills and formed connections with officers who would later become key figures in Iraqi politics. His military experience laid the groundwork for his future political career, although he initially stayed in the background compared to his younger brother Abdul Salam, who was more politically engaged and charismatic. The 1958 revolution that toppled King Faisal II and established a republic opened up new opportunities for military officers like the Arif brothers to take on prominent roles in Iraqi governance.
Key Achievements
- Served as third president of Iraq from 1966 to 1968
- Maintained political stability during the transition following his brother's sudden death
- Continued pan-Arab nationalist policies during a turbulent period in Middle Eastern politics
- Managed Iraq's response to the 1967 Arab-Israeli War
- Preserved civilian government structure despite military pressures
Did You Know?
- 01.He was older than his more famous brother Abdul Salam Arif, despite succeeding him as president
- 02.His presidency lasted exactly 822 days, making him one of Iraq's shorter-serving presidents
- 03.He was removed from power on July 17, which later became known as the anniversary of the Ba'ath Party's rise to power
- 04.After his overthrow, he lived in exile for nearly 40 years until his death
- 05.He was the last Iraqi president before the Ba'ath Party's long dominance of Iraqi politics