Answer
By adopting sectarian policies and consolidating power among Shiite elites, Nouri al-Maliki exacerbated sectarian violence in Iraq. His divisive rhetoric and favoritism towards Shiite militias alienated many Sunni Iraqis, who felt excluded and marginalized from the political process. This environment of distrust and resentment fueled the rise of Sunni extremist groups such as the Islamic State, deepening the sectarian conflict and plunging Iraq into further instability.