The Path To Power: Understanding Afghanistan's Unique Leadership Selection Process

Afghanistan has had a tumultuous political history, with the country in a state of continuous internal conflict and foreign intervention since 1978. The process of choosing the country's leader has varied over time, with different political systems and power structures in place at different points in the country's history.

The current leader of Afghanistan is Hibatullah Akhundzada, who assumed power in 2021 after the Taliban's victory over U.S.-backed forces. Akhundzada is the supreme leader of the Taliban and the head of state of Afghanistan, wielding absolute power and authority in the country.

Prior to the Taliban's takeover, Afghanistan had a presidential system, with the president serving as the head of state and commander-in-chief of the armed forces. The president was elected and had to meet certain eligibility criteria, including being a citizen of Afghanistan, being at least forty years old, and not having any convictions for crimes or deprivation of civil rights.

The role and powers of the supreme leader

The supreme leader of Afghanistan is the absolute ruler, head of state, and national religious leader of Afghanistan, as well as the leader of the Taliban. The supreme leader wields unlimited authority and is the ultimate source of all law. The supreme leader is chosen by the Leadership Council.

The supreme leader of Afghanistan appoints and manages the activities of the prime minister and other members of the Cabinet, as well as judges and provincial and local leaders. The Emir carries out much of his work through the Rabbari Shura, or the Leadership Council, which is based in Kandahar and oversees the work of the Cabinet. The supreme leader also has final authority over political appointments, as well as political, religious, and military affairs.

The first supreme leader, Mullah Omar, ruled Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001. The current supreme leader is Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada, who assumed office in exile during the Taliban insurgency on 25 May 2016. Akhundzada has led the Taliban since 2016 and came to power with its victory over U.S.-backed forces in the 2001–2021 war. He is known for his fatwas on Taliban matters and has imposed a totalitarian Islamic government in Afghanistan.

The election process for the president

To be eligible for the office of President, a candidate must:

• Be a citizen of Afghanistan, Muslim, and born of Afghan parents.
• Not be a citizen of another country.
• Be at least forty years old when declaring their candidacy.
• Not have been convicted of crimes against humanity, a criminal act, or deprived of civil rights by a court.
• Not have previously served more than two terms as president.

The 2004 Constitution granted the president wide powers over military and legislative affairs. The president was also Commander-in-Chief of the Afghan Armed Forces. However, the National Assembly, consisting of the House of the People (Wolesi Jirga) and the House of Elders (Meshrano Jirga), was relatively weak in comparison. The president could only serve up to two five-year terms.

The first democratically elected president of Afghanistan was Hamid Karzai, who began his first five-year term in 2004. After Karzai, Ashraf Ghani was elected as the next president in 2014. Ghani remained in power until 15 August 2021, when he fled the country as Kabul fell to the Taliban.

Since the Taliban takeover, the office of the president has been replaced by the supreme leader of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, currently Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada. The supreme leader is the absolute ruler and head of state, with unlimited authority and the power to appoint and manage the activities of the prime minister, Cabinet members, judges, and provincial and local leaders.

The Taliban's influence

The Taliban's leader is known as the supreme leader, and he is the absolute ruler, head of state, and national religious leader of Afghanistan. The current supreme leader is Hibatullah Akhundzada, who assumed office in exile during the Taliban insurgency on 25 May 2016 and came to power on 15 August 2021.

The supreme leader is appointed by the Leadership Council, also known as the Quetta Shura, which is based in Kandahar. The supreme leader wields unlimited authority and is the ultimate source of all law. He appoints and manages the activities of the prime minister and other members of the Cabinet, as well as judges and provincial and local leaders.

The Taliban views the Quran as its constitution. However, it approved a basic law in 1998, which proclaimed Omar the supreme leader but did not outline a succession process.

Since the Taliban seized control of Kabul on 15 August 2021, the country has been in a state of flux, with the Taliban struggling to transition its ranks into formal roles of state security forces and the economy collapsing due to the withdrawal of foreign aid. The Taliban has also been criticized for human rights abuses, including restricting women's rights to work and education.

The eligibility criteria for candidates

Previously, under the 2004 Constitution of Afghanistan, the president of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan was the head of state and government. The eligibility criteria for candidates were as follows:

• Must be a citizen of Afghanistan, Muslim, and born of Afghan parents.
• Must not be a citizen of another country.
• Must be at least forty years old when declaring candidacy.
• Must not have been convicted of crimes against humanity, a criminal act, or deprived of civil rights by a court.
• Must not have previously served more than two terms as president.

The history of Afghanistan's leadership

Afghanistan has had a tumultuous history, with a constant state of internal conflict and foreign interventions since 1978. The country has been led by various empires, emirates, kingdoms, and republics, each with its own system of leadership selection.

The first modern Afghan state, the Hotak Empire, was established in 1709 by Mirwais Hotak and other Afghan tribal chiefs who led a successful uprising against Mughal and Safavid Persian rule. The Hotak dynasty lasted until 1738, when it was replaced by the Durrani Empire, founded by Ahmad Shah Durrani. The Durrani dynasty ruled until 1823, with Ahmad Shah Durrani considered the founder of modern Afghanistan.

After the collapse of the Durrani Empire, the Barakzai dynasty took control and founded the Emirate of Kabul, later known as the Emirate of Afghanistan. The Durrani dynasty briefly regained power during the First Anglo-Afghan War in 1839, but the Barakzais soon returned to power and ruled until 1973, with a brief interruption in 1929. During this period, Afghanistan transformed from an emirate to a kingdom in 1926.

In 1973, a coup d'état led by Mohammad Daoud Khan, a member of the Barakzai dynasty, overthrew the monarchy. Khan abolished the monarchy and established the Republic of Afghanistan, serving as its first president. However, this republic lasted only until 1978, when the PDPA-led Saur Revolution occurred.

The country then became the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan, with a series of leaders from the People's Democratic Party holding power until 1992. During this period, there was significant leadership turnover, with multiple leaders being assassinated or deposed.

From 1992 to 2002, the country was known as the Islamic State of Afghanistan, and Sibghatullah Mojaddedi served as the acting president. This period was marked by civil war, with the Taliban controlling a significant portion of the country.

In 1996, the Taliban, led by Mullah Omar, established the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, with Omar as the supreme leader and head of state. The Taliban's interpretation of Sharia law governed the country until 2001 when the United States invaded Afghanistan following the September 11 attacks and overthrew Omar's government.

After the Taliban's initial rule, Afghanistan transitioned to the Transitional Islamic State (2002-2004) and then to the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (2004-2021). During this period, the country was led by democratically elected presidents Hamid Karzai (2004-2014) and Ashraf Ghani (2014-2021).

However, the Taliban regained control of the country in 2021, reinstating the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. The current supreme leader is Hibatullah Akhundzada, who assumed power in 2021 and is known for his strict interpretation of Sharia law.

Throughout Afghanistan's history, the country's leadership has been characterized by frequent changes, foreign interventions, and competing claims to power. The selection process has varied depending on the political system in place, ranging from dynastic succession to democratic elections.

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