Leader of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan

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Leader of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan
د مش د افغانستان اسلامي امارت
Arms of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.svg
Emblem of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan
Hibatullah Akhundzada.jpg
Incumbent
Hibatullah Akhundzada
since 25 May 2016[note 1]
Style
TypeSupreme leader
Status
Member of
  • Supreme Council (1996–2001)
  • Leadership Council (2001–present)
SeatKandahar
AppointerLeadership Council[2]
Term lengthLife tenure
PrecursorPresident of Afghanistan
Formation1994; 28 years ago (1994)
First holderMullah Omar
DeputyDeputy Leader
Salary؋228,750 monthly[3]
Politics of Afghanistan
Constitution
Government
Judiciary
Law enforcement
Administrative divisions
Elections
Foreign relations
Flag of the Taliban.svg Afghanistan portal
  • Other countries
  • v
  • t

The leader of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan[4][5] (Pashto: مشر دافغانستان اسلامي امارت, romanized: Mashr Də Afġānistān Islāmī Imārat)[a] is the supreme leader of the Taliban and—since the 2021 fall of Kabul—the de facto ruler of Afghanistan. From 1996 to 2013, the title was Leader of the Islamic Emirate or Supreme Leader. During Mohammed Omar’s tenure as leader during the Taliban’s insurgency, he also held the title of Supreme Leader of the Mujahideen in his role as supreme commander of the movement’s insurgents.[6] During the Taliban’s first regime from 1996 to 2001, then-leader Mullah Omar held the additional title "Head of the Supreme Council of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan", which was only held by Omar.[7]

History[]

The office was established by Mullah Mohammed Omar, who founded both the Taliban and the original Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in the 1990s. In 1996, in Kandahar, followers of Omar bestowed upon him the title Amir al-Mu'minin (أمير المؤمنين), meaning "Commander of the Faithful", as Omar had donned a cloak taken from its shrine in the city, asserted to be that of the Islamic prophet Muhammad.[8][9] Commander of the Faithful was not a governmental position but rather a religious and honorary title. After the Taliban seized the Afghan capital of Kabul in 1996, the organization instated a "Supreme Council of Afghanistan" and proclaimed Omar as the council's head on 27 September of that year; in this capacity, Omar acted as the country's head of state.[10][11]

Following the September 11 attacks and the United States invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, Omar was deposed and the office of Head of the Supreme Council was replaced by a presidency.[12] Nevertheless, all subsequent leaders of the Taliban have borne the title of Commander of the Faithful.[13]

Following its offensive in 2021, the Taliban recaptured Kabul after the United States withdrew its forces on 15 August of that year and became Afghanistan's new de facto government again.[14][15][16]

Selection[]

Under the draft constitution of the first Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan the head of state would be selected by an Islamic Council and hold the title "Leader of the Faithful".[17]

Powers and duties[]

Under Mohammed Omar, the Head of the Supreme Council held absolute power, and the Taliban’s interpretation of Sharia was entirely his decision.

It is unclear what exactly the current role of the Emir is, but under the 1998 draft constitution of the first Islamic Emirate, the Leader of the Faithful would appoint justices of the Supreme Court.[18]

Under the current government however, the Emir has final authority on political appointments, as well as political, religious, and military affairs. The Emir carries out much of his work through the Rabbari Shura, or the Leadership Council, which oversees the work of the Cabinet of Afghanistan, and appointment of individuals to key posts within the cabinet.[19]

However, in a report from Al Jazeera, the cabinet has no authority, with all decisions being made confidentiality by Akhundzada and the Rahbari Shura in Kandahar.[20]

List of leaders[]

Further information: List of heads of state of Afghanistan § Non-monarchs
No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death) 		Additional position(s) held Term of office Ref.
Took office Left office Time in office
1 Amir al-Mu'minin
Mullah
Mohammed Omar
(1960–2013) 		Head of the Supreme Council of Afghanistan (1996–2001) 1994 (1994) 23 April 2013 (2013-04-23)  # 18–19 years [21][22]
– Amir al-Mu'minin
Mullah
Akhtar Mansour
(1968–2016) 		First Deputy Leader of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (2010–2015) 23 April 2013 (2013-04-23) (acting)[note 2] 29 July 2015 (2015-07-29) 2 years, 97 days [23]
2 – 29 July 2015 (2015-07-29) 21 May 2016 (2016-05-21) X 297 days [24]
3 Amir al-Mu'minin Sheikh al-Hadith
Mullah
Mawlawi
Hibatullah Akhundzada 		– 25 May 2016 (2016-05-25)
Head of state of Afghanistan
since 15 August 2021 (2021-08-15) 		Incumbent 5 years, 277 days
Head of state of Afghanistan
for 195 days 		[26]

Timeline[]

Hibatullah AkhundzadaAkhtar MansourMullah Omar

Deputy Leader[]

Deputy Leader of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan
Arms of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.svg
Emblem of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan
Sirajuddin Haqqani FBI Sketch.jpg
Haqqani
Abdul Ghani Baradar.jpg
Baradar
Incumbents
Status
  • Deputy supreme leader of the Taliban
  • Deputy head of state of Afghanistan
Member ofLeadership Council[27]
Reports toThe leader
AppointerThe leader
Term lengthAt the pleasure of the leader
PrecursorVice President of Afghanistan
Formation1994; 28 years ago (1994)
First holderAbdul Ghani Baradar
SuccessionNo (post of Leader vacant until the Leadership Council elects a replacement)

All three leaders of the Taliban have had deputies, with the number of deputies fluctuating between one and three.[28] Akhundzada has three deputies: Sirajuddin Haqqani, Mohammad Yaqoob, and Abdul Ghani Baradar. Haqqani was first appointed as a deputy leader by Akhtar Mansour in 2015, and was retained by Akhundzada. Upon assuming office in 2016, Akhundzada appointed Yaqoob, a son of Mullah Omar, as a second deputy. Akhundzada appointed Baradar as a third deputy in 2019, with a special responsibility for political affairs.[29]

See also[]

Notes[]

  1. ^ Because the Taliban continued to refer to itself as the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan after the United States invasion of Afghanistan, this was the official title used to identify the supreme commander within the movement
  1. ^ Head of state of Afghanistan since 15 August 2021
  2. ^ Mansour was never officially named Acting Leader, but executed the role by concealing Mullah Omar's death, claiming to be acting on his behalf, and issuing decrees bearing his name. After over two years, news of Omar's death became public on 29 July 2015. Mansour was formally appointed Leader the same day.[23][24][25]
  3. ^ a b Deputy heads of state of Afghanistan since 15 August 2021

References[]

  1. ^ a b "Acting Minister of Education Meets Esteemed Amir-ul-Momineen". Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan – Voice of Jihad. Kandahar. 8 February 2022. Archived from the original on 8 February 2022. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
  2. ^ Burke, Jason (17 August 2021). "The Taliban leaders in line to become de facto rulers of Afghanistan". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  3. ^ Hakimi, Amina (5 December 2021). "Senior Officials' Salaries Reduced: MoF". TOLOnews. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  4. ^ Akhundzada, Hibatullah (8 September 2021). "Statement of the Leadership Office regarding Policies of Islamic Emirate following announcement of New Islamic Government and Cabinet". Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan – Voice of Jihad. Archived from the original on 26 November 2021. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  5. ^ "Esteemed Amir-ul-Momineen completes two-day visit of Zabul province". Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan – Voice of Jihad. Zabul. 11 February 2022. Archived from the original on 13 February 2022. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  6. ^ "The Islamic Emirate Of Afghanistan And Its Successful Administrative Policy". 2011-05-22. Archived from the original on 22 May 2011. Retrieved 2022-01-31.
  7. ^ Malashenko, Alexey. "Where Will the New Taliban Leader Lead His People?". Carnegie Moscow Center. Retrieved 2021-11-12.
  8. ^ "Man in the News; Seizing the Prophet's Mantle: Muhammad Omar". www.nytimes.com. Retrieved 2021-08-17.
  9. ^ "Kandahar residents feel betrayed". www.sfgate.com. Retrieved 2021-08-17.
  10. ^ Malashenko, Alexey (11 August 2015). "Where Will the New Taliban Leader Lead His People?". Russian International Affairs Council. Retrieved 2021-08-17 – via Carnegie Moscow Center.
  11. ^ Waraich, Omar (30 July 2015). "Mullah Mohammed Omar: Co-founder and leader of the Taliban who fought the Soviets before presiding over a brutal Afghan regime". www.independent.co.uk. Retrieved 2021-08-17.
  12. ^ "Karzai declared elected president". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2021-08-17.
  13. ^ "Statement by the Leadership Council of Islamic Emirate regarding the martyrdom of Amir ul Mumineen Mullah Akhtar Muhammad Mansour and the election of the new leader". jihadology.net. Retrieved 2021-08-17.
  14. ^ Mistlin, Alex; Sullivan, Helen; Harding, Luke; Harding, Luke; Borger, Julian; Mason, Rowena (15 August 2021). "Afghanistan: Kabul to shift power to 'transitional administration' after Taliban enter city – live updates". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 15 August 2021. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  15. ^ "Afghanistan: Heavy fighting ongoing on the outskirts of Kabul as of early Aug. 15; a total blackout reported in the city". Archived from the original on 15 August 2021. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  16. ^ "Taliban officials: there will be no transitional government in Afghanistan". Reuters. 15 August 2021. Archived from the original on 15 August 2021. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  17. ^ "Taliban Constitution Offers Glimpse Into Militant Group's Vision For Afghanistan". www.rferl.org. Retrieved 2021-08-17.
  18. ^ "Beyond Republic or Emirate: Afghan Constitutional System at Crossroads". www.iconnectblog.com. Retrieved 2021-08-17.
  19. ^ "What Role Will the Taliban's 'Supreme Leader' Play in the New Government?". thediplomat.com. Retrieved 2021-09-24.
  20. ^ Latifi, Ali M. "Taliban divisions deepen as hardliners seek spoils of war". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2021-09-24.
  21. ^ "Afghanistan: Who's who in the Taliban leadership". BBC News. 7 September 2021. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  22. ^ CNN Umair (29 July 2015). "Mullah Omar: Life chapter of Taliban's supreme leader comes to end". ireport.cnn.com. Faisalabad, Pakistan: CNN. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  23. ^ a b Goldstein, Joseph (4 October 2015). "Taliban's New Leader Strengthens His Hold With Intrigue and Battlefield Victory". The New York Times. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
  24. ^ a b "Taliban sources - Afghan Taliban appoint Mansour as leader". Reuters. 30 July 2015. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  25. ^ "Taliban resignation points to extent of internal divisions in leadership crisis". Agence France-Presse. Kabul. The Guardian. 4 August 2015. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  26. ^ "Afghan Taliban announce successor to Mullah Mansour". BBC News. 25 May 2016. Archived from the original on 18 April 2018. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
  27. ^ Jones, Seth G. (December 2020). "Afghanistan's Future Emirate? The Taliban and the Struggle for Afghanistan". CTC Sentinel. Combating Terrorism Center. 13 (11). Retrieved 11 February 2022.
  28. ^ Ruttig, Thomas (March 2021). "Have the Taliban Changed?". CTC Sentinel. Combating Terrorism Center. 14 (3). Retrieved 11 February 2022.
  29. ^ Sayed, Abdul (8 September 2021). "Analysis: How Are the Taliban Organized?". Voice of America. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
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