Afghanistan: Leadership
Chapter 2: South Asia
Afghanistan: Leadership
Background
/ Executive / Legislative
/ Judicial
Overview
/ System Essentials / Infrastructure
/ Population / Fielded Forces
/ Table of Contents
Mujahidin factions still vie for primacy in Afghanistan
The Soviet-supported Najibullah regime did not collapse until the defection of General Abdul Rashid Dotsam and his Uzbek militia in March 1992. However, as the victorious mujahidin entered Kabul to assume control over the city and the central government, a new round of internecine fighting began between the various militias, which had coexisted only uneasily during the Soviet occupation. With the demise of their common enemy, the militias' ethnic, clan, religious, and personality differences surfaced, and the civil war continued.
Efforts to form an effective government capable of unifying the country have failed to date and the central government exercises only limited control over the countryside, where local leaders and militia commanders, some with only nominal allegiance to the national figures battling for power in Kabul, hold sway. A date for elections has yet to be established.
The head of government is Prime Minister Gulbuddin Hikmatyar (since 17 March 1993) and the First Deputy Prime Minister Qutbuddin Helal (since 17 March 1993). They are assisted by Deputy Prime Minister Arsala Rahmani (since 17 March 1993) and their cabinet, the Council of Ministers.
A unicameral parliament consisting of 205 members was chosen by the shura in January 1993. However, it has been non-functioning as of June 1993.
An interim Chief Justice of the Supreme Court has been appointed, but a new court system has not yet been organized. The transitional government has declared that its legal system will follow Islamic law.