Sunday, December 10, 2017

Governance and Politics in Afghanistan



IEC Decides to use Existing ID Cards. The Independent Election Commission (IEC) said the existing National Identity Card (Tazkera) would be used in the upcoming parliamentary and provincial council elections. Despite years of talking about issuing a national identity card it hasn't happened. There are doubts in the international community about whether the Afghans can pull an election off in mid-2018. (Arina News, Dec 6, 2018).

Warning on Elections. A former Jihadi leader and ex-member of parliament - Abdul Rab Rasool Sayyaf - is warning of a crisis if the parliamentary elections to be held in mid-2018 are not organized on time. (Khaama Press, Dec 7, 2017).

Parliament Rejects Female Cabinet Pick. The governor of Balkh province has voiced discontent with the rejection of the only female nomination for a cabinet position. The Minister-designate for the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum was disapproved by the Afghan parliament. Some suggest it is because she is a women but others say it has to do with the vast corruption system that buys parliament member votes. (Khaama Press, Dec 7, 2017).

Eleven Ministers Receive Votes of Confidence. In a detailed article Thomas Ruttig provides the background to the recent approval of the cabinet ministers. Read "Afghanistan Has Now a Constitutional Cabinet: Eleven minister candidates received votes of confidence", Afghanistan Analysts Network, December 9, 2017.

Landlocked Location a Hindrance to Development? Most countries that are landlocked - having no coastline to access the world's oceans - are many times trapped in poverty. The Afghan government is working to turn the country's landlocked location into an asset. Read "Kabul's Plan to Realize Afghanistan's Geographic Dividend", The Diplomat, December 5, 2017.


No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.