August 19, 2021
In Afghanistan, Vice President Amrullah Saleh declares himself caretaker president following the fall of Kabul to the Taliban. Saleh cites provisions from the Afghan Constitution that insure the powers and responsibilities of the President fall to the Vice President in the absence, escape, resignation, or death of the President. This occurs amidst the rapid collapse of the Afghan government after US troop withdrawals.
Kabul, Afghanistan | National Resistance Front of Afghanistan
On August 19, 2021, Amrullah Saleh, the First Vice President of Afghanistan, announced that he had assumed the role of caretaker president. This declaration followed the fall of Kabul to the Taliban on August 15, 2021, during a period of significant political and military turmoil in Afghanistan.
On August 15, 2021, the Taliban entered Kabul, effectively collapsing the Afghan government as President Ashraf Ghani fled the country. This dramatic shift in power occurred swiftly after the United States initiated the final phases of troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, leaving the Afghan national forces with limited support. In the power vacuum that ensued and the absence of Ashraf Ghani, Saleh asserted his constitutional right to assume the presidency.
Amrullah Saleh cited the Afghan Constitution to justify his claim, specifically referencing a provision that assigns the duties of the presidency to the first vice president under circumstances such as the president’s absence, escape, resignation, or death. This legal framework was enacted to ensure continuity of governance in such crises.
The self-declaration by Saleh came amidst rapid disintegration of governmental control across the country, with many regions falling to Taliban forces almost without resistance. The situation placed Afghanistan into severe instability, both politically and socially, as millions faced an uncertain future.
Saleh, a prominent political figure and former intelligence chief known for his opposition to the Taliban, aimed to consolidate a form of leadership and rally resistance against the Taliban regime. However, with the Taliban controlling most of Afghanistan, his capacity to exert authority was challenged by limited resources and support.
The takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban marked a pivotal moment in both Afghan and international history, bringing the decades-long conflict into a new phase. Saleh’s declaration illustrated the chaos and fragmentation within the Afghan political structure and underscored the difficulties of governance post-withdrawal. The situation prompted a significant international response, concerning human rights, refugee crises, and diplomatic recognition of governing bodies.
Source: www.bbc.com