Afghanistan's new president Ashraf Ghani sworn in

Posted September 29, 2014 16:37:59

Afghanistan's former finance minister Ashraf Ghani has been sworn as the country's new president during an inauguration ceremony in Kabul, as his government takes office today.

Mr Ghani succeeded Hamid Karzai, who led Afghanistan since 2002.

The transition of power was the first in more than a decade and followed months of uncertainty over allegations of vote rigging during the presidential elections.

Security around the capital was heightened ahead of the ceremony over fears Taliban insurgents might try to disrupt the inauguration to attack international dignitaries.

Mr Ghani will head a government of national unity with Abdullah Abdullah, the runner-up in the disputed election.

Dr Abdullah will serve as chief executive officer of the government - a role similar to that of prime minister.

The US has welcomed the agreement to share power, calling it a positive step.

The power-sharing deal was cobbled together only months after the election deadlock, which saw both candidates claim victory.

'We expect both to fulfil the promises they made to the people,' Kabul man Mohammad Sharif said.

'We, the people of Afghanistan, are monitoring their performance to see whether they can serve the people or not.'

How the new government works

The president will have clear seniority in the 'national unity government' according to the deal signed by Mr Ghani and Dr Abdullah one week ago.

The document said that the government would be 'a genuine political partnership between the president and the CEO under the authority of the president.'

But the deal also said that Dr Abdullah, as CEO, would fulfil 'the functions of an executive prime minister', including chairing weekly meetings of the council of ministers.

The CEO role may evolve into the formal title of prime minister in two years' time when a loya jirga ('grand assembly') discusses constitutional change.

A major cause of contention between the two camps was over the power to appoint officials.

The agreement said that the president and CEO would have 'parity' in awarding key senior security and economic jobs, with other officials nominated through a new 'merit-based mechanism'.

'Creation of the CEO post involves a substantial delegation of presidential authority,' concluded the independent Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit (AREU).

Challenges for the new government

The new government inherits massive problems, including fighting an emboldened Taliban which in recent months has launched aggressive attacks as foreign troops withdraw.

Mr Ghani must also reset relations with the United States, which have soured in recent years under Mr Karzai.

One of Mr Ghani's first acts as president is expected to be signing a bilateral security agreement to allow a small contingent of US forces to remain in Afghanistan after THIS YEAR to train and assist the new Afghan army and police.

The new government will also immediately face a fiscal crisis.

Already heavily dependent on foreign aid, Kabul has asked the United States and other donors for more than $600 million to pay its bills until the end of the year.

A finance ministry official acknowledged that the government was so broke that it has been forced to delay paying civil servants' salaries for October because the treasury did not have the money.

There are also hopes that Mr Ghani, a longtime World Bank official and former finance minister, will put his knowledge of international institutions and development to work in combating Afghanistan's tradition of corrupt and inefficient government.

AFP/Reuters