Taliban Announce New Afghan Government Structure, Mullah Hasan Akhund Is Appointed As Prime Minister

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid (Antara Photo /Reuters/Stringer/aww/cfo)

JAKARTA - The Taliban officially announced the new structure of the Afghan government. Mullah Hassan Akhund, who is a co-founder of the group Mullah Omar, was appointed head of the government with Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar who is the head of the Taliban's political office as his deputy.

This was conveyed by the Taliban's main spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid at a press conference in Kabul. In addition to the two, there is Sarajuddin Haqqani, the son of the founder of the Haqqani network who was labeled a terrorist by the United States, as Minister of the Interior. Meanwhile, the position of Minister of Defense is held by Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob, Mullah Omar's son.

"All those mentioned hold their positions in an 'acting' capacity", explained Mujahid, cited from Reuters, September 8.

Meanwhile, Taliban supreme leader Haibatullah Akhundzada, in his first public statement since the seizure of the capital Kabul on August 15, said the Taliban is committed to all international laws, treaties, and commitments that do not conflict with Islamic law.

"In the future, all affairs of government and life in Afghanistan will be governed by the laws of the Holy Sharia", he said in a statement, in which he also congratulated Afghans on what he called the country's liberation from foreign rule.

Here is the full list published by the Taliban:

Prime Minister - Mullah Mohammed Hasan Akhund

First Deputy Prime Minister - Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar

2nd Deputy Prime Minister - Mawlavi Abdul Salam Hanafi

Minister of Foreign Affairs - Mawlavi Amir Khan Muttaqi

Minister of Defense - Mawlavi Mohammed Yaqoob

Minister of Home Affairs - Mullah Sirajuddin Haqqani

Minister of Justice - Mawlavi Abdul Hakim Sharie

Minister of Borders and Tribes - Mullah Noorullah Noor

Head of Intelligence - Mullah Abdul Haq Wasiq

Minister of Finance - Mullah Hedayatullah Badri

Minister of Economy - Qari Din Mohammed Hanif

Central Bank Governor - Haji Mohammed Idris

Minister of Energy & Water - Mullah Abdul Latif Mansoor

Minister of Rural Rehabilitation - Mullah Younus Akhundzada

Minister of Public Works - Mullah Abdul Manan Omari

Mining and Petroleum - Mullah Mohammed Esa Akhund

Minister of Culture & Information - Mullah Khairullah Khairkhwah

Deputy Minister of Culture and Information - Zabihullah Mujahid

Minister of Communications - Mawlavi Najibullah Haqqani

Minister of Higher Education - Abdul Baqi Haqqani

Minister of Refugees & Repatriation - Haji Khalil ur Rahman Haqqani

Chief of Staff - Molavi Ahmad Jan Ahmadi

Commander of the Armed Forces - Qari Phaseehudin

List of Acting Ministers and Heads of Departments(in English): pic.twitter.com/NFKaF0xqeu

— Suhail Shaheen. محمد سهیل شاهین (@suhailshaheen1) September 7, 2021