Parliamentary and District Elections in Afghanistan Scheduled After Three-Year Postponement Due to Security Issues
The Afghan National Unity Government (NUG) faces a daunting task in organising the upcoming parliamentary and district elections, scheduled for October 20, 2018. The elections, long-delayed due to security threats and internal conflicts, are seen as a test for the NUG and the international community ahead of the 2019 presidential and provincial council elections.
One of the key challenges the NUG faces is the political divisions and internal rivalries that have undermined unified governance. The Afghan government, formed as a power-sharing agreement between Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah, has been marred by persistent tensions that have impacted the government's ability to organise elections effectively.
Security concerns and the Taliban insurgency pose another significant challenge. The Taliban and other insurgent groups have opposed the electoral process, often targeting candidates, voters, and election officials, contributing to instability and voter intimidation. Militant attacks have become more prevalent since June 2015, the original date for the elections.
Corruption and misuse of resources have also weakened public trust and complicated fair election administration. Accusations of government officials, including top leaders, misusing state resources for political gain have been a persistent issue.
The government's limited reach in rural and conflict-affected areas also poses a challenge. The government's weak institutional capacity and limited control outside Kabul have impeded voter registration, security provision, and electoral logistics.
Legal and logistical challenges are another hurdle. Afghan elections have historically suffered from delays, legal disputes over candidate eligibility, and difficulties in transparent vote counting. The fate of the electronic national ID cards, aimed at preventing fraud, is still uncertain, with more than half of Afghans not possessing the required cards and it being highly unlikely that enough IDs will be printed in time.
The election body has yet to hire enough officials, establish offices in the 34 provinces, or appoint heads of the secretariat for the commission and for the electoral complaints body. More than 3,000 of the 7,000 voting centers are either under serious or medium threat, or out of the NUG's control.
Security threats during voter registration and on election day are the most important concern of ordinary Afghans. The Elections Transparency Organization for Afghanistan (ETOA) has raised concerns about logistics, security, and the government's lack of action regarding the elections.
Despite these challenges, the government has vowed to secure voting centers by the time of the elections. The fate of the elections remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: the October poll will be a significant test for the NUG and the international community as they work to ensure free and fair elections in Afghanistan.
References: [1] "Corruption in Afghanistan: A Threat to Democracy and Development." Asia Foundation, 2017. [2] "Afghanistan's Unity Government: Challenges and Prospects." United States Institute of Peace, 2015.
- The upcoming parliamentary and district elections in Afghanistan are not only a test for the Afghan National Unity Government (NUG) and the international community ahead of 2019 elections, but also a crucial moment for addressing issues like war-and-conflicts, politics, and corruption, which have a significant impact on the nation's history and general-news.
- As the election processes in Afghanistan are often fraught with security threats, legal challenges, and concerns about corruption, entertainment and news media have a vital role in informing the public about the progress and obstacles of these elections, ensuring transparency and accountability in the process.
- The political divisions, persistent tensions, and internal rivalries within the Afghan government have undermined unified governance, making it essential to address these issues in the broader context of the nation's history, politics, news, and war-and-conflicts, in order to foster a stable and democratic society.
