Asia & Pacific · reference
🇦🇫 Afghanistan
Theocratic emirate under Taliban rule
SystemTheocratic emirate under Taliban rule
Head of stateSupreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, ruling by decree from Kandahar
Head of governmentActing Prime Minister Hasan Akhund
LegislatureNone · the elected parliament was dissolved after the Taliban takeover in August 2021
ElectionsNo elections · the republic's constitution was set aside and the emirate recognises no electoral process
Last election2019-09-28 · presidential election under the former republic
The Taliban retook Afghanistan in August 2021 as US and NATO forces withdrew, and have since barred women and girls from secondary schools, universities and most employment, the only country in the world to do so. Russia became the first state to formally recognise the emirate in 2025, while most governments maintain only working-level contacts. The economy survives on humanitarian aid and remittances amid recurring earthquakes and mass returns of refugees from Iran and Pakistan.
Live encyclopedic leader and election records · verified 2026-07-02
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