Initial Agreement Made to Recall Faryab Governor to Kabul

The Afghan government, facing widespread protests, has agreed to recall newly-appointed governor Mohammad Daud Laghmani to Kabul and to authorize the deputy governor to lead the province, for the time being, a member of the National Islamic Movement of Afghanistan (Junbish-e-Milli) said.

Enayatullah Babur Farahmand said that the government has also agreed to keep the acting governor in place until the post is filled with a new pick agreed on by both Abdul Rashid Dostum and the Presidential Palace.

Farahmand said the protests will resume in Faryab and will be launched in Jawzjan and Sar-e-Pul provinces in the north on Tuesday if the decision is not implemented.

“There is an agreement in principle that Mr. Daud Lahgmani should return to Kabul and protests in Faryab will stop until one of the candidates who is a resident of Faryab is approved as a governor,” Farahmand said.

Meanwhile, protesters launched a protest in Faryab on Monday as well, but it was not as large as those over the last six days.

“We will continue our protests and our protest camp in a civic way until our demands are accepted,” said Ata Mohammad, a protester.

“The governor was appointed without consultation,” said Qudus Qlich, a protester.

“If they do not respond, some people have the right to announce a decentralized government,” said Torsan, a resident of Faryab.

The Independent Directorate of Local Governance, IDLG, announced on Monday evening that Abdul Muqim Rasikh, the deputy governor of Faryab, was appointed as acting governor of the province in response to the demands of Faryab residents.

The new governor was introduced last week to his office at an army base in the city of Maimana, which sparked reactions by analysts and politicians, who said that military institutions should not be manipulated for political purposes.