who is the supreme leader of the Taliban still in the shadows

Since the seizure of power in Afghanistan on August 15, many Taliban leaders have appeared in public in Kabul, however, the supreme leader of the fundamentalist movement, Haibatullah Akhundzada, continues to remain in the shadows.

A mollah specializing in religious and judicial issues, Akhundzada’s name began to be heard in May 2016, when he replaced Mullah Mansur at the head of the Taliban, who was killed in an American drone strike in Pakistan.

Its first objective was to unite the fundamentalist movement, divided by infighting and the discovery that the death of its founder, Mullah Omar, had been hidden for years.

Little is known about the role of Haibatullah Akhundzada, who only manifests during Islamic holidays. For many analysts, their role is more symbolic than operational.

Where it is is unknown and never made public appearances. The Taliban only released one photo of him. “I can confirm he’s in Kandahar. He’s been from the start,” Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said, but showed no evidence.

The man

Son of theologianOriginally from Kandahar, a Pashtun territory and birthplace of the Taliban, Akhundzada had great influence in the movement before his appointment, and came to lead its judicial system.

Since they regained power in Afghanistan, after being ousted 20 years ago by an international coalition led by the United States, the Taliban did not report their movements and activities.

“God willing, they will see it soon,” Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told reporters this week.

The leaders of the different Taliban factions they have been shown publicly in Kabul these days.

Traditionally, the Taliban have left their supreme leader in the shadows. The founder of the group, Mullah Omar, He led an ascetic life and was hardly seen in the Afghan capital during his previous term in the 1990s.

Omar he lived hidden in his house in Kandahar and he was very reluctant to have leaders in his house. But his word was considered sacred, a respect none of his successors deserved.

Discreet

For Laurel Miller, who heads the Asia program of the International Crisis Group, Haibatullah Akhundzada “seems to have adoptedn a similar way of life as a hermit “.

This discretion could also address a security issue to avoid an end similar to that of its predecessor, Mansur, specifies this specialist.

“He may appear soon to quell rumors of his death, but he may step aside again to exercise their authority in isolation, just like Mullah Omar, ”he adds.

The Taliban movement, made up of various factions from different parts of Afghanistan and representatives of groups with different aspirations, suffered at least a major spin-off in 2015 when news of Omar’s death broke.

After 20 years of guerrilla warfare, the fundamentalists they will have to keep their balance between the different factions, of sometimes conflicting interests, during his return to power.

The power vacuum could destabilize a movement which, under Haibatullah Akhundzada, has been able to maintain its cohesion despite the war, the death of thousands of its fighters, the assassination or the sending to Guantanamo prison of some of its main leaders.

For other analysts, the Taliban leader is simply waiting for the Americans’ final withdrawal on August 31 to show themselves publicly.

“The Taliban think they are in jihad” as long as there are foreign forces on Afghan soil, said Imtiaz Gul, analyst on Pakistani security issues, “This is why their supreme leader is not seen”.

With David Stout, Agence AFP

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