In the midst of a surge in violence and at a time when the Covid-19 is threatening to spread rapidly, Afghanistan welcomed good news on Sunday, May 17. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and his rival and former number two Abdullah Abdullah signed a power-sharing agreement after months of quarrel that plunged the country into political crisis and delayed the start of peace talks unpublished with the Taliban.
The agreement calls for Mr. Abdullah to take the lead in these talks. President Ghani believed that this was a "Historic day" for his country and assured that the agreement had been reached without the help of international mediation. "In the coming days, I hope that with unity and cooperation we will first succeed in achieving a cease-fire" (with the Taliban) "Then to lasting peace", he said, addressing Mr. Abdullah at the signing ceremony.
The latter said that the agreement provides for training "A more inclusive, more reliable and more competent administration". "It comes at a difficult time, when we have to face serious threats", he added on his Twitter account.
Afghanistan is experiencing an increase in violence, particularly with the attack on a maternity hospital in Kabul last week, which left 24 dead, including newborn babies, despite the signing in February of an agreement between the Taliban and the United States anticipating the departure of all foreign troops from the country by mid-2021. The country is also facing a rapid spread of SARS-CoV-2.
"The Dr Abdullah will lead the National Reconciliation Commission and members of his team will be included in the cabinet "said Gedi spokesman Sediq Sediqqi on Twitter. According to Fraidoon Khawzoon, spokesman for Abdullah, the agreement provides for him to obtain half the cabinet and the posts of provincial governors. The goal is to reach "The end goal of the Afghan people, that is to say peace"added Mr. Khwazoon.
NATO and Washington welcome compromise
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg hailed in a statement "The decision by Afghan political leaders to resolve their differences and form an inclusive government". US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo did the same: "We welcome this commitment to act now for peace in Afghanistan", he tweeted.
Former executive number two following a previous power-sharing agreement with Ghani, Abdullah lost his job after his defeat against the head of state in the September presidential election, the results of which were not announced until February after 16,500 complaints of irregularities.
But Mr. Abdullah declared himself president on March 9, along with Mr. Ghani, a former World Bank economist recognized by the international community.
Washington then lobbied to resolve this crisis and be able to start negotiations between Kabul and the Taliban, even announcing the immediate reduction of a billion dollars in aid to Afghanistan, threat of weight for this poor country to the GDP of barely $ 20 billion.
Peace talks with Taliban stalled
1er May, Abdullah Abdullah had announced a “Provisional agreement” with Ashraf Ghani. Sunday's deal could help Afghanistan break this political deadlock. "What is expected now is that these leaders resolve the problems facing Afghanistan, such as the coronavirus and peace talks with the Taliban"Sayed Nasir Musawi, a political analyst in Kabul, told Agence France-Presse.
Agreement places Abdullah at the helm of future talks with the Taliban, which already signed a historic agreement with Washington on February 29, paving the way for the withdrawal of foreign forces from the country after nearly nineteen years of war.
Insurgents pledged in return not to attack foreign forces, but fighting continued to rage between the Taliban and Afghan forces. Unprecedented direct peace negotiations between the insurgents and the Afghan government, which were supposed to start more than two months ago, have so far been unsuccessful.
Last week, the killings at the Kabul maternity hospital prompted Ghani to order the resumption of offensive operations against the Taliban. The latter denied any responsibility in this attack, for which the United States incriminated the jihadist group Islamic State.
