Politics

Taliban leader reassigns two ministers, continuing pattern of internal rotations

Najibullah Haqqani (left) and Hamdullah Nomani (right). File photo.

Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada has reassigned two Taliban ministers, continuing a nearly four-year pattern of internal reshuffling that has kept cabinet roles within their own members.

In a statement published on X, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid announced that Hamdullah Nomani, the Taliban minister of urban development and housing, will now lead the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology. Najibullah Haqqani, the Taliban communications post, has been appointed to Nomani’s former position.

The latest changes reflect a persistent trend in Taliban governance: shifting their officials from one ministry to another without introducing new figures into the cabinet. Since regaining power in August 2021, Taliban have yet to bring fresh faces into top leadership roles, instead rotating loyalists among various posts.

This insular approach has drawn criticism from Afghans who accuse the group of monopolizing state structures and denying opportunities for broader public participation in governance.

Najibullah Haqqani, a member of the powerful Haqqani network, has served as the Taliban’s communications minister since September 2021 and held positions during the group’s first regime in the late 1990s. He is a cousin of Noor Jalal, the Taliban’s minister of public health.

Hamdullah Nomani was appointed minister of urban development in December 2021 and previously served as the Taliban-appointed mayor of Kabul, both during their current and previous rule. He is from Andar district in Ghazni Province.

Analysts say the Taliban’s leadership style remains rooted in loyalty and internal cohesion, with little indication of expanding decision-making beyond its core ranks.