Former President Ashraf Ghani has left the United Arab Emirates and has recently relocated to Lebanon, sources told Amu TV on Tuesday.
The reported move comes as Ghani released his first public message in nearly six months. In an Eid al-Adha address to Afghans, he said he had been unable to speak publicly during that period and claimed that his voice had been “silenced.”
“Nearly six months ago, I said our nation stood at a crossroads between life and destruction,” Ghani said. “During this period, I was not allowed to speak to you, and my voice was silenced.”
In the message, Ghani warned that Afghanistan is facing a crisis of legitimacy and growing international isolation, arguing that legitimacy can only be derived from the will of the people rather than force or political claims. He also called for a national dialogue among Afghans inside and outside the country and said issues such as girls’ education and the future of the country’s youth are central to Afghanistan’s survival and progress.
The former president also rejected a return to armed conflict, saying no political objective could justify renewed violence among Afghans. He said he was not seeking power for himself but was prepared to support efforts aimed at achieving national consensus, peace and prosperity.
Ghani fled Afghanistan on Aug. 15, 2021, as Taliban forces entered Kabul and the Western-backed government collapsed. He later resurfaced in the United Arab Emirates, which confirmed that it had hosted him and his family on humanitarian grounds.
His departure from Afghanistan remains one of the most controversial episodes of the Taliban takeover. Critics accused him of abandoning the country during its final hours under the republic, while Ghani has defended his decision, saying he left to avoid bloodshed in Kabul.
Since settling in the UAE, Ghani has made only occasional public appearances and statements, largely remaining outside day-to-day Afghan political debates.
It remains unclear whether his reported departure from the UAE signals a change in his political role or public engagement. Neither Ghani nor his office has commented publicly on the matter.
