Hibatullah Akhundzada

Supreme leader of Afghanistan since 2021

Hibatullah Akhundzada (Pashto: هبت الله اخونزاده; Arabic: هبة الله أخوند زاده also spelled Haibatullah Akhunzada; born 19 October 1967) is an Afghan Islamic scholar, cleric, and jurist who is the 2nd and the current Supreme Leader of Afghanistan since 2021 and the third leader of the Taliban since 2016 where a drone strike killed his predecessor, Akhtar Mansour.


Hibatullah Akhundzada
هبت الله اخندزاده
2nd Supreme Leader of Afghanistan
Assumed office
15 August 2021
Prime Minister
Preceded by
Leader of the Taliban
Assumed office
25 May 2016
Acting: 21–25 May 2016
Deputy
Preceded byAkhtar Mansour
Deputy Leader of the Taliban
In office
29 July 2015 – 25 May 2016
LeaderAkhtar Mansour
Preceded byAkhtar Mansour
Succeeded bySirajuddin Haqqani
2nd Chief Justice of the Taliban
In office
c. 2001 – 25 May 2016
Leader
  • Mohammed Omar
  • Akhtar Mansoor
Preceded byNoor Mohammad Saqib
Succeeded byAbdul Hakim Ishaqzai
Justice of the Supreme Court of Afghanistan
In office
c. 1996 – c. 2001
LeaderMohammed Omar
Chief Justice of the Judiciary of Kandahar Appellate Court
In office
c. 1995 – c. 2001
LeaderMohammed Omar
Personal details
Born (1967-10-19) 19 October 1967 (age 56)
Nakhuni, Panjwayi District, Kandahar Province, Kingdom of Afghanistan
ResidenceKandahar
EthnicityPashtun
ReligionSunni Islam
MovementDeobandi
Political affiliationTaliban
Military service
Allegiance Afghanistan
Branch/service
RankJudicial officer
Commands
  • Justice on the Military Court for Kandahar
  • Chief Justice of the Military Court for Eastern Nangarhar
  • Chief Justice of the Supreme Military Court
Battles/wars

Since the Fall of Kabul in August 2021, Akhundzada became Afghanistan's Supreme Leader with absolute powers over the country.

In 2020, he sended Abdul Ghani Baradar to Doha to hold peace talks with the U.S. by meeting the then-U.S. Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo where they signed the US–Taliban Deal which made the U.S agree to Withdraw its Troops from Afghanistan.

Akhundzada also held a phone conversation with then-U.S. President, Donald Trump the same year where they agreed to have diplomatic relationships with the two countries if Trump won the election even though it never happened as Trump lost the election.

In 2022, Akhundzada has called the world to recognize the Taliban government in Afghanistan and not the government of Ashraf Ghani. Many countries had agreed to recodnize the Taliban government with most of the Middle East and the Arab Countries and as well as Pakistan, China, and Russia who all not only recognize the Taliban government, but also engaged diplomatically with the Taliban. The U.S and many other Western countries are also expected to engage with the Taliban soon even though they have already recognize the Taliban government.

Notes change

References change

Bibliography change

  • Burnett, M. Troy (2020). Nationalism Today: Extreme Political Movements Around the World [2 Volumes]. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 978-1440850004.