Chief Executive of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan

Dr. Abdullah Abdullah is the Chief Executive of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.  He is a key political figure in Afghanistan, who has held numerous prominent positions during his political career.

From the early days of the Afghan national resistance against the invasion of the former Soviet Union, up to the campaign for the liberation of his country from the Taliban, Dr. Abdullah’s efforts for the independence of his people, and commitment to peaceful and democratic Afghanistan has earned him national and international recognition.

In 1992, Dr. Abdullah served as spokesperson for the Defense Ministry of the Islamic State of Afghanistan. In 1996, he was appointed as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Government of the Islamic State of Afghanistan, based in north of the country due to Taliban’s rule in Kabul. In 1998, Dr. Abdullah assumed the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs.

On December 22, 2001, during the historic Intra-Afghan talks in Bonn, Germany, he was selected to serve as Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Interim Administration of Afghanistan, led by President Hamid Karzai.  In June 2002, Dr. Abdullah was again confirmed as Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan in the Loya Jirga (grand council which chose Afghanistan’s new transitional government.)

Dr. Abdullah subsequently served as Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan from 2001-2006.

In 2006, after leaving his post as Foreign Minister, Dr. Abdullah served as Secretary General of the Massoud Foundation.

Dr. Abdullah registered as a candidate for Afghanistan’s 2009 Presidential elections. He ran a Presidential campaign under the slogan of “Hope and Change,” and a national agenda to institute needed reforms, and change Afghanistan’s system of governance from a Presidential to a Parliamentary system.

Unofficial and non-certified electoral results of Afghanistan’s 2009 Presidential elections were announced on September 16, 2009, showing that Dr. Abdullah was in second position of the total votes cast.  On November 1, 2009, he announced he would not participate in the second round of the Presidential elections, due to concerns regarding the independent electoral commission’s ability to ensure transparency and credibility of the 2nd round of polls.

Following the conclusion of the electoral process, Dr. Abdullah broadened his “Coalition for Hope and Change” political party, forming the National Coalition of Afghanistan (NCA). This new party was an Opposition to the Government of Hamid Karzai.

In October 2014, Dr. Abdullah Abdullah announced his nomination for the third-ever presidential elections in Afghanistan’s history, which took place on 5 April 2014.  The result of the vote count had him significantly ahead of all candidates, having secured 44.65% of ballots casted throughout the country. Based on the decision of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), a second round of vote was held on 14 June 2014. However, the second round of polls encountered significant technical difficulties, which led to a political agreement between the two top vote getters.

That agreement led to the formation of G

overnment of National Unity, with Dr. Ghani serving as President, and Dr. Abdullahas Chief Executive of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.

Dr. Abdullah believes there is no greater priority than regaining the trust of the Afghan people, who have waited too long for an effective Government, that is able improve the plight of Afghanistan’s citizens.

Dr. Abdullah is married and has three daughters and one son. He is fluent in Dari, Pashto and English, and is proficient in Arabic and French.