Supreme Leader of Afghanistan
| Supreme Leader of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan | |
|---|---|
| Leadership of the Islamic Emirate | |
| Style | |
| Type | Supreme leader |
| Status | Head of state |
| Member of | Leadership Council |
| Residence | None official |
| Seat | Kandahar |
| Appointer | Leadership Council |
| Term length | Life tenure |
| Constituting instrument | 1998 dastur |
| Precursor | President of Afghanistan |
| Inaugural holder | Mullah Omar |
| Formation | 4 April 1996 (originally) 15 August 2021 (current form) |
| Deputy | Deputy Leader |
| Salary | ؋228,750 monthly |
| Afghanistan portal |
The supreme leader of Afghanistan (Pashto: د افغانستان مشر, romanized: Də Afġānistān Damshīr, Dari: رهبر افغانستان, romanized: Rahbar-e Afghānistān), officially the supreme leader of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and also referred to by his religious title Amir al-Mu'minin (Arabic, lit. 'Commander of the Faithful'), is the absolute ruler, head of state, and national religious leader of Afghanistan, as well as the leader of the Taliban. The supreme leader wields unlimited authority and is the ultimate source of all law.
The first supreme leader, Mullah Omar, ruled Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001 before his government was overthrown by the United States and he was forced into exile. The current supreme leader is Hibatullah Akhundzada, who assumed office in exile during the Taliban insurgency on 25 May 2016, upon being chosen by the Leadership Council, and came to power on 15 August 2021 with the Taliban's victory over U.S.-backed forces in the 2001–2021 war. Since coming to power, Akhundzada has issued numerous decrees that have profoundly reshaped government and daily life in Afghanistan by implementing his strict interpretation of the Hanafi school of Sharia law.
The supreme leader appoints and manages the activities of the prime minister and other members of the Cabinet, as well as judges and provincial and local leaders.