Upcoming Afghanistan Elections - Briefing to the UN Security Council

Ahead of next month’s elections, UN Special Representative for Afghanistan Tadamichi Yamamoto urged all political actors and institutions in the country to act responsibly, and “think of the Afghan people, bearing in mind the country’s bitter past.”
Addressing the Security Council today (17 Sep), Yamamoto it was time for important decisions in Afghanistan as its people are scheduled to cast their votes on 20 October to choose their parliamentary representatives for the first time since 2010. He said preparations were operationally and technically on track but expressed concern that political challenges could jeopardize the elections.
The Special Representative said many opposition parties remain sceptical of the process despite measures taken by the Independent Election Commission (IEC) and supporters of a coalition of political parties started to block several provincial election commissions demanding that additional safeguards be put in place. He noted, “These actions hinder the work of the IEC and jeopardize the holding of the elections on time. Political concerns must be addressed through institutional mechanisms and not through blockades.”
Screenshot Credit: UN Photo/Evan Schneider