TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Ashraf Ghani has been sworn in as the President of Afghanistan at a ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Kabul, ending the political uncertainty that has engulfed the nation since the disputed election took place earlier this year.
The swearing in of the former Finance Minister happened on Monday morning, September 29, 2014, local time - marking Afghanistan's first significant shift towards democracy since the Taliban was overthrown in 2001.
"I am your leader, but I am not better than all of you. If I do my job well, then I ask for your support, but if I made a mistake, I want you to hold me accountable," said Ghani.
Ghani is replacing Hamid Karzai, after a three-month political turmoil that occurred after a disputed election that saw the tension increase across the country, which consequently sent Afghanistan's economy tumbling down.
Both Ghani and his rival in the election, Abdullah Abdullah, claimed to have won the election that was held on June 14, 2014.
Further tension did not break out after the United States (US) and the United Nations (UN) took in upon themselves to invite both parties to negotiate and agree to a coalition government. As a result Ghani was named as the President of Afghanistan while Abdullah will assume office as the Chief Executive - a position with powers similar to a Prime Minister that was especially created to solve the crisis in Afghanistan.
In response to the inauguration of both leaders, a historian of Afghanistan, Helena Malikyar, said that the day that Ashraf and Abdullah is sworn in is a bitter-sweet day for all Afghani people. "The economy is a mess, foreign aids have been frozen, development has been halted, and crime is rampant," said Malikyar.
During the political uncertainty, Afghanistan's security situation is at its nadir as Taliban has launched a number of offensive to a number of local government offices across the country - including a suicide attack at a local administrative office at the east of Paktia province, which claimed the lives of 10 people.
"We have tried to do many things to ensure perpetual peace in the country, but that reality has yet to materialise. That said, I hope that one day Afghanistan will be at peace," said Karzai in an emotional farewell speech on Sunday, September 28, 2014.
Karzai said that he would handover his responsibility to the new president on Monday, 29 September 2014. "I will resume my life as a normal Afghani civilian," said Karzai, who also said that he will continue to support the new President, government and the Afghani Constitution.
AL JAZEERA | CHOIRUL
