Ghani’s decree has restricted MOFA authorities

A copy of the decree seen by a media shows that it was issued on June 26.

Before the decree, recommendations of appointment of Afghanistan’s attachés were sent from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the Independent Administrative Reforms and Civil Service Commission and from there, they were sent to the President’s Office after an assessment by the commission.

“The route of sending the recommendations to the President has changed. The Independent Administrative Reforms and Civil Service Commission is not the address anymore. The recommendations will be sent to the President through his office,” a spokesman for Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sibghatullah Ahmadi said.

On the order of precedence, the Afghan Constitution says that the appointment of “order one and two” is approved by the president while the appointment of lower orders is the authority of a minister.

However, Ghani’s spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said that this is also the authority of the president.

“Based on the Constitution, the president has the authority to appoint or remove officials in higher orders,” Sediqqi said.

The move was criticized by Ghani’s political oppositions and his rivals in the upcoming presidential elections.

They said it is interference in ministries’ activities.

“It shows monopoly of power by the president,” said Fazl-Ur-Rahman Oria, member of Jamiat-e-Islami party. “The President [Ashraf Ghani] is trying to establish a self-controlled government.”

“Mr. [Ashraf] Ghani wants to use Afghanistan’s diplomatic offices in his favor for his political future,” said Mohammad Musa Fariwar, a university lecturer.

Other part of the presidential decree says that all orders on the appointment of Afghanistan’s attachés should be annulled.