IEA moves spokesman’s office to Kandahar

The main spokesman for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) will move his office from the capital to the southern city of Kandahar, the information ministry said on Wednesday.

The move, seen as a sign of the growing importance of Kandahar, is home to the IEA’s supreme leader, and is the historical birthplace of the IEA.

Supreme leader Haibatullah Akhundzada lives there and rarely makes public visits to Kabul, about 450 km to the north, where national government offices, the cabinet and the acting prime minister are based.

“Zabihullah Mujahid and Samangani are both transferred to Kandahar,” said Abdul Maten Qanee, a spokesperson for the information ministry, referring to Innamullah Samangani, a deputy spokesman.

The information ministry did not elaborate on the reason for the move but it suggests more prominence for those officials based in Kandahar.

Major decisions have come from Akhundzada in Kandahar and been implemented by ministries in Kabul, officials have said.

Mujahid has for years been one of the main public voices of the IEA, including during the insurgency, which ended when they took over as U.S.-led foreign forces withdrew in 2021.