News (Consolidated) - UNSOM

KABUL - With elections a little more that one month away and a major military offensive underway, the current situation in Afghanistan is the most complex we have experienced for many years. دری - پشتو However, if managed well, it could also become a turning point in our efforts to bring the…

12 July 2009 - As the election date approaches, debate among the people of central Afghanistan to choose the next president is gaining pace. At lunch break in Bamyan, villagers gather at the local restaurants to talk about the upcoming elections on 20 August, discussing their selection for the best…

NANGARHAR - For Latifa Sayed, 34, the last two months have been very rewarding. She has been working as an election civic educator and teaching less educated women in Jalalabad about the upcoming elections. The schoolteacher-turned-civic educator - employed by the Independent Election Commission…

30 June 2009 - Election fever is sweeping the north of Afghanistan as posters of candidates start to line the streets. They’ve started to bloom around the blue mosque of Mazar-i-Sharif, on the walls of Sar-i-Pul city and along the streets of Aqcha, focusing everyone’s attention on the 20 August, the…

KABUL - Meeting in Trieste on 26 June 2009, the Afghanistan-Pakistan International Support Group recognized the fundamental role that the Afghan elections play in the continued strengthening of democracy in Afghanistan. The Group emphasized the importance of credible, inclusive and secure elections…

KABUL - The irony is stark when one goes to meet Dr Ramzan Bashardost one of Afghanistan’s forty one presidential candidates for the 20 August elections. Seated in a small, hastily-erected canvas tent – the floor dusty and missing a carpet – and surrounded by a dozen supporters, mostly labourers…

13 June 2009 - Afghanistan’s Independent Election Commission has announced the final list of candidates for the presidential and provincial council elections due to be held on 20 August. Election Commission President Azizullah Lodin said the final list of presidential hopefuls includes incumbent…

20 June 2009 - It’s not an easy job being Sidiqullah Tauhidi these days - as head of Afghanistan’s Media Commission he’s been clocking up the miles, flying from one city to another. Along with his four fellow committee members, he’s keeping a watchful eye on local televisions, radios and, newspapers…

KABUL - The ECC today reminded all Afghan citizens that the period for challenging nominated candidates and for making changes to the candidate lists is over. Dari - Pashto The ECC continues to be approached to change the decisions on excluded candidates. “There can be no further changes to the…

KABUL - Large billboards, posters and all kinds of publicity materials are starting to decorate the famous corners of the streets of Kabul as the elections race gets underway. The official campaign period for Afghanistan’s presidential and provincial council elections has just started and lasts…

15 June 2009 - The top United Nations official in Afghanistan has stressed the need to ensure that the elections slated for August are credible and that their results are accepted by all, noting that the candidates can contribute to this by campaigning with “dignity and fairness.” Kai Eide, the…

15 June 2009 - “I appeal to candidates to campaign with dignity and fairness. It is the shared responsibility of all candidates to ensure that these elections strengthen Afghanistan’s democratic institutions and people’s confidence in the democratic process.” The top UN envoy in Afghanistan, Kai…