UNAMA Chief: New Afghan government 'needs the confidence of the people'

With fewer foreign troops in-country and a resurgent insurgency, many Afghans fear a tough year ahead. DW speaks to Nicholas Haysom, the top UN envoy in Afghanistan, about the challenges facing the new government.

Some four months after taking office, Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani hopes to finalize his 25-member ministerial team amid a heated debate over the suitability of some of his nominees. The country's parliament is refusing to approve at least seven nominees to the new cabinet because they hold dual citizenship. Moreover, one nominee is allegedly sought by Interpol to answer tax evasion charges, and two others mysteriously withdrew their candidacy.

Ghani came to power in September 2014, following a disputed poll overshadowed by fraud claims which only ended when he and his electoral rival Abdullah Abdullah signed a power-sharing deal to form a national unity government. The US-brokered agreement also created the position of chief executive officer, a post akin to prime minister, which was filled by Abdullah.

Many argue that the political vacuum created by the failure to form a cabinet has worsened Afghanistan's economic situation and emboldened the Taliban militants. The problem is compounded by the fact that the new government has coincided not only with the end of NATO's ISAF combat mission, but also with a wave of violence which has swept across the South Asian nation.

In an interview with DW, Nicholas Haysom, the UN secretary general's special representative for Afghanistan and head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), talks about the political, economic, and security challenges for the new government and says the solution to the conflict in the country is more political rather than military.   Read More at UNAMA Chief: 

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