Taliban Supreme Leader Makes First Public Appearance
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The first public appearance for Taliban Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada saw him avoiding politics and only delivering a religious address.
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Taliban Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada.
Taliban Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada has reportedly made his first public appearance, according to what Afghan officials announced Sunday following an address he made supporters in Kandahar.
The Taliban official was thought to be outside his country until Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid announced that Akhundzada was indeed in Afghanistan. "He is present in Kandahar. He has been living there from the very beginning," the spokesman announced.
Akhundzada has been the Supreme Leader of the Taliban since 2016; however, he has long-avoided public appearances, even after the Taliban assumed power in Afghanistan in August.
The leader's low profile has fed speculation about his role in the new Taliban government and even sparked rumors of his death.
Akhundzada visited the Darul Uloom Hakimah Madrasa on Saturday to "speak to his brave soldiers and disciples," officials said.
No media has emerged from the event, as there was tight security and no photographs or videos were allowed. However, a ten-minute audio recording was shared by Taliban social media accounts, which saw him opting for a religious message instead of a political one.
The Supreme Leader prayed for the Taliban martyrs, wounded fighters, and the success of the Islamic Emirate's officials in this "big test."
He has been the Taliban's leader since 2016 after a US drone strike killed his predecessor, Mullah Akhtar Mansour.
