o agree on a
transfer mechanism resulted in RABBANI's extending the term to
28 December 1994; following the expiration of the term and while
negotiations on the formation of a new government go on, RABBANI
continues in office head of government: Prime Minister of the Council
of Ministers Aleksander Gabriel MEKSI (since 10 April 1992)
cabinet: Council of Ministers

Note: term of present government expired 28 December 1994; factional
fighting since 1 January 1994 has kept government officers from
actually occupying ministries and discharging government
responsibilities; the government's authority to remove cabinet
members, including the Prime Minister, following the expiration of
their term is questionable

Legislative branch: a unicameral parliament consisting of 205 members
was chosen by the shura in January 1993; non-functioning as of June
1993

Judicial branch: an interim Chief Justice of the Supreme Court has
been appointed, but a new court system has not yet been organized

Political parties and leaders: current political organizations include
Jamiat-i-Islami (Islamic Society), Burhanuddin RABBANI, Ahmad Shah
MASOOD; Hizbi Islami-Gulbuddin (Islamic Party), Gulbuddin HIKMATYAR
faction; Hizbi Islami-Khalis (Islamic Party), Yunis KHALIS faction;
Ittihad-i-Islami Barai Azadi Afghanistan (Islamic Union for the
Liberation of Afghanistan), Abdul Rasul SAYYAF;
Harakat-Inqilab-i-Islami (Islamic Revolutionary Movement), Mohammad
Nabi MOHAMMADI; Jabha-i-Najat-i-Milli Afghanistan (Afghanistan
National Liberation Front), Sibghatullah MOJADDEDI;
Mahaz-i-Milli-Islami (National Islamic Front), Sayed Ahamad GAILANI;
Hizbi Wahdat-Khalili faction (Islamic Unity Party), Abdul Karim
KHALILI; Hizbi Wahdat-Akbari faction (Islamic Unity Party), Mohammad
Akbar AKBARI; Harakat-i-Islami (Islamic Movement), Mohammed Asif
MOHSENI; Jumbesh-i-Milli Islami (National Islamic Movement), Abdul
Rashid DOSTAM; Taliban (Religious Students Movement), Mohammad OMAR

Note: the former ruling Watan Party has been disbanded

Other political or pressure groups: the former resistance commanders
are the major power brokers in the countryside and their shuras
(councils) are now administering most cities outside Kabul; tribal
elders and religious students are trying to wrest control from them;
ulema (religious scholars); tribal elders; religious students (talib)

Member of: AsDB, CP, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBR