Taliban Suspends Women’s Radio Station in Afghanistan Amid Crackdown on Media

Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, the Taliban's deputy foreign minister, has reportedly fled to the United Arab Emirates following his outspoken support for the reversal of a ban on secondary and higher education for girls in Afghanistan. During a graduation ceremony in Khost province on January 20, Stanikzai criticized the ban, stating, "There is no excuse for this – not now and not in the future," emphasizing the injustice faced by millions of Afghan girls. According to reports, after Stanikzai's remarks and further criticisms of the Taliban's supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, a travel ban was allegedly imposed on him, forcing his departure from Afghanistan. While Stanikzai confirmed his relocation to Dubai, he attributed it to health reasons. The Taliban has yet to comment on the incident. Since the Taliban regained control in 2021, restrictions on women's rights, including access to education and public life, have intensified. Recent actions by international bodies, including the International Criminal Court, have sought to hold Taliban leaders accountable for these human rights violations.

A new analysis by Pádraig Carmody suggests that the increasing geopolitical competition among major powers like the US, Russia, and China could indicate a 'New Cold War' in Africa. As global tensions rise, African nations may find themselves at the center of external power struggles, mirroring patterns from the original Cold War. Despite different goals among these powers, systemic competition is evident, particularly with Africa's rich resources and growing market potential. Carmody points out a shift from geo-economic interests to broader geo-strategic stakes, with China’s investments in infrastructure and resources playing a significant role. Additionally, while Russia’s influence is seen through security cooperation and paramilitary activities, its decreasing arms sales have raised questions about its power in the region. The analysis posits that African countries might leverage this competition to enhance their own political ends but warns of possible authoritarianism as external support for stabilizing regimes grows. The study emphasizes the need for African actors to navigate this complex landscape to maximize their advantages.

The Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) has declared that the Taliban has no legal rights to billions in Afghan funds, as they are neither recognized as the country's government nor exempt from U.S. sanctions. This statement emerged in SIGAR's latest report, which also advised the U.S. government to consider reclaiming nearly $4 billion in funding previously designated for Afghanistan, according to U.S. officials. In response, the Afghan Economy Ministry reported that over $9 billion of the country’s foreign reserves remain frozen, asserting any U.S. actions regarding these funds are "unacceptable." SIGAR noted that while humanitarian aid from the U.S. has been crucial in preventing famine, it has not deterred the Taliban's restrictions on rights or their designation as a terrorist entity. Since the U.S. withdrawal in 2021, approximately $3.71 billion has been spent on Afghan aid, predominantly channeled through U.N. agencies, but the impact on the broader Afghan economy has been minimal, SIGAR emphasized.