Hibatullah Akhundzada

Hibatullah Akhundzada is an Afghan cleric who has led the Taliban as its supreme leader since 2016. He exercises ultimate authority over the movement’s leadership and, since its 2021 return to power, Afghanistan’s Taliban government.

Mullah Omar: The Taliban’s founding leader, who served as its supreme leader until his death in 2013. Akhundzada succeeded Omar’s successor and leads the movement Omar founded.
Taliban: An Islamist political and militant movement that ruled Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001 and returned to power in 2021. Akhundzada is the movement’s supreme leader, above its political and military institutions.
Taliban insurgency: The armed campaign waged by the Taliban against the Afghan government and its international allies from 2001 until 2021. Akhundzada held senior religious and judicial roles during the movement’s insurgency.
Fall of Kabul (2021): The Taliban’s capture of Kabul on 15 August 2021, which ended the Afghan Republic and restored Taliban rule. The takeover brought Akhundzada’s movement back to national power.
Akhtar Mansour: A Taliban leader who served as supreme leader from 2015 until his death in 2016. Akhundzada became supreme leader after Mansour was killed in a U.S. drone strike.
Supreme Leader of the Taliban: The Taliban’s highest leadership office, whose holder directs the movement and its emirate. This office defines Akhundzada’s formal position and the source of his authority.
Taliban leadership succession: The transfer of authority among the Taliban’s supreme leaders after the deaths of Mullah Omar and Akhtar Mansour. Akhundzada’s appointment in 2016 followed Mansour’s death and internal deliberations over succession.
Women’s education in Afghanistan: The access of women and girls in Afghanistan to formal schooling, sharply restricted under Taliban rule after 2021. Akhundzada’s leadership has upheld prohibitions on girls’ secondary and university education.
Sirajuddin Haqqani: A Taliban leader and head of the Haqqani network who has served as Afghanistan’s interior minister since 2021. His position in the government illustrates the senior figures who operate under Akhundzada’s authority.
Taliban interim government: The administration formed by the Taliban after taking control of Afghanistan in August 2021. Akhundzada’s decrees and leadership shape the government, although he does not serve as its prime minister.

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2021 Taliban offensiveRelated: He led the movement whose forces conducted the campaign.