ident Burhanuddin RABBANI (interim president
July-December 1992, president since 2 January 1993) was elected to a
two-year term (later amended by multi-party agreement to 18 months)
by a national shura (council); election last held 31 December 1992
(next to be held NA); results - percent of vote NA; Vice President
Mohammad NABI MOHAMMADI (since NA) was appointed by the president;
note - in June 1994 failure to agree on a transfer mechanism
resulted in RABBANI's extending his 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 Ahmad Shah AHMADZAI (since NA)
was appointed by President RABBANI as de facto prime minister, but
does not have any real authority; First Deputy Prime Minister
Qutbuddin HELAL (since 17 March 1993) and Deputy Prime Minister
Arsala RAHMANI (since 17 March 1993)
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 a national shura (council) in January 1993;
non-functioning as of June 1993

Judicial branch: an interim Chief Justice of the Supreme Court has
been appointed by the president in consultation with the prime
minister, 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