Following a 20-year conflict with the international coalition in Afghanistan, the Taliban took over the government in the wake of international troops’ withdrawal from the country in 2021. As the previous political elite fled, the Taliban established a highly autocratic system that undermines democratic principles and civil rights, particularly those pertaining to women.
Meanwhile, Afghanistan faces a humanitarian crisis with 97% of the population living in poverty and over 50% relying on humanitarian aid. At the same time, the economy is slowly recovering as decreasing levels of inflation, a robust currency and strong export growth are indicating.
After two years in power, the new government faces two major challenges: increasing poverty and international sanctions, which hinder the effective implementation of its policies. While domestic security, stability, and the fight against corruption have shown improvement, Afghanistan remains isolated on the international stage, as no nation has officially recognized the country thus far.
