President Ashraf Ghani and his political rival Abdullah Abdullah signed a power-sharing deal after months of political discord that critics say could have pushed the country towards a new crisis if not resolved.

The political tension emerged as a consequence of the disputed presidential election of last year, the result of which was announced in February. As a result, the two leaders, Ghani and Abdullah, held inauguration ceremonies on the same day in their adjacent respective palaces. Ghani was declared president by the Independent Election Commission after earning a slightly higher percentage than his rival Abdullah.

Sources said that the final draft of the agreement is the same as the draft seen by TOLOnews on Friday. Based on the draft, Abdullah will lead the High Council of National Reconciliation with executive authority and his team will have a 50 percent share in the cabinet.

The document between Ghani and Abdullah is called “political agreement.” 

Giving the marshal rank to former vice president Abdul Rashid Dostum is another component of the agreement.

Reacting to the agreement, Afghan citizens expressed hope that the agreement signed between the two leaders would help to address the challenges that the people face today such as war, poverty and the COVID-19 pandemic.