Mohammad Daud Laghmani assumed office as the new governor of northern Faryab province at a ceremony at the army base in the city of Maimana on Monday, sources said.
Daud Laghmani was supposed to assume office this week but the governor’s compound in Maimana city is still surrounded by protesters who oppose the appointment.
The protestors have also blocked all the roads in Maimana.
On Sunday, the National Islamic Movement of Afghanistan, or Junbish-e-Islami, led by former vice president Marshal Abdul Rashid Dostum, threatened to continue protests over the new governor’s appointment in Faryab until the Afghan government listens to their demands.
The protestors held a large rally in Faryab and prevented a helicopter carrying Laghmani from landing in the Maimana where he was expected to assume office on Saturday.
Some politicians said that the government should not influence the situation with such provocative actions, as the country is already in a critical political condition.
Faryab has turned into an insecure province over the last 23 days and is now faced with a new problem: opposition against the government’s decision to appoint a new governor for the northern province.
“The government should make efforts to prevent rifts and ethnic and language-based provocations,” said Sayed Hassan Sharifi Balkhabi, an MP from Sar-e-Pul.
Faryab residents said that they will continue their protest until their demand is accepted by the government.
Senators said that the internal rift between the country’s politicians will not benefit the country and the ongoing peace efforts.
“Afghanistan has many pains. There is a need for unity,” Senate Speaker Fazl Hadi Muslimyar said.
“The appointment and removal are principled. We are aware of protests by some people. Efforts are underway to address the problem,” said Mohammad Amiri, a presidential spokesman.
Following the rift, President Ashraf Ghani appointed former Faryab governor Naqibullah Fayiq as a senator and awarded him the Mir Bacha Khan Medal of Honor, but residents of the province said they want a governor who is their own pick.
