Afghan Taliban leaders not consulted over Mullah Omar’s successor

The Afghan Taliban’s Supreme Council was not taken into confidence over the appointment of the group’s new leader following reports of Mullah Omar’s death, said a report published on the BBC.

Mullah Akhtar Mansour had been notified as successor to the late Mullah Omar on Friday. The appointment had been reported a day earlier but his designation as emir was announced on Friday.

However, a spokesman for the group told BBC that Mullah Mansour had not been appointed “by all Taliban” which, he said, was against Shariah.

The council will now hold a meeting to elect a new leader, he added.

Mullah Mansour, who is in his mid-50s, served as head of the aviation department during the Taliban government and after their ouster from power remained the shadow governor of Kandahar. Within the organisation, he remained on the supreme council and deputy to Mullah Omar. He also headed the political and military division of Taliban, because of which he has been maintaining direct contact with the field commanders.