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Obama urges Afghanistan government to reduce corruption

By Bernard Hibbitts (editor) and University of Pittsburgh School of Law students.

[JURIST] US President Barack Obama on Sunday urged the Afghan government to reduce corruption and institute an effective judicial system. During a surprise visit to the country, Obama called on Afghan President Hamid Karzai to take steps to promote good governance, end cronyism, and curtail the opium trade. US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen echoed these sentiments on Monday, linking the success of the coming offensive against the Taliban in Kandahar and the wider US military campaign in Afghanistan with the ability to reduce corruption and establish a legitimate government. National Security Advisor James Jones also emphasized the importance of reducing corruption to US officials. In January, Afghanistan's lower house of parliament, narrowly approved Habibullah Galib as the country's new Minister of Justice after rejecting the renomination of then incumbent Sarwar Danish. Galib's appointment was described by the director of the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission as a step backwards. In November, Afghan authorities announced that they had questioned two cabinet ministers on corruption charges. Karzai had previously vowed to fight corruption in his second term inaugural address amid pressure from the international community. Late last year, Afghanistan was ranked the second most corrupt country in the world by Transparency International, behind only Somalia.

Full post as published by JURIST - The Paper Chase on March 29, 2010 (boomark / email).