Afghanistan's Taliban Declare An End To Their Leadership Rift

Mullah Akhtar Mansoor still faces opposition at the top of the Taliban movement, according to a western diplomat. Photograph: Handout/Reuters

The Guardian: Taliban declare end to leadership rift

Group’s media office claims Mullah Akhtar Mansoor has won support from key figures in Mullah Omar’s family, raising hopes for Afghan peace talks.

The Taliban claim to have resolved a big rift in their leadership, in a move that will likely consolidate the power of their new leader and could lead to a resumption of peace talks with the Afghan government.

The group’s media office declared in a statement on Tuesday that key figures from the family of the late founder, Mullah Omar, had sworn allegiance to the new leader, Mullah Akhtar Mansoor.

Opposition from the family has deepened fractures in the Taliban since early August when a small group of clerics and commanders in Quetta, Pakistan appointed Mansoor, the group’s long-time number two and de facto leader, as “commander of the faithful”.

WNU Editor: They are hoping that this endorsement will end the rift .... Mullah Omar’s brother and son swear allegiance to new Taliban emir (Long War Journal). The current taliban leadership is probably right .... but they have to be concerned, and with the rise of the Islamic State in Afghanistan .... doubly so.

More News On the Afghan Taliban Declaring An End To Their Leadership Rift

Mullah Omar: Taliban 'resolve splits' over successor Mansour -- BBC
Militant Makeup: Taliban Commanders Unite Behind New Leader -- NBC
Taliban declare end to leadership rift in Afghanistan -- Irish Times