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| Afghan president sacks Helmand governor | Afghan president sacks Helmand governor |
| (8 days later) | |
| One of Britain's allies in the Afghan war has been been sacked in a political shakeup by President Hamid Karzai that saw 10 provincial governors replaced or removed. | One of Britain's allies in the Afghan war has been been sacked in a political shakeup by President Hamid Karzai that saw 10 provincial governors replaced or removed. |
| Karzai announced he would remove Mohammad Gulab Mangal from office as governor of the vital province of Helmand, a central focus in the Afghan war and the responsibility of the British military. | Karzai announced he would remove Mohammad Gulab Mangal from office as governor of the vital province of Helmand, a central focus in the Afghan war and the responsibility of the British military. |
| Karzai's office declined to say why Mangal had been removed or if he would be reappointed to another governorship or political position. | Karzai's office declined to say why Mangal had been removed or if he would be reappointed to another governorship or political position. |
| The southern province was the centre of the Afghan drug trade and a Taliban stronghold, making it a focal point for NATO and Afghan officials. Helmand claimed nearly double the number of coalition soldiers' lives compared to Kandahar, the second most deadly province in Afghanistan. | The southern province was the centre of the Afghan drug trade and a Taliban stronghold, making it a focal point for NATO and Afghan officials. Helmand claimed nearly double the number of coalition soldiers' lives compared to Kandahar, the second most deadly province in Afghanistan. |
| Mangal played a key role in efforts to regain control of the province, quickly winning favour among international military and diplomatic officials. When he came to office in Helmand in 2008, he'd held governorships continuously since 2004 starting in Paktika and then moving to Laghman. | Mangal played a key role in efforts to regain control of the province, quickly winning favour among international military and diplomatic officials. When he came to office in Helmand in 2008, he'd held governorships continuously since 2004 starting in Paktika and then moving to Laghman. |
| He presided over Helmand during one of the most critical periods of the war, overseeing the influx of surge troops as NATO forces launched the Marjah offensive in 2010, one of the biggest campaigns of the Afghan war. | He presided over Helmand during one of the most critical periods of the war, overseeing the influx of surge troops as NATO forces launched the Marjah offensive in 2010, one of the biggest campaigns of the Afghan war. |
| "Before his governorship there was complete insecurity in the province," said Muhammad Hassan Haqyar, an independent political analyst in Kabul, who explained that the province saw major improvements under Mangal's watch. "There were also the good relations he had with the foreigners. They were definitely good for the people of Helmand. If you have good relations with international organizations, it helps you bring reconstruction to the province." | "Before his governorship there was complete insecurity in the province," said Muhammad Hassan Haqyar, an independent political analyst in Kabul, who explained that the province saw major improvements under Mangal's watch. "There were also the good relations he had with the foreigners. They were definitely good for the people of Helmand. If you have good relations with international organizations, it helps you bring reconstruction to the province." |
| The British embassy in Kabul put out a statement saying Mangal "made a real difference to the life of ordinary Afghans in Helmand". | The British embassy in Kabul put out a statement saying Mangal "made a real difference to the life of ordinary Afghans in Helmand". |
| Previous attempts to oust Mangal by Karzai led to direct intervention from senior British figures, as he was seen as a man with whom they could work. | Previous attempts to oust Mangal by Karzai led to direct intervention from senior British figures, as he was seen as a man with whom they could work. |
| Still, in manyways Mangal remained a controversial figure. Despite his generally positive relations with foreigners, the release of the Wikileaks diplomatic cables in 2010 revealed that he did not always have glowing reviews of his international counterparts. | Still, in manyways Mangal remained a controversial figure. Despite his generally positive relations with foreigners, the release of the Wikileaks diplomatic cables in 2010 revealed that he did not always have glowing reviews of his international counterparts. |
| In the cables, Mangal privately criticised the British military for not leaving their bases enough and having only limited interaction with the local population. | In the cables, Mangal privately criticised the British military for not leaving their bases enough and having only limited interaction with the local population. |
| Among locals, there were also allegations that Mangal and his administration used the poppy eradication program to extort farmers and generate revenue for his administration. While these allegations were never confirmed, they were common. | Among locals, there were also allegations that Mangal and his administration used the poppy eradication program to extort farmers and generate revenue for his administration. While these allegations were never confirmed, they were common. |
| Despite these allegations, a number of locals say that during Mangal's tenure as governor the province, witnessed dramatic improvements in both security and development. | Despite these allegations, a number of locals say that during Mangal's tenure as governor the province, witnessed dramatic improvements in both security and development. |
| Habiba Sadat, a member of parliament from Helmand, says that while she never had any personal problems with the governor, he was regarded as a divisive figure in the province. | Habiba Sadat, a member of parliament from Helmand, says that while she never had any personal problems with the governor, he was regarded as a divisive figure in the province. |
| "When I myself used to go to Helmand people would come cry to me because they had problems with the current governor. Also the security problems have recently increased and there were several attacks against police and checkpoints," she says. "This was the right decision. A lot of people in Helmand are happy about it." | "When I myself used to go to Helmand people would come cry to me because they had problems with the current governor. Also the security problems have recently increased and there were several attacks against police and checkpoints," she says. "This was the right decision. A lot of people in Helmand are happy about it." |
| Throughout Afghanistan, a total of 10 governors, including Mangal, will be removed or reassigned. The move comes during efforts by the Karzai administration to improve government efficiency to address concerns among foreign donors. | Throughout Afghanistan, a total of 10 governors, including Mangal, will be removed or reassigned. The move comes during efforts by the Karzai administration to improve government efficiency to address concerns among foreign donors. |
| "We needed to change some governors because some provinces need better governance and better governments, some provinces needed fresh blood, and some governors will change to other provinces," says Hamid Elmi, a spokesman for Karzai. "Of course some governors were not able to carry out their duties and they were not efficient any more so we needed fresh blood." | "We needed to change some governors because some provinces need better governance and better governments, some provinces needed fresh blood, and some governors will change to other provinces," says Hamid Elmi, a spokesman for Karzai. "Of course some governors were not able to carry out their duties and they were not efficient any more so we needed fresh blood." |
| In Afghanistan, governors are appointed by the president rather than elected. The 10 provinces with new governors include Kabul, Helmand, Takhar, Faryab, Logar, Laghman, Wardak, Baghlan, Nimroz, and Badghis. | In Afghanistan, governors are appointed by the president rather than elected. The 10 provinces with new governors include Kabul, Helmand, Takhar, Faryab, Logar, Laghman, Wardak, Baghlan, Nimroz, and Badghis. |
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