Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani formally launched his re-election campaign on Sunday (July 28), stressing peace and good governance as his top priorities. Addressing supporters at a large gathering in Kabul, Ghani outlined his aims to improve security, implement the rule of law, improve transport infrastructure, hospitals and mosques if he were to serve for another five years.
Several former officials and politicians, including former warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, are lining up to challenge Ghani who formed a unity government with his main rival Abdullah Abdullah after a bitterly disputed 2014 election marred by concerns over voter fraud. The presidential election, scheduled for September 28, has been postponed twice due to a lack of preparation and could be overshadowed by ongoing peace efforts with the Taliban.
