At least 11 cabinet ministers, who were approved by Wolesi Jiga – the Lower House of Parliament – last week, took oath at a ceremony in Presidential Place on Saturday evening.
Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah also attended the event, the Presidential Palace said in a statement.
Addressing the ceremony, President Ashraf Ghani said he hopes new female nominees will also get vote of confidence from the MPs.
Lawmakers approved 11 cabinet nominees on December 4, but rejected the only female candidate, Nargis Nehan, the nominee minister of mines. This move met with reaction, especially from women activists.
According to the statement, the ministers include the following:
- Defense Minister Tariq Shah Bahrami
- Interior Minister Wais Ahmad Barmak
- Information and Technology Minister Shahzadgul Aryubi
- Economy Minister Mohammad Mustafa Mastoor
- Border and Tribal Affairs Minister Gul Aqa Shirzai
- Agriculture Minister Nasir Ahmad Durani
- Rural Rehabilitation and Development Minister Mujib Rahman Karimi
- Transport and Civil Aviation Minister Hamidullah Tahmasi
- Higher Education Minister Najibullah Khawaja Omari
- Labor, Social Affairs, Martyrs and Disabled Minister Faizullah Zaki
- And Public Works Minister Yama Yari
The cabinet nominees were introduced to the Wolesi Jirga after a long delay and repeated promises by government.