Crisis Group report: Afghanistan's election challenges

The latest report from the Ploughshares-funded International Crisis Group, Afghanistan’s Election Challenges, evaluates the challenges of the presidential and provincial council elections in August 2009 and suggests ways to strengthen processes and institutions in the run-up to National Assembly and district elections in 2010. The elections “present a formidable challenge if they are to produce widely accepted and credible results.” In particular, outstanding constitutional questions need to be resolved, and there must be a better balance between the branches of government to ensure more equitable representation and increased accountability. Read the full report here.