Friday, October 23, 2026

No financial support for Taliban-run Afghanistan for now: IMF

The IMF has announced it would not financially support Taliban-controlled Afghanistan due to a lack of clarity over its leadership.

• August 19, 2021
IMF DG, Kristalina Georgieva and Taliban
IMF DG, Kristalina Georgieva and Taliban

The International Monetary Fund has announced it would not financially support Taliban-controlled Afghanistan due to a lack of clarity over the country’s leadership after the Taliban seized control of Kabul on Sunday.

The global financial institution disclosed this on Wednesday.

It explained that it had suspended Afghanistan’s access to IMF resources amid the political chaos and leadership vacuum in the beleaguered country. 

The decision was made ahead of a scheduled disbursement of about $460 million in emergency currency reserves to Afghanistan next week. 

President Joe Biden’s administration, through the U.S. treasury, put pressure on IMF to ensure that the reserves, known as Special Drawing Rights, did not reach the Taliban.

“There is currently a lack of clarity within the international community regarding recognition of a government in Afghanistan, as a consequence of which the country cannot access SDRs or other IMF resources,” an IMF spokesperson said in a statement to Peoples Gazette. “As is always the case, the IMF is guided by the views of the international community.” 

Reuters reported that the U.S. Treasury said it was taking steps to prevent the Taliban from accessing the country’s SDR reserves.

The source, speaking anonymously, did not provide details of what unfolded after Republican lawmakers sent a letter urging Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen to “intervene” at the IMF to ensure that no IMF SDRs are made available to the Taliban.

The development came after the ousted president Ashraf Ghani fled the country with $169 million on Sunday and was granted asylum in the UAE on Wednesday. 

The Taliban took control of Afghanistan last week, claiming 26 of its 32 provinces before closing in on Kabul on Sunday and demanding an unconditional surrender of the government. 

We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.

More from Peoples Gazette

Nigerian Bar Association

States

Independence: NBA urges Nigerians to expect better future

The NBA said that ordinary Nigerians should be deriving benefit from the subsidy removal rather than hardship.

farmers

Agriculture

FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology

The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Katsina State

Politics

Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku

“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

Ilhan Omar and Trump(AI generated Image)

Heading 1

Ilhan Omar calls Trump ‘pedophile protection party’s president’

The Somali-born American politician insisted that her name had always been Ilhan Omar.

Kashim Shettima

Heading 3

Shettima inaugurates teaching hospital, schools in Borno 

Mr Shettima commended Governor Babagana Zulum for establishing the hospital.

Katsina state map (Credit: Punch)

Hot news Home top

14 bandits killed as hunters repel attack in Katsina village

The commissioner stated that intelligence report revealed the movement of 26 armed bandits on 13 motorcycles.

Saburi Lateef Ayinde(Credit: People’s Gazette)

States

Police nab man for allegedly killing retired teacher in Ogun 

The victim was reportedly killed at her residence in Agbaakin Emere, Abeokuta, on February 27, 2026.

Nigerian Medical Association (NMA)

Health

Zamfara NMA intensifies surveillance against Ebola

He said the NMA has developed an incident action plan to create public awareness about Ebola.

Nigeria Customs Service (NCS)

States

Customs seize contraband worth N80 million in Adamawa

The comptroller of the command urged the public to treat security as a collective responsibility.