Taliban appoint new health official after Amu exposé on corruption

Ali Ahmad Saifi has been appointed as the new head of the mass immunization department at the Taliban-run Ministry of Public Health, following an exposé by Amu TV that led to the dismissal of his predecessor, Abdul Hakim Hemat, over corruption allegations, people familiar with the matter said.

The appointment follows a report by Amu TV that Himmat had been removed from his position after allegations of corruption and irregularities in a nationwide measles vaccination campaign. Sources said his dismissal came days after those allegations were brought to light.

Himmat had previously been dismissed over corruption allegations but was later reappointed to the same role after a change in leadership at the ministry — a move that sources described as inconsistent with internal administrative rules.

The controversy centers on the handling of a national measles vaccination campaign, where Himmat was accused of misappropriating funds and overseeing irregular practices, including the transportation of vaccines in nonstandard vehicles despite official records indicating otherwise.

One source said the alleged misconduct may have undermined a $30 million program supported by the World Health Organization aimed at combating measles in Afghanistan.

The leadership change comes as Afghanistan faces a surge in measles cases. Available data indicate that about 200 children have died from the disease nationwide. More than 9,300 cases were reported in 2024, with an additional 8,500 cases recorded by August 2025.

Despite those figures, Taliban health officials have said they are working to control and eliminate the disease.

The Ministry of Public Health has not publicly commented on Himmat’s dismissal or Saifi’s appointment.

Recently, after Amu reports on corruption cases and arrests in the ministry, a Taliban spokesman for the public health ministry acknowledged, indirectly, that some individuals have been detained in connection with corruption investigations.

Sources have also reported that Taliban intelligence carried out raids on the home and office of the health minister in Kabul, detaining several officials on suspicion of administrative corruption.

Analysts say the appointment of Saifi marks the latest development in a broader controversy over governance and accountability in Afghanistan’s public health sector, which remains heavily dependent on international support.