Afghanistan: Taliban seize Presidential Palace

The Taliban are claiming to have taken over the Presidential Palace that was left empty by the Afghan President Ashraf Ghani who left the country earlier on Sunday.

There has been no confirmation from the government officials there (if they really are the government now), but the Taliban reportedly told the Presidential staff to leave the premises.

This comes after the Taliban stormed the city, freeing all the prisoners and reassuring Afghans of no revenge. The Taliban were awaiting a peaceful transfer of power after they showed their might on the ground against the Afghan forces. Calls for Ghani’s resignation grew but the President did not stepdown and instead vowed the remobilization of his forces. Since then he resigned and has fled the country, drawing in the ire of his people and government officials.