Tajikistan's President Imomali Rakhmon casts his ballot during the presidential election in Dushanbe, in this November 6, 2013 handout photograph provided by the Press Service of presidential administration of Tajikistan. REUTERS/Press Service of presidential administration of Tajikistan/Handout via Reuters
DUSHANBE (Reuters) - Tajikistan's President Imomali Rakhmon has won a new seven-year term after his only serious rival was barred from running, but he faces a hard task ensuring stability in a volatile country that borders Afghanistan.
The Moscow-backed strongman leader, who has run the poorest former Soviet republic since 1992, keeps Tajikistan's small and disparate opposition in check and civil society is weak. But he must contend with rising social tensions in a Muslim nation where nearly half the 8 million population live in poverty.
Win a prize this Mother's Day by subscribing to our annual plan now! T&C applies.
