KABUL - Election fever is sweeping the north of Afghanistan as posters of candidates start to line the streets.

They’ve started to bloom around the blue mosque of Mazar-i-Sharif, on the walls of Sar-i-Pul city and along the streets of Aqcha, focusing everyone’s attention on the 20 August, the date of the first round of the presidential election, the first all-Afghan led election since 1970.

On market day in the north at the shops selling colourful fruits and silky carpets, in the crowded restaurants, or simply over the winding streets, all the conversations are the same, focused on this milestone, this decisive moment for the future of Afghanistan.

“We want peace!” claimed Mohammad Nassim, a carpet seller in Jawzjan. ”If we have a stable situation in the region, then traders from other parts of the country would come, and I will be able to improve my business,” he said.

“The next president’s priority should be to reinforce the peaceful situation of the north. Then we will also be able to attract investors from neighbouring countries. This could be an important step forward four our national economy, and for the development of the country,” he added.

A few metres further, Yonus is cooking a kebab. He’s owned his restaurant for more than forty years.

“I remember the 1970 election,” he said. “At that time, the situation was far better than now. But this year, I hope that the electoral process will be a success. We now have the ability to organize these elections ourselves, and to choose the best candidate. This election will sanction the improvements that have been made since 2001.”

Around the Blue Shrine of Mazar, Farida a 35 year old women, is quietly strolling with her little girl.

“The human rights issue is very important in the northern region. The welfare of the region’s inhabitants should be the key concern of the candidates. Also, by a fair sharing of the resources, we could reduce poverty in the provinces, and improve the life of the people. I’m thinking about my daughter. She deserves decent living conditions,” said Farida.

Sitting on a bench, in the shadow of the earthenware minarets, a group of students is discussing education.

“We should make efforts on education, in particular in the most remote areas of the region. Education is the root of the country. But the number of illiterate people is still very high. The next government should improve the schools, in order to allow more kids to be educated,” said one of the students.

“We want this election to be a success. Democracy can work in Afghanistan. We should prove it to the world,” said Rafiullah, a 70 year old retired engineer from Mazar, who was sitting on a nearby bench listening to the students.

As a witness of the three decades of war that ravaged his country, he placed a lot of hope in the election: “A new momentum was born in 2001. We need to preserve it and continue to follow the light at the end of the tunnel.”

Through this electoral process, people start to speak. To express their needs, their hopes, and their fears, feeding this vibrant debate that takes place across the country. At the dawn of the campaign, the north of Afghanistan as well starts to dream about a brighter future.

By Alexandre Brecher-Dolivet, UNAMA