26-year-old man takes own life in Mazar-i-Sharif, as Afghanistan’s suicide epidemic continues

A 26-year-old man took his own life by suicide in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif, a Taliban official has said.

Taliban spokesperson in the city, Mohammad Asif Waziri, said that the man identified as Saddam shot himself with a gun in Karte Aryana area of Mazar-i-Sharif.

Waziri said that Saddam suffered from mental health conditions. He added that Saddam, originally from Kabul, had moved to the city a few years ago.

Afghanistan has seen a sharp rise in suicide since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021. Widespread poverty, unemployment, and domestic abuse have been among some of the factors for the rise.

On Sunday, a man died after setting himself on fire in the southern city of Kandahar.