Apparently unconcerned by recent unrest in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), with authoritarian and nepotistic regimes facing popular protest, in February the Tajik president, Imomali Rahmon, appointed his eldest son, Rustam Emomali (aged 23), to the position of head of the anti-drug-trafficking division of the Customs Committee. The office is viewed as important, as a significant portion of the government budget is generated from the Customs Committee. Mr Emomali already holds the positions of deputy chief of the Youth, Sports and Tourism Committee; deputy to the Tajikistan Football Federation; and a seat on the city council of the capital, Dushanbe, in addition to being player-manager for the Istiqlol Dushanbe football team. Before his appointment to the Customs Committee, Mr Emomali was removed from his position of head of the Trade Office of Investment and State Properties of Tajikistan. Mr Rahmon has nine children. His eldest, Ozoda Emomali, is the deputy foreign minister, and her husband is the deputy finance minister. Rumours that Mr Rahmon is grooming his son to succeed him have circulated for several years.