A two-month campaign season for presidential elections to decide who leads Afghanistan for the next five years began on Tuesday, as the Taliban rebellion grows more violent and the US sends in tens of thousands of troops to combat it.

Campaigning got off to a slow start. The only signs of activity were the posters of President Hamid Karzai — who is currently visiting Russia — and some of his 40 opponents in the August 20 vote that appeared overnight on the streets of Kabul.

Karzai, who has served as Afghan leader soon after the Taliban regime’s ouster in 2001 and comfortably won the first presidential vote in 2004, is expected to win again. But many Afghans are unhappy with his leadership.

Militant violence is rising and public anger reverberates against his government and US troops for accidental civilian killings in military operations. Economic issues will be crucial too. Poverty remains widespread and corruption is rife.

Karzai’s main challengers are former Cabinet colleagues: former Finance Minister Ashraf Ghani and former Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah.