Emomali Rahmon is the President of Tajikistan. He has been the Head of State of the Central Asian former Soviet Republic since November 1992.

He is considered to be one of the most authoritative rulers anywhere in the world. In 2015, the lower house of the country's parliament passed a bill which would make him and his family immune from prosecution for life. 

Born Emomali Sharipovich Rahmonov on October 5, 1952, he served in the Soviet Navy during 1971-74. In 1987 he became the Chairman of a collective farm. Later in 1990, he was elected to the Supreme Soviet of the Tajikistan Soviet Socialist Republic.

Tajikistan became independent from the Soviet Union in 1991. The former rulers under the Soviet system became the rulers of Tajikistan. A civil war broke out in the country in 1992 with the United Opposition including Islamic groups fighting against the ruling class. The first president, Rahmon Nabiyev was forced to resign in the first months of the Civil War in September 1992. Akbarsho Iskandarov, Speaker of the Supreme Soviet, became acting president. Iskandarov resigned in November 1992, making Rahmonov acting President.

His presidency was established later in 1994 following the passage of a new constitution.

He was re-elected with 97% of the vote in 1999. In 2003, he won a referendum which removed term limits. Rahmanov won the 2006 Presidential Election.

In 2007, he changed his name to Emomali Rahmon, removing the Russian type -ov suffix and the patronymic as well.

Rahmon won the 2013 Presidential Election as well. However, opponents and foreign observers have criticized Tajikistan as a place which does not allow for true opposition.

Rahmon has nine children including seven daughters. One daughter, Ozoda Rahmon, and one son, Rastam Emomali, are involved in politics. Ozoda was a diplomat for 11 years before becoming the Chief of Staff of her father and a Senator. Rastam Emomali is a Central Committee member of the People's Democratic Party of Tajikistan. He is just 29, but is thought to be a likely successor to his father.

The young Emomali is a controversial figure. In 2007, he co-founded the Dushanbe-based football club Istiklol and, during the next several years, he served as the club's captain. The club has won five national championships during 2010 - 2016, owing at least partially to very favorable refereeing and other preferences. In January 2012, Rustam Emomali was named President of Tajikistan Football Federation. He stopped playing for FC Istiklol and promised to cut all ties to the club.

The young Emomali is also known for his two expensive hobbies, car racing and collecting sports cars