The transition from the former president, Nursultan Nazarbayev, whouled from 1990-2019, to his successor, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, accelerated suddenly and unexpectedly in January 2022, when Mr Tokayev took control of the country's Security Council amid violent public unrest. Mr Tokayev has undertaken a broad political reform agenda and is replacing political rivals with loyalist cadres. The reforms are unlikely to bring about political pluralism but will consolidate Mr Tokayev's grip on power.