In post-conflict contexts, rent-generating institutions are often captured by political factions for rent-seeking purposes. Yet some institutions stay relatively effective. Why? Using a comparative analysis of Afghanistan’s Ministries of Interior Affairs and of Finance, it examines why two ministries with comparable rent-generation potential, levels of international engagement, and exposure to factional distribution produced divergent outcomes. While the Min. of Interior was marked by factional capture, the Min. of Finance retained relative credibility and effectiveness. Drawing on institutionalist theory, a qualitative Most Similar Systems Design, and social network analysis, the study explores: (1) the conditions under which political factions refrain from state capture; (2) how capture persists despite reform pressures; and (3) how patronage can be systematically measured in fragile settings, thus contributing to debates on institution building and reform in post-conflict societies.