South Sudan's President Salva Kiir, right, and Vice President Riek Machar. AFP
South Sudan's President Salva Kiir, right, and Vice President Riek Machar. AFP
South Sudan's President Salva Kiir, right, and Vice President Riek Machar. AFP
South Sudan's President Salva Kiir, right, and Vice President Riek Machar. AFP

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Africa

South Sudan president sacks ministers, abandoning peace deal terms

Vice President Riek Machar's wife is one of the two officials fired by Salva Kiir

Reuters

March 04, 2023

  • English
  • Arabic

South Sudan President Salva Kiir has fired two top security ministers, abandoning the terms of a peace agreement with opposition party leader and First Vice President Riek Machar.

Mr Kiir fired Defence Minister Angelina Teny, who is also Mr Machar's wife, and Interior Minister Mahmoud Solomon in a presidential order read out on state TV late on Friday, Lily Martin Manyiel, the President's spokeswoman said on Saturday.

"There is no reason I can give you right now" for their sacking but "it's a normal procedure usually", Ms Manyiel said.

She said no decision had been made on the ministers' replacements.

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Pope Francis wraps up Africa visit with plea for peace in South Sudan

Mr Kiir and Mr Machar's forces signed a peace agreement in 2018 after five years of civil war that killed 400,000 people and sparked Africa's biggest refugee crisis since the 1994 Rwandan genocide.

Implementation of the deal, known as the Revitalised Peace Agreement for South Sudan, has been slow and the opposing forces have clashed frequently over disagreements about how to share power.

In Friday's decree, Mr Kiir handed the defence ministry to his party, a role which, under the terms of the agreement, is meant to be filled by Mr Machar's party.

In exchange, the President gave Mr Machar's party the interior ministry.

The swap "is unilateral and a new cycle of violating the revitalised agreement", said Puok Both Baluang, Mr Machar's spokesman.

Pope Francis waves as he arrives for holy mass at the John Garang Mausoleum in Juba, South Sudan. AFP
Pope Francis waves as he arrives for holy mass at the John Garang Mausoleum in Juba, South Sudan. AFP
Members of the choir sing. AFP
Members of the choir sing. AFP
A scarf bearing the faces of the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, left, and Pope Francis. AFP
A scarf bearing the faces of the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, left, and Pope Francis. AFP
A child plays with a rosary as people wait for the Pope's arrival. Reuters
A child plays with a rosary as people wait for the Pope's arrival. Reuters
People wait for the mass. Reuters
People wait for the mass. Reuters
A worshipper waits for the Pope to lead mass. Reuters
A worshipper waits for the Pope to lead mass. Reuters
Pope Francis waves as he leaves a meeting with internally displaced people at Freedom Hall. AP
Pope Francis waves as he leaves a meeting with internally displaced people at Freedom Hall. AP
Pope Francis receives a gift. AFP
Pope Francis receives a gift. AFP
Pope Francis addresses a gathering at the Presidential Palace in Juba. Reuters
Pope Francis addresses a gathering at the Presidential Palace in Juba. Reuters
Pope Francis attends a meeting with authorities, leaders of civil society and the diplomatic corps, in the garden of the Presidential Palace. Reuters
Pope Francis attends a meeting with authorities, leaders of civil society and the diplomatic corps, in the garden of the Presidential Palace. Reuters
Traditional dancers welcome Pope Francis at the Juba International Airport. AFP
Traditional dancers welcome Pope Francis at the Juba International Airport. AFP
Pope Francis receives a bouquet of flowers from a child. AFP
Pope Francis receives a bouquet of flowers from a child. AFP
A nun in the crowd shouts that the country needs peace as Pope Francis prepares to leave in his vehicle from the airport. AP
A nun in the crowd shouts that the country needs peace as Pope Francis prepares to leave in his vehicle from the airport. AP
South Sudan's President Salva Kiir Mayardit receives Pope Francis. Reuters
South Sudan's President Salva Kiir Mayardit receives Pope Francis. Reuters
From left, on red carpet, the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, Pope Francis, President Kiir and Iain Greenshields of the Church of Scotland at the Presidential Palace, in Juba. AFP
From left, on red carpet, the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, Pope Francis, President Kiir and Iain Greenshields of the Church of Scotland at the Presidential Palace, in Juba. AFP
The pontiff waves as he leaves in his vehicle past crowds gathered at the entrance to the airport. AP
The pontiff waves as he leaves in his vehicle past crowds gathered at the entrance to the airport. AP
Traditional dancers prepare to welcome the Pope. Reuters
Traditional dancers prepare to welcome the Pope. Reuters
Security officers clear the way as Pope Francis's convoy leaves the airport. Reuters
Security officers clear the way as Pope Francis's convoy leaves the airport. Reuters
Pope Francis is welcomed by President Salva Kiir, second from right, on arrival at Juba airport, South Sudan. AP Photo
Pope Francis is welcomed by President Salva Kiir, second from right, on arrival at Juba airport, South Sudan. AP Photo
Pope Francis is on a three-day visit to South Sudan, a country riven by the scars of civil war and extreme poverty. AFP
Pope Francis is on a three-day visit to South Sudan, a country riven by the scars of civil war and extreme poverty. AFP
Honour guards at the welcome ceremony for Pope Francis in Juba, South Sudan. Reuters
Honour guards at the welcome ceremony for Pope Francis in Juba, South Sudan. Reuters
A sea of raised hands welcomes Pope Francis to South Sudan. Reuters
A sea of raised hands welcomes Pope Francis to South Sudan. Reuters
The pontiff's South Sudan visit is the second leg of a six-day trip that started in Congo. AP Photo
The pontiff's South Sudan visit is the second leg of a six-day trip that started in Congo. AP Photo
Pope Francis arrives at Juba International Airport. AFP
Pope Francis arrives at Juba International Airport. AFP
The faithful celebrate Pope Francis's arrival. Reuters
The faithful celebrate Pope Francis's arrival. Reuters
The plane carrying Pope Francis arrives in Juba for the second and final leg of the pontiff's African pilgrimage. Reuters
The plane carrying Pope Francis arrives in Juba for the second and final leg of the pontiff's African pilgrimage. Reuters
Nuns await the arrival of Pope Francis in Juba. AP
Nuns await the arrival of Pope Francis in Juba. AP
The visit to South Sudan is the first by a pope since the predominantly Christian nation gained independence from Sudan in 2011. AFP
The visit to South Sudan is the first by a pope since the predominantly Christian nation gained independence from Sudan in 2011. AFP
Pope Francis is escorted to the plane when leaving Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo. AFP
Pope Francis is escorted to the plane when leaving Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo. AFP
A military waits to perform as Pope Francis and his delegation departs the DRC. AFP
A military waits to perform as Pope Francis and his delegation departs the DRC. AFP
Pope Francis greets well-wishers before meeting bishops in Kinshasa. AP Photo
Pope Francis greets well-wishers before meeting bishops in Kinshasa. AP Photo
Pope Francis meets Roman Catholic bishops of the National Episcopal Conference of Congo, in Kinshasa. Reuters
Pope Francis meets Roman Catholic bishops of the National Episcopal Conference of Congo, in Kinshasa. Reuters
Pope Francis waves as he departs for South Sudan from Kinshasa. AP Photo
Pope Francis waves as he departs for South Sudan from Kinshasa. AP Photo
This is the pontiff's fifth trip to Africa. EPA
This is the pontiff's fifth trip to Africa. EPA
Pope Francis's visit set out to bring comfort and encouragement to two countries riven by poverty and conflict. AP Photo
Pope Francis's visit set out to bring comfort and encouragement to two countries riven by poverty and conflict. AP Photo
Pope Francis arrives for a meeting with bishops at the National Episcopal Conference of Congo in Kinshasa. AFP
Pope Francis arrives for a meeting with bishops at the National Episcopal Conference of Congo in Kinshasa. AFP
Pope Francis at a prayer meeting with priests, deacons, consecrated persons and seminarians at Notre Dame Du Congo Cathedral in Kinshasa. EPA
Pope Francis at a prayer meeting with priests, deacons, consecrated persons and seminarians at Notre Dame Du Congo Cathedral in Kinshasa. EPA

During a visit to South Sudan last month, Pope Francis implored the country's warring leaders to turn their backs on the violence, ethnic hatred and corruption that have stopped the world's youngest country from achieving peace and prosperity.

Edmond Yakani, a leading civil rights activist and a signatory of the peace agreement, said in a statement that he urged the presidency to explain "why there is an exchange of information that demonstrates the violation of the peace agreement".

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Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.

Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.

Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.

Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.

Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.

Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.

Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.

Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.

Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae

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Yemen's Bahais and the charges they often face

The Baha'i faith was made known in Yemen in the 19th century, first introduced by an Iranian man named Ali Muhammad Al Shirazi, considered the Herald of the Baha'i faith in 1844.

The Baha'i faith has had a growing number of followers in recent years despite persecution in Yemen and Iran. 

Today, some 2,000 Baha'is reside in Yemen, according to Insaf. 

"The 24 defendants represented by the House of Justice, which has intelligence outfits from the uS and the UK working to carry out an espionage scheme in Yemen under the guise of religion.. aimed to impant and found the Bahai sect on Yemeni soil by bringing foreign Bahais from abroad and homing them in Yemen," the charge sheet said. 

Baha'Ullah, the founder of the Bahai faith, was exiled by the Ottoman Empire in 1868 from Iran to what is now Israel. Now, the Bahai faith's highest governing body, known as the Universal House of Justice, is based in the Israeli city of Haifa, which the Bahais turn towards during prayer. 

The Houthis cite this as collective "evidence" of Bahai "links" to Israel - which the Houthis consider their enemy. 

 

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Favourite holiday destination: Thailand. I go every year and I’m obsessed with the fitness camps there.

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Updated: March 04, 2023, 9:39 AM`
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