Yemen’s president appoints new officials

President announces two new ministers and intelligence chief amid criticism of the government’s performance.

The appointments come amid repeated criticism and protests over the government's performance [AFP]

Yemen’s president has appointed new officials to critical posts amid repeated criticism of the government’s performance.

President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi announced the changes on Friday in a state television broadcast.

Hadi appointed Major General Abdou Hussein el-Terb as the new interior minister, responsible for the police. He also assigned Major General Galal el-Rowaishan to head the intelligence services and Khaled Mahfouz Bahah as petroleum minister.

Three years after the country’s uprising that toppled President Ali Abdullah Saleh, the weak central government is still battling al-Qaeda fighters who have carried dozens of attacks.

Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), based in Yemen, is considered by the US to be the group’s most dangerous offshoot. AQAP has controlled large territories in Yemen since the 2011 uprising.

 

Source: AP