The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Yemen

  • Egypt, Saudi Arabia, three others cut links with Qatar

    Egypt, Saudi Arabia, three others cut links with Qatar

    Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen have cut diplomatic ties with Qatar, accusing it of destabilising the region.

    They claimed Qatar backs militant groups including so-called Islamic State (IS) and al-Qaeda, which Qatar has denied.

    The Saudi state news agency SPA said Riyadh had closed its borders, severing land, sea and air contact with the tiny peninsula of Qatar.

    Qatar called the decision “unjustified” and with “no basis in fact.”

    The BBC reports that the unprecedented move is being seen as a significant split between powerful Gulf countries, who are also close United States allies.

    It comes in the context of increased tensions between Gulf countries and their near-neighbour Iran.

    The Saudi statement accused Qatar of collaborating with Iranian-backed militias.

    The diplomatic withdrawal was put into motion by Bahrain then Saudi Arabia early on Monday. Their allies swiftly followed.

    SPA cited officials as saying the decision was taken to “protect its national security from the dangers of terrorism and extremism.”

    The three Gulf countries have given Qatari nationals two weeks to leave their territory.

  • Nothing has changed in US visa policy for Nigerians-Ambassador

    Nothing has changed in US visa policy for Nigerians-Ambassador

    The United States (U.S) government has allayed the fears of many Nigerians over the Executive Immigration Order.

    According to the U.S Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Stuart Symington, no Nigerian will be discriminated against on the basis of the order.

    Trump had signed an executive order barring citizens from Syria, Iraq, Iran, Yemen, Libya, Somalia and Sudan from entering the country for 90 days and also suspended the admission of all refugees for 120 days.

    Symington stressed that the Nigeria-U.S relationship  is a strategic one that must be sustained; adding that the connection between our two countries has been strong today and will continue to be strong tomorrow.

    He however stressed that in granting of visas, the full process must be followed and not religion.
    The envoy therefore emphasized that should there be any rejection, it should not be construed to mean discrimination, as every single conversation will be part of the process.

    Symington who briefed newsmen on the Executive Order on ‘Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorists Entry into the United States’ said  relating to Nigeria, nothing has changed.

    He also said that contrary to the report making the rounds, U.S has not reduced the visa time frame for Nigeria, saying that the two years multiple entry visa policy is still in place.
    Besides, he said those with valid visas have nothing to fear, as the validity of the visa will remain until the expiry date.

    Also, for a Nigerian with dual nationality affiliation with the seven affected Muslim countries, the ambassador said  he or she would not be banned from entering U.S.

    “Security is not the job of only one country. Let me reassure Nigerians that every single action the US takes would be on the basis of legality and due process no one will be discriminated against. No Nigerian would be denied visas because he or she is from a particular region of the country.

    “The new order now is for the US government to cross check as many that are coming into the US before issuing visas; we will not discriminate on the basis of religion in issuing visas to Nigerians. The two years visa is still valid contrary to reports we have heard in the media.

    “Nigeria’s leadership role is crucial in the world and Nigeria cannot be blacklisted. The importance of Nigeria in the world is legal.”

    Meghan Moore, Head of Consular U.S Embassy, Abuja explained that, “the  idea of how the US government decide the duration of Visa issuance is based on Nigeria government treatment to US travelers to Nigeria.  The US government generally issues multiple entry non-immigrant visas  with a validity of two years to eligible individuals who are travelling with the Nigeria passport. We issue as a general rule a two year visa and that has not changed. There  can be some exception based on some specific individuals.”

    What has changed, according to her is the period for visa renewal.

    “It used to be 45 month for visas renewal before now, but as a result of the new order, it’s now 12 month to renew visas. If not, registration and visa interview has to be carried out,” she explained.
    “Nigerians can use the DHL renewal process if their visas expire within 12 month.  If not, they have to schedule another interview with the embassy,” Moore said.

  • Saudi Arabia, UN to broker peace in Yemen

    Saudi Arabia on Monday backed a decision by its allied Yemeni government to hold peace talks with Iran-backed Yemeni rebels, raising hopes for an end to the months-long conflict in the country.

    A source from the Foreign Ministry official told newsmen that Saudi Arabia had supported a decision by Yemeni President Abd Rabu Mansour Hadi to attend UN-sponsored talks with Houthi rebels.

    “The talks are a right step to end the Yemeni crisis,” the Saudi official was quoted as saying.

    The venue and date of the talks are not yet known.

    Earlier this month, UN envoy to Yemen, Ismail Ahmed said that the Houthis had agreed to implement a UN resolution demanding that rebels withdraw from areas under their control and hand over their weapons to state institutions.

    The Yemeni government has repeatedly linked its participation in any peace talks with the rebels to their acceptance of the resolution issued in April.

    Previous UN attempts to end Yemen’s war failed, worsening a humanitarian conditions in the country.

    More than 2,300 civilians have been killed since March, according to UN agencies.

  • Yemen rebels free foreign hostages

    Yemen’s Houthi rebels have released six foreign hostages including three Americans, two Saudis and a Briton, Yemeni officials said on Sunday.

    There are no details on their identity. They are reportedly being flown from the capital Sanaa to neighbouring Oman.

    Shia Houthi rebels have seized much of Yemen, including Sanaa, since last year. They are fighting government troops aided by a Saudi-led coalition, the BBC reports.

    Many foreigners have been seized and freed in Yemen in recent years.

    Reports say the six involved in the latest incident were captured several months ago, and at least one was a journalist detained after entering the country without notifying the rebel authorities.

    Last month the local branch of al-Qaeda released British hostage Bob Semple, a 64-year-old oil worker who had been held for 18 months.

     

  • UN envoy to Yemen Resigns

    UN envoy to Yemen Resigns

    The UN Security Council, on Thursday in New York, announced that the UN envoy to Yemen, Jamal Benomar has stepped down.

    The Council said on Wednesday night the Moroccan diplomat expressed an interest in moving on to another assignment after four years of work on Yemen.

    It said in a press statement that: “On behalf of the Secretary-General, Mr Benomar brokered the Transition Agreement in November 2011.

    “He facilitated the successful conclusion of the National Dialogue Conference in January 2014 that took 10 months of deliberations and mediated the Peace and National Partnership Agreement in September 2014.

    The Council said his attempt to get democratic transition “back on track” were interrupted by the dramatic escalation of violence.”

    Yemen has been struggling with a rebellion from the Houthi group for months which has forced President Abd Rabu Mansour Hadi to flee the country.

    Saudi Arabia and eight fellow Sunni Arab countries in late March launched an air campaign against the Shiite Houthis, and in support of fellow Mansour Hadi, a fellow Sunni.

    Iran on Wednesday repeated its call on Saudi Arabia, which shares a border with Yemen, to stop its air strikes in the country.

    The UN Security Council has imposed sanctions on the rebels’ leader, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi.

    Houthi Politburo member, Mohammed al-Bukhaiti said the group will “never give in” to UN’s demand that they withdraw from captured territory, including the capital Sana’a.

  • International friendly: Eagles thrash Yemen 2-0

    International friendly: Eagles thrash Yemen 2-0

    Mfon Udoh and Azubuike Egwuekwe were on target as Nigeria claimed a 2-0 friendly victory over Yemen at the Sevens Stadium in Dubai.

    The Super Eagles were initially scheduled to play Sudan before the country pulled out on Tuesday due to unforeseen reasons.

    Ranked 176 against Nigeria’s 43 in the FIFA monthly rankings,Yemen bowed to the superior powers of the three-time African Champions.

    The Nigerian side threw everything at the Asians in the international friendly match and went into the recess with a well deserved lead.

    Yemen failed to keep possession and were camped in front of their 18-yard box with little sign of putting the Nigerians under pressure.

    Nigeria enjoyed the lion-share of possession but could not make their territorial superiority count in the opening exchanges.

    Mfon, who netted 23 goals in the 2013/14 Nigeria Professional Football League season stunned Yemen in the 25th minute with the only goal of the first half.

    Stand-in coach Daniel Amokachi, who made some changes to the team that fell one-nil to Cote D’Ivoire, made his intention clear to Yemen with an all out attacking system.

    The first half ended one-nil in favour of Nigeria.

    Both nations looked strong at the start of the second half, but as the match wore on the Eagles were back to their peak and took a two-goal cushion.

    A fine strike from in-demand central defender Egwuekwe in the 64th minute ensured that the Eagles ended the tour on a high note.

  • U.S drone kills Arabian al Qaeda leader

    U.S drone kills Arabian al Qaeda leader

    A Saudi who was freed from Guantanamo Bay only to become second-in-command of al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) has been killed, Sky News reports.

    Said al Shehri died in a United States-led drone strike in Yemen, senior AQAP official Ibrahim al Rubaish said in a video statement posted online.

    “I present my condolences to all the Mujahideen on the martyrdom of Said al-Shehri who was killed in a U.S drone attack,” said Rubaish.

    He did not say when the strike took place.

    Shehri was taken to the Cuban detention facility in 2002 after Pakistan handed him to the U.S authorities.

    He was returned to Saudi Arabia in late 2007 and later fled to Yemen to join the al Qaeda branch there.

    Shehri’s death has been announced several times by the Yemeni authorities, most recently on January 24.

    Last October, Shehri himself denied a September announcement by Yemen’s defence ministry that he had been killed in an army raid, in an audio message posted on extremist internet forums.

    An official Yemeni statement in January called him “one of the (al Qaeda) leaders who played a major role in the planning of local, regional and international terrorist acts.”

  • Call for participation in U.S TechWomen programme

    Call for participation in U.S TechWomen programme

    Call for participation in U.S TechWomen programme

    Alade Abiodun

    TechWomen, an initiative of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs has invited applications from emerging women leaders in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM.)

    Participants will be drawn from the Middle East and Africa together with their counterparts in the United States for the professional mentorship and exchange program in the Fall of this year.

    Applicants must be women who are permanent residents of Algeria, Cameroon, Egypt, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Nigeria, the Palestinian Territories, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tunisia, Yemen and Zimbabwe.

    Deadline for interested participants in the programme scheduled for Fall of 2013 is February 22.

    The program will identify approximately 80 women who are emerging leaders and entrepreneurs working in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) from the Middle East & Africa for a five-week program  including mentorships and professional exchanges at leading companies in Silicon Valley, California, concluding with workshops, networking events and meetings in Washington, D.C.

    During the five-week program, participants engage in project-based mentorships at leading companies in Silicon Valley, participate in workshops and networking events throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and travel to Washington, D.C. for targeted meetings and special events to conclude the program.

    Each Emerging Leader will be paired with a Professional Mentor who works closely with the participant to design and carry out a project at the host company. The Professional Mentor offers guidance and support throughout the mentorship. Emerging Leaders also participate in professional enrichment activities that include leadership and entrepreneurship workshops, technology seminars and networking events.

    Each TechWomen Emerging Leader will also be paired with a Cultural Mentor who facilitates activities to deepen mutual understanding and help the participant acclimate to the San Francisco Bay Area and Silicon Valley culture. Participants will also have the opportunity to tour national landmarks while in Washington, D.C.

    Past activities have included sightseeing, art exhibits, sporting events, and visits to local universities.

    Participants are women who are engaged or rising in professional careers that require significant expertise and knowledge of STEM fields and/or innovative application of these skills, and who already are —or show promise of being— role models for women and girls.

    Preference will be given to applicants Who have demonstrated themselves as emerging leaders in STEM fields;  have limited or no prior experience in the United States; have a record of voluntary or public service in their communities; have demonstrated entrepreneurialism and commitment to innovation.

    While participating in the program, applicants are not permitted to apply for immigrant visa to the United States, or participated in a visa lottery in the past five years and not hold U.S. Citizenship or be a U.S. legal permanent resident.

    TechWomen, an initiative of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs was launched by the outgoing Secretary of State of the United States of America, Hillary Rodham Clinton in 2011, with the vision of “smart power diplomacy” embracing the full range of diplomatic tools, including technology, to bring people together for greater understanding and to empower women and girls worldwide.

    Interested participants should visit www.techwomen.org/how-to-apply/ or send e-mail to techwomen@iie.org.