Mari Alkatiri facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mari Bin Amude Alkatiri
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Alkatiri in 2020
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| 3rd Prime Minister of East Timor | |
| In office 15 September 2017 – 22 June 2018 |
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| President | Francisco Guterres |
| Preceded by | Rui Maria de Araújo |
| Succeeded by | Taur Matan Ruak |
| In office 20 May 2002 – 26 June 2006 |
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| President | Xanana Gusmão |
| Preceded by | António Duarte Carvarino (1979) |
| Succeeded by | José Ramos-Horta |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 26 November 1949 Dili, Portuguese Timor (now East Timor) |
| Political party | Fretilin |
| Alma mater | Eduardo Mondlane University |
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Mari bin Amude Alkatiri (born November 26, 1949) is a well-known politician from East Timor. He served as the Prime Minister of East Timor from May 2002 to June 2006. He became Prime Minister again from September 2017 to May 2018. He is the Secretary-General of the Fretilin political party.
Alkatiri is from the Hadhrami Arab people. His family comes from a tribe that once ruled a sultanate in what is now Yemen. He is one of the few Muslim politicians in East Timor. Most people in East Timor are Christian. During his second time as Prime Minister, he focused on protecting the environment and culture. He also worked on joining ASEAN. Other goals included free public education and health services. He also aimed to improve the country's economy.
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Early Life and Education
Mari Alkatiri was born in Dili, which was then part of Portuguese Timor. His ancestors were Hadhrami merchants. He has ten brothers and sisters. In 1970, he left East Timor to study in Portuguese Angola.
He later returned to East Timor. He helped start the Fretilin political party. He became its Minister for Political Affairs. After East Timor declared independence in 1975, Alkatiri went on a diplomatic mission. When Indonesia invaded East Timor, he could not go back home. He then set up Fretilin's office in Maputo, Mozambique.
During the 24 years that Indonesia occupied East Timor, Alkatiri lived in exile. He worked as a surveyor. He also studied law at Eduardo Mondlane University in Mozambique. He worked as a legal consultant in Maputo. He also advised the Parliament of Mozambique on law.
Becoming Prime Minister
On May 20, 2002, East Timor became fully independent. The United Nations handed over power to its first elected government. Alkatiri's Fretilin party won many votes. Because of this, Mari Alkatiri was chosen as the first Prime Minister of the new nation.
Challenges and Resignation
In May 2006, Alkatiri's government faced a difficult time. About half of the country's security forces rebelled. There were riots and looting in Dili, the capital city. On June 21, 2006, President Xanana Gusmão asked Alkatiri to resign. If Alkatiri did not resign, Gusmão said he would.
There were claims that Alkatiri had ordered a group to threaten political opponents. This caused a lot of anger. On June 25, Fretilin party members met. They discussed Alkatiri's future as prime minister. Thousands of people protested, asking Alkatiri to resign. The party decided to keep him as prime minister.
However, Alkatiri resigned the next day, on June 26, 2006. He said he resigned to end the uncertainty. He wanted to prevent President Gusmão from resigning. Later, a United Nations commission looked into the claims against Alkatiri. They found that the accusations were not true.
Return to Leadership
In the 2007 East Timorese parliamentary election, Alkatiri was re-elected to parliament. He was the second name on Fretilin's list of candidates. In August 2007, Alkatiri said he would be Fretilin's candidate for prime minister. Fretilin won the most seats in parliament.
However, a group of parties led by Xanana Gusmão formed a majority. President José Ramos-Horta decided that Gusmão's group would form the government. Alkatiri said this decision was against the law. Fretilin supporters protested. Alkatiri said the party would fight the decision legally.
In September 2017, Alkatiri was voted to be East Timor's prime minister again. He served until May 2018. In the 2018 parliamentary elections, Alkatiri gave up his seat in parliament. Noémia Sequeira replaced him.
Contributions
Mari Alkatiri is known as a skilled negotiator. He worked hard to get a fair share of the Timor Sea oil resources for East Timor. This was important for the country's economy.
Alkatiri is also an Honorary Member of the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation. This foundation works to promote peace and understanding.
Honours
Grand-Cross of the Order of Prince Henry, Portugal (February 14, 2016)
See also
In Spanish: Mari Alkatiri para niños
