Indonesian President Dismisses Energy Minister Over US Citizenship

Indonesian President Joko Widodo has relieved Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Archandra Tahar from his duties over reports that he had a dual Indonesian-US citizenship, State Secretariat Minister Pratikno said.

Under Indonesian nationality law, Indonesians automatically lose their citizenship if they voluntarily accept foreign citizenship.

“Responding to the public statement regarding the citizenship status of Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Arcandra Tahar, and after collecting information from several sources, the President has decided to dismiss with honor Arcandra Tahar from his position as energy and mineral resources minister. [The President] has appointed Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan as acting energy and mineral resources minister until a definitive minister is appointed,” Pratikno said, The Jakarta Post reports.

Archandra, who had previously lived in the United States for 20 years, held the position for 19 days.

Widodo appointed Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan as acting Energy and Mineral Resources Minister.