Global Security Studies Practicum

23 November 2011 President Ali Abdullah Saleh arrived to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, November 23, 2011, to sign the Gulf Cooperation Council ’s initiative to transfer his executive power to Vice President Abdo Rabu Mansour Hadi. The initiative states that Saleh will step down in exchange for immunity from prosecution and will retain his title for the next three months until elections. For the past 10 months anti-government demonstrators have demanded Saleh’s ouster from office and once again clashes between government forces and tribal fighters erupted early Wednesday in Sana , hours after Saleh headed for Saudi Arabia . On Saturday, 400 government troops defected from the Yemeni military because of the violence they have witnessed against unarmed protesters. United Nations envoy Jamal Benomar stated that more work will be necessary after the signing of the agreement since the transitional government will need to rebuild the economy and gain the political support from the youth...

04 November 2011 Most Americans have heard about Anwar al-Awlaki’s death and President Ali Abdullah Saleh’s struggle to remain in office; however, they fail to realize the increase of Al Qaeda’s presence in the Arabian Peninsula ( AQAP ). Al-Awlaki, an American-born Yemeni, was one of AQAP’s prominent leaders who specialized in recruiting and inspiring terrorists. His assassination and the convergence of Islamist fighters to regions around Zinjibar and Jaar have strengthened AQAP control of Yemen’s South. Bearded men have allowed the flow of artillery weapons and tanks in that area, as well. Although, Al Qaeda has dominated this region for some time, Saleh’s cooperation with the United States allowed the West to maintain some control. Saleh currently waits on the international guarantees of no prosecution, while the country remains at a stalemate due to the recent violence in Sana. Pro-democracy youths are angered at the Saudis and U.S. for agreeing to overlook Saleh’s past crimes t...

25 October 2011 Sana, Yemen – On Tuesday Yemen ’s government announced a cease-fire in the capital Sana to stop the fighting between antigovernment demonstrators and security forces. The Associated Press also reported that President Ali Abdullah Saleh met with the United States ambassador to discuss him leaving office. However, bombs and gunfire persisted in Sana and Taiz, a city in central Yemen, and at least nine protesters died. Sheik Sagheer bin Aziz, a tribal leader from northern Yemen, joined forces with Saleh in mid-September to fight against the opposition and made the following comment, “we will fight them until they return to the right path.” According to Ali Obeid, director of the strategic research center at the Ministry of Defense , neither side can actually win but tensions are increasing which could lead to a civil war. The Yemeni government has asked everyone to abide by this agreed plan and if violated they will take necessary action. Source: “ Yemen’s Embattled G...

17 October 2011 Sana, Yemen – Violent clashes increase between government and opposition forces after a fight broke out on Sunday night in Sana, Yemen’s capital. Protesters have been marching since February and recently escalated their demonstrations by marching into government strongholds where pro-government forces have targeted them with mortar and machine guns, killing 21 individuals so far. In March, troops loyal to the rebel commander, Maj. Gen. Ali Mohsin al-Ahmar, joined the demonstrators to offer protection after government snipers killed more than 50 unarmed protesters. This strategy has given the government more rationale to attack especially after Saleh commented that the soldiers contradict the protesters’ claim to be peaceful. The United Nations Security Council met to develop and agree on a resolution after Saleh accused Western leaders of not understanding the current crisis. The Security Council may vote this week and agree with the Gulf Cooperation Council proposa...

9 October 2011 Cairo - Ali Abdullah Saleh has once again avoided resigning from office as Yemen’s president even after signing a deal with the Gulf Cooperation Council in the spring. Yemeni’s foreign minister, Abu Bakr al-Qirbi, presented a new plan to the council stating that Saleh will remain in office until next year elections. The council’s plan, the Gulf Initiative, proposed that Saleh transfer all presidential power to his deputy while offering him and his family immunity. Saleh failed to react because of his main concern of leaving the country in control by his foes, General Ali Mohsin al-Ahmar and Hamid al-Ahmar. Government officials believe both men are using the antigovernment demonstrations to vie for power and blame them for the June bomb attack leaving Saleh injured. Yemen’s coalition of political opponent’s l eader, Yassin Saeed Noman, states that Saleh’s return is negative for the political situation and that negotiation with political opposition will get harder. S...