Yemeni revolution

This article is about the Yemeni revolution of 2011–2012. For other uses, see Yemeni revolution (disambiguation).
Yemeni revolution
Part of the Arab Spring and the Yemeni Crisis
Tens of thousands of protesters marching to Sana'a University, joined for the first time by opposition parties
Date27 January 2011 (2011-01-27) – 27 February 2012 (2012-02-27)
(1 year and 1 month)
Location
Yemen
Caused by
Methods
Resulted inOverthrow of Saleh government
Parties
Lead figures
Casualties
Death(s)2,000 (by 18 March 2012)[16]
Injuries22,000[16]
Arrested1,000[17]
This article is part of a series on the
Politics of
Yemen
Arab League Member State of the Arab League
Constitution
Executive
Legislature
Administrative divisions
Elections
Foreign relations
flag Yemen portal
This article is part of
a series about
Ali Abdullah Saleh
  • Unitary Government
  • Presidency
  • Presidential campaigns
  • Constitutional referendums
  • Related
Part of a series on the
Yemeni crisis
Main topics
Background

The Yemeni revolution (or Yemeni intifada)[18] followed the initial stages of the Tunisian Revolution and occurred simultaneously with the 2011 Egyptian revolution[19] and other Arab Spring protests in the Middle East and North Africa. In its early phase, protests in Yemen were initially against unemployment, economic conditions[2] and corruption,[1] as well as against the government's proposals to modify Yemen's constitution. The protesters' demands then escalated to calls for the resignation of Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh. Mass defections from the military, as well as from Saleh's government, effectively rendered much of the country outside of the government's control, and protesters vowed to defy its authority.

A major demonstration of over 16,000 protesters took place in Sanaʽa, Yemen's capital, on 27 January.[20] On 2 February, Saleh announced he would not run for reelection in 2013 and that he would not pass power to his son. On 3 February, 20,000 people protested against the government in Sanaʽa,[21][22] while others protested in Aden,[23] a southern Yemeni seaport city, in a "Day of Rage" called for by Tawakel Karman,[24] while soldiers, armed members of the General People's Congress and many protesters held a pro-government rally in Sanaʽa.[25] In a "Friday of Anger" on 18 February, tens of thousands of Yemenis took part in anti-government demonstrations in Taiz, Sanaʽa and Aden. On a "Friday of No Return" on 11 March, protesters called for Saleh's ousting in Sanaʽa where three people were killed. More protests were held in other cities, including Mukalla, where one person was killed. On 18 March, protesters in Sanaʽa were fired upon, resulting in 52 deaths and ultimately culminating in mass defections and resignations.[26]

Starting in late April, Saleh agreed to a Gulf Cooperation Council-brokered deal, only to back away hours before the scheduled signing three times. After the third time, on 22 May, the GCC declared it was suspending its efforts to mediate in Yemen.[27] On 23 May, a day after Saleh refused to sign the transition agreement, Sheikh Sadiq al-Ahmar, the head of the Hashid tribal federation, one of the most powerful tribes in the country, declared support for the opposition and his armed supporters came into conflict with loyalist security forces in the capital Sanaʽa. Heavy street fighting ensued, which included artillery and mortar shelling.[28][29][30] Saleh and several others were injured and at least five people were killed by a 3 June bombing of the presidential compound when an explosion ripped through a mosque used by high-level government officials for prayer services.[31] Reports conflicted as to whether the attack was caused by shelling or a planted bomb.[32] The next day, Vice President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi took over as acting president[33] while Saleh flew to Saudi Arabia to be treated. The crowds celebrated Saleh's transfer of power, but Yemeni officials insisted that Saleh's absence was temporary and he would soon return to Yemen to resume his duties of office.[34]

In early July the government rejected the opposition's demands, including the formation of a transitional council with the goal of formally transferring power from the current administration to a caretaker government intended to oversee Yemen's first-ever democratic elections. In response, factions of the opposition announced the formation of their own 17-member transitional council on 16 July, though the Joint Meeting Parties that have functioned as an umbrella for many of the Yemeni opposition groups during the uprising said the council did not represent them and did not match their "plan" for the country.[35]

On 23 November, Saleh signed a power-transfer agreement brokered by the Gulf Cooperation Council in Riyadh, under which he would transfer his power to his vice-president, Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi, within 30 days and leave his post as president by February 2012, in exchange for immunity from prosecution.[36][37] Although the GCC deal was accepted by the JMP, it was rejected by many of the protesters and the Houthis.[38][39] A presidential election was held in Yemen on 21 February 2012, with Hadi running unopposed. A report claims that the election had a 65% turnout, with Hadi receiving 99.8% of the vote. Hadi took the oath of office in Yemen's parliament on 25 February 2012. Saleh returned home on the same day to attend Hadi's inauguration.[40] After months of protests, Saleh resigned from the presidency on 27 February 2012 and formally transferred power to his successor, marking the end of his 33-year rule.[41]

  1. ^ a b "Yemen Protests: 'People Are Fed Up with Corruption'". BBC News. 27 January 2011. Archived from the original on 5 April 2011. Retrieved 14 May 2011.
  2. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference afreuters was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Yemen MPs resign over violence Archived 23 May 2012 at the Wayback Machine, Al Jazeera, 23 February 2011.
  4. ^ "Military restructuring in Yemen: Unravelling a tangled web | Comment Middle East". Commentmideast.com. Archived from the original on 4 December 2012. Retrieved 7 November 2012.
  5. ^ Kasinof, Laura (21 January 2012). "Yemen Legislators Approve Immunity for the President". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 22 January 2012. Retrieved 21 January 2012.
  6. ^ JMP Archived 3 February 2011 at Archive-It. Armiesofliberation.com.
  7. ^ a b "Yemen's Brotherhood: Early Losses and an Unknown Future". Al-Monitor. 25 September 2013. Archived from the original on 21 August 2017. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
  8. ^ South Yemen movement Protests Archived 10 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Adenyouth.wordpress.com (28 April 2011).
  9. ^ The crucible of Yemen Archived 25 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Al Jazeera.net.
  10. ^ YEMEN: Student protests gather strength after deaths Archived 24 February 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Universityworldnews.com (27 February 2011).
  11. ^ Associates, Menas. (24 May 2011) YEMEN: Hashid tribe clashes with security forces Archived 1 February 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Menasassociates.blogspot.com.
  12. ^ Yemeni tribes form coalition against Saleh. The Straits Times. Archived 21 January 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  13. ^ "10,000 Yemeni forces defect from government, join protesters: official". Xinhua News Agency. 13 April 2011. Archived from the original on 17 April 2011. Retrieved 20 April 2011.
  14. ^ Johnston, Cynthia (24 March 201). "Yemen Forces Clash over Saleh Before Friday Protest". Reuters. Archived from the original on 12 January 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2011.
  15. ^ "The Yemeni National Dialog Committee Issues Vision for National Salvation". Armies of Liberation. 20 March 2010. Archived from the original on 3 February 2011. Retrieved 20 April 2011.
  16. ^ a b Yemen says more than 2,000 killed in uprising Archived 25 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine. The Washington Post. (19 March 2012).
  17. ^ report: Over 1,000 missing, possibly tortured[dead link‍], 8 November 2011
  18. ^ Fattah, Khaled (2011). "Yemen: A Social Intifada in a Republic of Sheikhs". Middle East Policy. 18 (3): 79–85. doi:10.1111/j.1475-4967.2011.00499.x.
  19. ^ Cite error: The named reference Thousands call was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  20. ^ Cite error: The named reference Irish Times breaking26 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  21. ^ Daragahi, Borzou; Browning, Noah (3 February 2011). "Tens of Thousands Turn Out for Rival Rallies in Yemen". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 3 September 2012. Retrieved 29 April 2011.
  22. ^ Cite error: The named reference bbc_20k was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  23. ^ Cite error: The named reference aljaz_aden was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  24. ^ Cite error: The named reference Feb3_DayRage_aljaz was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  25. ^ Cite error: The named reference oneindia_armedGPC_progov was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  26. ^ "Yemen president Saleh fights to keep grip on power" Archived 16 July 2012 at the Wayback Machine. The Star (Malaysia).
  27. ^ "Yemen transition deal collapses". Al Jazeera. 22 May 2011. Archived from the original on 23 May 2011. Retrieved 23 May 2011.
  28. ^ "Yemen's president vows to resist 'failed state' as tribes press offensive against regime". Archived from the original on 28 September 2011.
  29. ^ Tribal fighters occupy government buildings in Yemen Archived 10 November 2012 at the Wayback Machine. CNN.
  30. ^ Fighting grips Yemeni capital as Saleh orders arrests Archived 18 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Alternet.org.
  31. ^ Yemen palace shelled; sheikh, guards killed, president, PM hurt Archived 4 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine. CNN.
  32. ^ "40% من جسم صالح مصاب". Al Jazeera. 10 June 2011. Archived from the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 11 June 2011.
  33. ^ Al-Hadi acting President of Yemen Archived 27 November 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Al Jazeera.net (4 June 2011).
  34. ^ Yemeni crowds celebrate after president transfers power, flies to Saudi Arabia Archived 19 October 2017 at the Wayback Machine. The Washington Post. (5 June 2011).
  35. ^ "Yemen protesters set up transitional council". Reuters. 16 July 2011. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 17 July 2011.
  36. ^ Yemen's Saleh signs deal to quit power Archived 20 July 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Daily Star (Lebanon) (23 November 2011).
  37. ^ Yemen leader signs power-transfer deal Archived 20 July 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Al Jazeera.
  38. ^ "Process of withdrawing troops and armed tribesmen started for enhancing peace and normalizing life in Yemen". Yobserver.com. Archived from the original on 5 January 2013. Retrieved 7 November 2012.
  39. ^ "Fars News Agency :: Houthis' Leader: US, Allies Plot to Spark Sectarian Rift in Yemen". English.farsnews.ir. 20 December 2011. Archived from the original on 1 June 2012. Retrieved 7 November 2012.
  40. ^ Kasinof, Laura (25 February 2012). "Yemen Swears in New President to the Sound of Applause, and Violence". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 10 November 2012. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  41. ^ "AFP: Yemen's Saleh formally steps down after 33 years". 27 February 2012. Archived from the original on 25 May 2012. Retrieved 7 November 2012.