Yemen's official form of government is a presidential republic, the only republic on the Arabian Peninsula. Ali Abdullah Saleh has ruled Yemen as its only president since the country's unification in 1990. Since that time, Saleh has constantly had to fight to keep Yemen together, with powerful succession forces in the South and scattered Islamist movements. Tribal areas of the country are largely out of the government's control, with local rulers administering their own areas. Although Yemen has nominally instituted many freedoms to its people, speech, press, and assembly are restricted. Saleh's government has been the target of protests for the past two decades and allegations of corruption, police brutality, and extrajudicial killings have been constant staples since 1990.
Recent Events:
Yemen has been the site of massive protests over the past two months. Following in the wake of Tunisia and Egypt, Yemenis have fled the streets of Sana'a in protests aimed at President Saleh and the government. The country has been plagued with massive unemployment and poverty rates for years, of which the government can do little about. Saleh has vowed to retire the presidency following the 2013 elections, but has reneged on similar promises in the past. Protesters are not completely unified on their primary goals, with some demanding Saleh's immediate resignation and others calling for reforms under Saleh.
Looking Forward:
Yemen's situation is unlike that of Egypt or Tunisia, as it has already had to deal with an ongoing, organized opposition. Drastic lifestyle, religious, and economic differences have plagued Yemen in the past, and will continue to do so in the future. Recently religious imams, once firmly in Saleh's corner, have began to speak against the president. Unless Saleh can form a cohesive coalition against protesters, expect the movement to gain supporters.
M.Co: "Yemen is very different from Egypt or Tunisia, let's get that out of the way. Thus far, Saleh has mastered the art of Yemeni politics, managing to keep all sides (urban/rural, progressive/fundamentalist, rich/poor) at least conditionally content. With that said, the wave of protest momentum sweeping across the Arab World is bad news for the President. Yemen is a powder keg of dissatisfied and disenfranchised people, all recognizing the power of the moment. I do not expect Saleh to survive these demonstrations as president without drastic reforms. His promise to step down will be ignored by protesters, who largely see it as a sign of weakness. The country is just too fractured and the government is too weak. As long as 'revolution fever' is in the region the Countdown to Yemen's Revolution will be ticking."
Recent Posts:
3/2/2011 - Yemen On the Brink of a Showdown
3/18/2011 - Yemeni Snipers Open Fire on Protesters, Killing 40
3/20/2011 - Yemeni President's Tribe Demands His Resignation
3/25/2011 - Yemen’s Leader Offers to Hand Power to ‘Safe Hands’
3/27/2011 - Yemen Transfer Talks Stall as Army, Militants Clash
