CIVIL WAR IN YEMEN / CAUSES OF ARAB SPRING IN YEMEN (PART - 2)
CIVIL WAR IN YEMEN / ARAB SPRING IN YEMEN
CAUSES OF ARAB SPRING IN YEMEN (PART - 2)
Causes of Arab Spring:
v Long dictatorial rule
The long dictatorial rule of Saleh became one of the main
reasons behind the Arab Spring conflict in Yemen. Since 1990 Saleh rule the
country and in 2006 he promised to not be re-elected and participated in the
election but his promise was fulfilled and he again participates in the election.
Again he was selected as president of the country and Abdul Hadi who belongs to The Sunni population selected as a Vice President of the country. Saleh has a
Under Saleh's rule, Yemen faced many strongholds on state
affairs, on above the military support him which raises his power and control over
the state more. Problems such as unemployment, poverty, and sectarian clashes,
etc. In 2011, people demanded to step down Saleh from the presidency and
wanted that Hadi become a president but Saleh denied their demand and the
protest started.
v Terrorism
When in 1967 British give independence to North Yemen then the area faced the serious problems of terrorism. After the 9/11 event, it was also declared that al-Queda terrorists stay in Yemen and Yemen
became a haven for terrorists. On the above, Osama Bin Laden also had roots in
Yemen.
v Amendment in Constitution
The amendment in the constitution became the immediate cause
of the protest. Saleh took constitutional changes in which it was brought that
after Saleh or after the death of Saleh his Son became the next president of the
country. This constitutional change was against democracy and after that protests
started.
Protest
After the constitutional change of Saleh people started the protest,
against the protest Saleh used force as a result 4200 people were injured
and 7600 were killed in the clashes. This street protest claimed that Saleh
steps down and Hadi became president. Saleh accused that Sunni and Al-Qaeda
were behind this protest.
Saleh actions
Saleh took several steps against this protest because he
understood the nature of the protest. A similar protest took place in Tunisia
and as a result of the protest, the government of Tunisia changed that’s why He
brings the Social-economic reforms to Yemen.
1.
Increase the salaries of employs
2.
Reduce the income taxes
3.
In February 2011, he promised to not re-elected
when his term ended in 2013.
4.
He also took an amendment to the proposed
constitution back.
But all the reforms were rejected by the protesters and rallies
conducted in Yemen.
Sana’ and protest
Sana’a became the hotspot of protest, thousands of students
of Sana’a university started hugged protested and said that they didn’t leave
the place until or unless Saleh steps down.
From January 2011 to March 2011 several clashes were held
between the police and protestors. Which resulted in Saleh proposed another
proposal.
Saleh proposal
Saleh again took a step and proposed that he drafted a new
constitution which given more power to parliament and judiciary and the draft
should put for a referendum before the end of 2011.
Government step against Saleh
When the protest didn’t stop then the security forces took
violent acts towards people. On 18 March 2011 police in civilian clothes opened
fire and killed 50 people. This act of force causes internal and
external condemnation in Yemen. Diplomats also condemn the action of Saleh.
As a result, Yemeni government officials, several army
units, parliament and senate members resign under the pressure.
Ø Army step:
At the end of March, one of the units of the army
under Major General Ali Mohsin announced
his help to the opposite group and his troops protecting the protestors even
though these increase the tension in Sana’a.
Negotiations
The clashes between protestors and the government increased in
Sana’a but Saleh refused to step down and proposed that he will leave after the
election 2012 but rejected. The pressure of the situation causes the
negotiations with military officers and political leaders and tribal;
representations to decided the term of departure.
On March 26, in a speech Saleh said that he only transferred
the power to save hands, to prevent the country of any consensus. But the
negotiations backfired and fail.
Gulf Cooperation Council proposal
After the negotiations failed, GCC proposed the plan. According
to the plan Saleh was removed from the powers. Under GCC protection HE and his
associated members also will leave the power And transition government formed
in Yemen. The plan required the step down of Saleh after 30 days and asked the
P.M to form a National Unity government that would include members of the
opposition. The government would include members of the opposition in exchange
for a guarantee of unity from prosecution from Saleh and his associates.
The plan is that there is no trail for his doing’ GCC took
this step because of the thread of Iran based revolution in Yemen so this
relaxed the Shia population.
Opposition
Yemeni people didn’t like the proposal but accepted it. They
accepted the proposal from March to May 2011. The plan has been implemented and
signed as an agreement between groups but on 22 May Saleh refused to sign the
agreement and as a result, fighting started between the government and the opposition.
On 3 June 2011 Saleh was injured by a rocket attack on a
presidential compound planted by an opposition group that left him badly
injured and he left the country.
After the attack, he transferred to Saudi Arabia for medical
treatment and Abdullah Mansor act as a President in his absences. In the
absence of Saleh opposition tried for negotiations to removed Saleh with Yemeni
officials and military deficiencies increase.
Provision of agreement
On 23 November 2011 Saleh signed an agreement to transfer
the power to Hadi. This was an agreement signed between the 2 groups of Yemen.
The GCC and Saudi Arabia act as a mediator.
The agreement stated that a presidential election will take
place in which Hadi will be the candidate for president in Feb 2012 until then
the title of the president had to Saleh.
Another provision in the agreement was that within 2 years
new government formed with the new constitution in cooperation with the
opposition. This is a provision given by to conformed that Saleh will be removed.
Finally, the 33 years rule of Saleh will be ended in 2012. The
election took place and Hadi become the president of Yemen and the drafting of the
new constitution was started.
Shia Dissatisfaction
Mansoor Hadi had close ties with Shia but during the drafting
constitution, Shia Yemeni was not satisfied. In addition to its Shia community
in Yemen felt marginalized by the new government of Hadi because:
1. 1. Al-Qaeda has become more strong.
2. 2. Separated
movement of Hauti began in Yemen.
3. These 2 are the main reasons to weak the Hadi government
besides unemployment, security, and food crisis.
Hauti:
Hauti is a group of people who belong to the opposite group,
lawyers of Saleh, military, and government officials are also assisting this
group. They have the weapons and have the training in Guerilla warfare.
The protest started because the Hadi government have time to
settle things. The protest started and they fight in the Sadeh province of
North, and Hauti till 2015 control the almost full Sadeh.
Protest and Hadi:
In 2014, the Hauti take control over most of Yemen’s capital
Sana’a. In the following months, the rebel seizes the Red Sea port of Hodeida.
In 2015 the Hauti hold control over the different parts of
Sana’a and they were able to sorrow the presidential place and another place in
Sana’a. Hauti and forces attempted to
control the entire country by seizing the place of presidential Hadi as a
result also left Yemen and flew Saudi Arabia and other Arab states in the
support of Hadi started Arial strikes campaign against Hauti to resolve the
Hadi government. Still, Saudi Arabia banned Iran because Iran backing the hauti
movement of separation of Yemen again in 2 Yemen, and also again Yemen became a
proxy between Iran and Saudi Arabia. Here the Arab Spring ended and the war
started in Yemen as proxy or civil.
Reference
https://www.thoughtco.com/current-situation-in-the-middle-east-2353040
https://mepc.org/journal/problems-yemen-domestic-and-foreign
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