The war in the shadows sees a glimmer of light

CAIRO – 2 December 2017: Former President of Yemen, Ali Abdullah Saleh, has suggested that he is willing to negotiate with the Saudi-led coalition that his forces have been battling against for years. Saleh said, on Saturday, that he was ready to turn a “new page” in the relations with the Saudi-led coalition if it halted attacks in the country.

“I call upon the brothers in neighboring states and the alliance to stop their aggression, lift the siege, open the airports and allow food aid and the saving of the wounded, and we will turn a new page by virtue of our neighborliness,” said Saleh in a televised speech. “We will deal with them in a positive way and what happened to Yemen is enough.”

This move was welcomed by the Saudi-led coalition, while the Houthi rebels labelled his actions a “coup.”

Saleh has also demanded that Yemeni forces loyal to him refrain from taking any orders from Houthi militia, indicating a crumbing connection in the already fractured Saleh-Houthi alliance.

It has been reported that Saleh’s forces have made quick successes in the capital, Sanaa, taking control of the Saudi Arabia, UAE and Sudan embassies from Houthi militia.

Fighting broke out in the capital city on Wednesday when it was alleged that the Houthi rebels failed to honor a truce with Saleh’s forces, and entered the city’s main mosque complex firing RPGs and grenades. Although fighting began around the Saleh Mosque, this has intensified in recent days throughout the city.


Yemen's former President Ali Abdullah Saleh addresses a rally held to mark the 35th anniversary of the establishment of his General People's Congress party in Sanaa, Yemen August 24, 2017- REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah
In the fourth day of fighting between Saleh-allied military unites and Houthi, both sides traded insults and blamed one another for widening the rift between once-allies.
Saleh’s bold declaration, if acted upon accordingly, could affect the course of the civil war and lead to the peace the country needs.

There is growing disillusionment upon the population in Yemen with the Houthi rebels. Reports have highlighted that their aggressive nature has formed a rift between the people and the rebels. Taking advantage of this split, Saleh has positioned himself in the driving seat; both with the population and the Saudi-led alliance warming towards him.

Yet the bombing must stop.

More than 8,000 people have been killed and 50,000 have been injured since the Saudi-led coalition intervened in the conflict in 2015, according to the UN.

The fighting and the Saudi-imposed blockade have also left 20.7 million people in need of humanitarian aid, and created the world's largest food security emergency.

Brief Background:

Yemen has long been the war in the shadows. Dwarfed by international exposure to conflict in Syria and Iraq, Yemen has been forgotten by much of the world. Yet, the conflict in recent years, months and days has spiraled out of control. The war has dragged one of the Arab world's poorest countries into a humanitarian crisis unparalleled in recent memory.

Since 2015, the country has been devastated by a war between forces loyal to Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi, the internally recognised president of Yemen, and those allied to the Houthi rebel movement.


Yemen's President Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi stands during a reception ceremony during the holy fasting month of Ramadan at the Republican Palace in Sanaa in this July 7, 2014 - REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah
In the wake of the Arab Spring in 2011, Ali Abdullah Saleh’s position became more untenable and he was eventually ousted from presidency in 2012.

Saleh has continued to exert significant influence in the political fray. He retained the loyalty of many army factions and formed a surprise alliance with the Houthis in the struggle against the Hadi government.

With widespread disillusionment at the political transition and a general displeasure with Hadi’s leadership, militia forces marched on Sanaa and took control of the capital in January 2015, exiling Hadi to his hometown of Aden.

The Saudi government since unleashed a brutal bombing campaign in the country in order to re-establish the status quo. Nevertheless, with a Houthi rebel movement extensively funded by Iran and Saleh-loyal forces wielding extensive influence in the country, raining bombs haven’t changed the situation.

Bombs haven’t worked, but Saleh’s preposition may have. With all sides looking inward against the Houthi rebels, they are finding themselves increasingly alienated.

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Joseph Colonna