ABSTRACT

The “Arab Spring” had a major effect on Yemen. In March 2011, there were demands for the removal of President Ali Salih. In June, as fi ghting continued, Salih himself was injured and evacuated to Saudi Arabia for treatment. During this month, there appeared to be links with AQAP in the fi ghting that occurred in a number of towns in Southern Yemen. In late September, President Salih returned to Yemen and with continued heavy fi ghting, the UN Security Council passed Resolution 2014 in October, calling on both sides to end the violence and to complete a power-transfer deal. In late November, President Salih signed the GCC-proposed agreement, originally promulgated in late April, gave up the presidency and transferred some of his powers to the vice president. Key problems remain – the fermentation of tribal unrest, possible secession in the south, refugees currently numbering over 90,000 from Somalia, and traffi cking of persons, for which Yemen is placed in Tier Three.