Does he return to the scene?

In accordance with purely political directives that previously influenced the inclusion decision by the Sanctions Committee established under UN Security Council Resolution 2140, the same committee announced on Tuesday, July 30, 2024, the removal of the name of Brigadier General Ahmed Ali Abdullah Saleh, the former Yemeni ambassador to the United Arab Emirates and former Commander of the Republican Guard and Special Forces, and the eldest son of the former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, from the UN Security Council sanctions list. The committee also removed the name of his father, the former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who was killed by Houthi gunmen on December 4, 2017, from the sanctions list. This decision comes after approximately nine years of their listing, which subjected them to sanctions including asset freezes, travel bans, and arms embargoes.

Request for Removal

The announcement of the delisting followed weeks after a letter sent by Saleh (the son) in mid-May 2024 to the international sanctions committee and the relevant coordination center for removing names from the sanctions list. In his letter, he stated: "I had opportunities to resolve the situation in Yemen by force, but I chose a peaceful approach." Brigadier General Saleh mentioned in his letter: "Following my previous letters regarding the request to remove my name from the sanctions list, which were responded to and refuted with the alleged reasons for the listing provided in the statement of the case, without receiving any reply or clarification regarding the impediments at least." He added, "In my view, this is not befitting of an entity of your stature, established to express the international community's will to seek the truth, speak honestly, and enforce justice and rectify any imbalance in justice, applying it to everyone without exception." He further stated, "I do not hide from you that I receive hundreds, if not thousands, of messages of reproach from various Yemeni factions, significant enough to be considered, because I opted for the peaceful option from the very beginning of the Yemeni crisis, despite having many opportunities and justifications that allowed me to use force and violence to resolve the situation, with all the elements of power, political and popular support, and moral justification at the time."

Commitment to Rule of Law, Security, Stability, and Peace

A few days after the announcement of the removal of his and his father's names from the UN sanctions list, on August 3, 2024, Ahmed Ali Abdullah Saleh sent a written letter to the Yemeni people, the General People's Congress members, his supporters, and allies, expressing his gratitude for the efforts made to lift the UN Security Council sanctions on him and his late father. He thanked the President and members of the Presidential Leadership Council, specifically mentioning Tariq Saleh, and praised the efforts of Foreign Minister Shai'a al-Zandani. He also commended the efforts of Saudi Arabia and the UAE in lifting the sanctions, considering the decision as a form of reparation for his father and a victory for truth and justice.

In his letter, Saleh (the son) affirmed his commitment to working towards the security, stability, and peace of Yemen, the region, and the world. He expressed his desire to fulfill the Yemeni people's aspirations for security, stability, and prosperity, free from conflicts, strife, and fragmentation. He also emphasized his support for any efforts to enhance understanding and cooperation among all forces and entities working for the benefit of the nation and people, and for building a cohesive Yemeni state where everyone lives with dignity, freedom, justice, and equal citizenship, and coexists harmoniously and peacefully with all its neighbors and the world.

Inclusion in the Sanctions List

On April 14, 2015, the UN Security Council's Sanctions Committee included the name of Brigadier General Ahmed Ali Abdullah Saleh, the former Yemeni ambassador to Abu Dhabi and former Commander of the Republican Guard and Special Forces, in the UN sanctions list. This followed the listing of his father, former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, on November 7, 2014, as well as his father’s inclusion on the UN Security Council sanctions list after his death at the hands of Houthi gunmen on December 4, 2017. This listing was based on allegations of "playing a key role in facilitating Houthi military expansion" and "engaging in activities that threaten peace, security, or stability in Yemen," according to paragraphs 11 and 15 of Resolution 2140 (2014) and paragraph 14 of Resolution 2216 (2015).

Alongside Brigadier General Ahmed Ali Abdullah Saleh and his father, the sanctions list also included six Yemeni leaders, among them Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, leader of the Ansar Allah (Houthi) group, as well as Abdul-Khaliq al-Houthi, the latter’s brother, Abdullah Yahya al-Hakim (known as Abu Ali al-Hakim), and Sultan Saleh Ayda Zabin.

What Is the UN Sanctions List?

The United Nations describes sanctions lists as diplomatic measures implemented by UN member states against countries, entities, or individuals suspected of engaging in illegal activities that may harm national security, peace, or international law. These lists are considered crucial tools for maintaining international peace and security. However, in reality, they are used by dominant international powers with double standards as a political pressure tool against various parties, while often exempting their allies who commit similar acts. Consequently, this mechanism has lost its credibility, reliability, and effectiveness over time.

Yemen Under Chapter VII

The situation in Yemen escalated to a new level after the Houthi Ansar Allah group's armed takeover of the capital, Sana'a, on September 21, 2014. Following President Hadi’s escape to Aden after being placed under house arrest in Sana'a and his subsequent flight to Riyadh after the Houthi takeover of Aden, the Saudi and UAE-led coalition's operations were announced on March 26, 2015. On April 14, 2015, the UN Security Council decided to place the situation in Yemen under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, due to the failure of conflicting parties to resolve the conflict peacefully and the threat posed to regional security and peace, according to Security Council Resolution 2014 (2011). Under Chapter VII, the Security Council has extensive powers, potentially including the use of armed force to maintain international peace and security and to suppress acts of aggression, as per Articles 39–42 of the Charter.

Political Directives for Inclusion and Delisting

The removal of Ahmed Ali Abdullah Saleh's name was not devoid of political directives. Political considerations dominated the process of including Brigadier General Ahmed Ali Abdullah Saleh on the UN sanctions list. At the time, the inclusion was not based on solid and coherent facts indicating his involvement in violations undermining the political process, sufficient to warrant condemnation and sanctions according to the UN Charter and the verification and proof methodologies based on standards, justice, fairness, and rule of law.

The primary goal of listing Ahmed at that time was to exert maximum pressure on his father, President Ali Abdullah Saleh, in an attempt to curtail his political activity. This was aimed at shaping the national, regional, and international consensus in favor of President Hadi, who was perceived as weak and ineffective, with Saleh's image being a looming shadow. The imposed sanctions on the son, Ahmed, continued for nearly nine years due to the political elites' fear of Saleh's father, even after he became a former president and was engaged in politics through his party leadership. This fear persisted even after his death, as it became a phobia inherited by the political elite, affecting their interaction with Saleh's son despite his independent image.

Similarly, the delisting of Ahmed's name from the sanctions list is not devoid of political considerations. It is certain that the removal paves the way for potential future roles that Ahmed might play in the Yemeni scene, given the local, regional, and international need to create a desirable balance as a prerequisite for a comprehensive settlement based on reasonable equilibrium, amidst various local, regional, and international developments.

Who Is Ahmed (The Son)?

Brigadier General Ahmed Ali Abdullah Saleh, aged 52, is the eldest son of the former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh. He served as the Commander of the Yemeni Republican Guard, established in 1964, and the Special Forces for 14 years (1998-2012). The Republican Guard and Special Forces represented the elite forces in the Yemeni army, consisting of 23 brigades, including infantry, paratroopers, armored units, tanks, missiles, air defenses, shock troops, and counter-terrorism forces, with over thirty thousand soldiers, officers, and non-commissioned officers. It also included the Presidential Guard, responsible for protecting the presidential palaces.

Brigadier General Ahmed quickly advanced in the military ranks, receiving numerous military titles after obtaining a Bachelor's degree in Management Sciences from an American university and a Master's degree from Jordan, where he received most of his military training. He joined many military courses and formations, contributing to the development of the Republican Guard and Special Forces based on modern scientific principles in recruitment, training, armament, and leadership, unlike other Yemeni military components.

Saleh (father) out of power

On February 21, 2012, President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi assumed the presidency of Yemen, succeeding former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, after 33 years of ruling Yemen. This transition followed a nominal election in which he was the only candidate, conducted as part of the Gulf Initiative and its implementation mechanism aimed at resolving the Yemeni crisis. The crisis had emerged following popular protests that began in early 2011 against President Saleh's rule. On August 6, 2012, President Hadi issued a decree transferring seven brigades of the Republican Guard to be under his direct supervision. He also issued a decision to form Presidential Protection Forces from several brigades of both the Republican Guard and the First Armored Division, which was led by Brigadier General Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar. Additionally, President Hadi's decisions involved integrating several brigades from both sides into various military regions.

On the evening of Wednesday, December 19, 2012, President Hadi issued decisions to restructure the Yemeni military, including dissolving the Republican Guard and the Special Forces. On April 10, 2013, Hadi issued a decree removing Brigadier General Ahmed Ali Abdullah Saleh from all military positions. The decisions also included the dissolution of the First Armored Division, led by Brigadier General Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar, as well as the command of the North-Western Region. On April 10, 2013, President Hadi also issued a decree appointing Ahmed Ali Abdullah Saleh as the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Yemen to the United Arab Emirates.

Compliance with Decisions

Within just two days of President Hadi's decisions, Brigadier General Ahmed Ali Abdullah Saleh complied with the orders. On April 13, 2013, he handed over the command of the Republican Guard and Special Forces to the newly appointed commander by President Hadi, contrary to expectations of rebellion and resistance. Furthermore, Brigadier General Ahmed intervened to end the mutiny of some soldiers, non-commissioned officers, and leaders of the Republican Guard and Special Forces who had rejected the dismissal and appointment decisions. He instructed the personnel to comply with the military orders and end all forms of dissent and rebellion. On May 20, 2013, Brigadier General Ahmed put an end to speculations about his acceptance of the ambassadorial position by taking the oath of office before President Hadi and then leaving Yemen to assume his new role at the Yemeni Embassy in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Dismissal of the Ambassador (Saleh)

On March 29, 2015, President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi, from his residence in Riyadh shortly after fleeing from Aden, issued a decree removing Brigadier General Ahmed Ali Abdullah Saleh from his position as Yemen's ambassador to the United Arab Emirates. This decision came just three days after the start of the Saudi and UAE-led coalition operations in Yemen on March 26, 2015, against the Ansar Allah (Houthi) group, which was allied with his father, former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, until his death in a confrontation with the group on December 2, 2017.

Birth and Upbringing

Ahmed Ali Abdullah Saleh was born on July 25, 1972, in the Yemeni capital, Sana'a. He completed his formal education there and is married with two children. He is the eldest son of former President Ali Abdullah Saleh (March 21, 1947 - December 4, 2017), who ruled Yemen from July 17, 1978, until February 21, 2012.

Political Activity

In 1997, Ahmed Ali Abdullah Saleh participated in the second parliamentary elections in Yemen. He competed for the seat in Constituency 11 in the Yemeni capital, Sana'a, and won decisively. This victory heightened concerns among many political forces in the country about the potential return of dynastic rule after decades of the republican system following the success of the September 26, 1962 revolution, which overthrew the Imamate system. This was just seven years after the declaration of the unification of the two Yemeni states and the establishment of the Republic of Yemen on May 22, 1990, under a constitution that emphasized the republican nature of the political system, democracy, political pluralism, and the peaceful transfer of power.