Islamic Awakening in Yemen

Yemen was one of the [Arab] countries that immediately witnessed

extensive upheavals and demonstrations after the regime change in
Tunisia. Before these extensive demonstrations in Yemen, opposition
MPs went on strikes and limited protests were made by opposition
forces, but these protests did never result in an integrated movement.
Insecurity, poverty, and economic, social, and political problems were
vitally important factors which contributed to the formation of the
popular movement in Yemen. Meanwhile, regional and international
factors were also important issues in this regard. According to the UN
Security Council resolution, Yemen is supervised by 10 countries, i.e.
members of the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (PGCC), the US, and
the UK. It is an indicator of the fact that these countries are managing
the Yemeni affairs. Nevertheless, the countrys affairs should solely be
managed by the Yemeni people. From regional perspective, Saudi
Arabia and the PGCC member states were the main countries involved
in the Yemeni crisis. Saudi Arabia is Yemens neighbor and specifically
sensitive towards the developments in this country. Yemens population
is bigger than that of Saudi Arabia and Saudis consider this country as a
potential threat. In addition, Saudi Arabias interests are contradictory to
those of the Yemeni Zeidis and, therefore, they have included the Houthi
Movement in their list of terrorist groups. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia is
currently faced with new security conditions in the region and, as a
result, Riyadh has to tackle with serious challenges in Yemen.
In the final days of 2011, tens of thousands of Yemeni people
demonstrated in the streets of Sana and urged President Saleh to resign
from his post. When the number of casualties of these demonstrations
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increased, several members of the Yemeni parliament resigned. In June

3rd, 2011, President Saleh was severely injured as a result of an attack to
his residence. He was then transferred to Saudi Arabia for medical
treatment. Saleh accused General Ali Mohsen Al-Ahmar and the AlAhmar family of masterminding and carrying out this attack. Worried of
the possible empowerment of General Mohsen Al-Ahmar and the AlAhmar family over the country in post-Saleh period, the Houthi forces
extended the influence zone to Amran, Hajjah, and Al-Mahwit. Sunni
tribes and salafi forces waged war with the Shiite Houthi Movement
which resulted in crisis and instability in the north of Yemen.
Meanwhile, Al-Qaedah forces controlled regions such as Zanjibar and
Rada in Al-Bayda province. Violence among armed groups transformed
the Peaceful Movement of the Youth in Yemen to a power struggle
among elites. Realizing the possibility of the prevalence of the former
elites over the new regime, the Peaceful Movement of the Youth
embarked on negotiations with key power brokers in the country, i.e. the
army, tribal leaders, and Islamists, in order to remove Saleh from power.