Barran Press
Several prominent Yemeni figures have welcomed the decision by the UN Security Council's sanctions committee to lift sanctions on former President Ali Abdullah Saleh and his son, Ahmed Ali Abdullah Saleh.
Ali Mohsen Saleh al-Ahmar, former Vice President of Yemen, expressed his congratulations on the decision in a brief post on X, formerly known as Twitter. "We congratulate and celebrate the decision to lift sanctions on the martyr leader Ali Abdullah Saleh, may God have mercy on him, and his son, Ambassador Ahmed Ali Abdullah Saleh," he wrote.
Sultan al-Barakani, Speaker of the Yemeni Parliament, described the removal of Saleh and his son from the sanctions list as a "historic day" and a "beginning to correct past mistakes."
"It is a historic day to see justice restored to the man who dedicated his youth and life as a republican fighter, a seasoned leader, and a statesman who built a national renaissance and achieved his dreams," al-Barakani stated in an X post. "This is the leader Ali Abdullah Saleh, the former president, who announced the lifting of sanctions on him and his son, Ambassador Ahmed."
"We believe that this measure, with its political, ethical, and moral implications, represents the beginning of correcting past mistakes and entering, God willing, a new phase characterized by peace, harmony, affection, and brotherhood," he added.
Ahmed Obeid bin Dagher, Chairman of the Shura Council and First Deputy Chairman of the General People's Congress, also congratulated Ambassador Ahmed Ali Abdullah Saleh on the decision.
"This is a fair and just international step towards the happiness of the ambassador and his father, in a kind gesture that aligns with the UN Charter and international humanitarian law," bin Dagher said. "Its continuation had no relation to the values of justice upon which the organization and its Security Council were founded."
In an X post, bin Dagher expressed his congratulations to "the supporters of the leader and the ambassador, members of the General People's Congress, its supporters, and sympathizers, who hope that the decision will help achieve more national unity in the face of the Houthi coup, restore the state, and achieve stability and security in Yemen and the region in general."
He also extended "deep gratitude and great appreciation to His Excellency President Dr. Rashad al-Alimi, members of the Presidential Leadership Council and the Yemeni government, to our brothers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, and members of the Security Council who supported and sought this decision."
On July 30th, 2024, the UN Security Council's sanctions committee removed the names of Ali Abdullah Saleh and his son, Ahmed Ali Abdullah Saleh, from the list of individuals and entities obstructing peace in Yemen.
A press release published on the UN website, monitored by "Barran Press" confirmed that the Security Council Committee established pursuant to Resolution 2140 (2014) removed the two names from the sanctions list on July 30th, 2024.
According to the statement, the first name was "Ali Abdullah Saleh, Chairman of the Yemeni General People's Congress, former President of the Republic of Yemen, who was listed on November 7th, 2014, and amended on November 20th, 2014, April 23rd, 2018."
The second name was "Ahmed Ali Abdullah Saleh, former ambassador, former commander of the Republican Guard, residing in the United Arab Emirates, who was listed on April 14th, 2015, and amended on September 16th, 2015."
The statement mentioned that Ahmed Ali "played a key role in facilitating the Houthi military expansion." He also "participated in acts that threaten peace, security, or stability in Yemen."
On November 7th, 2014, the UN Security Council imposed sanctions on former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh and two Houthi leaders for "threatening peace and stability" in Yemen.
Saleh was killed by his Houthi allies during clashes between the two sides in the capital Sana'a, which lasted for days. Following this, Tareq Saleh, Saleh's nephew, joined the internationally recognized Yemeni government and chose the western coast as a battlefield to confront the Houthis.
In mid-May, Ahmed Ali Saleh, who has been residing in the UAE since before 2014, sent a letter to the UN Security Council's sanctions committee urging it to review its decisions regarding sanctions against him. In the letter, he provided explanations and "facts" related to this classification, which he described as unjustified.