South Yemen insurgency

South Yemen insurgency

Governorates which previously formed the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen in Red
Date27 April 2009 – 19 March 2015
(5 years, 10 months, 2 weeks and 6 days)
LocationSouthern Yemen
Result

Escalated into a full-scale civil war with foreign intervention

Belligerents

Government

Pro-government tribes[1]

People's Democratic Republic of Yemen Southern Movement

  • Southern Resistance[2]
Commanders and leaders

Yemen Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi
(2011–2015)
Yemen Ahmed Saleh
(2000–2012)
Yemen Mohammed Basindawa
(2011–2014)
Yemen Muhammad Nasir Ahmad Ali

Yemen Abdullah al-Thuraya 

People's Democratic Republic of Yemen Hassan Baoum* (POW)
People's Democratic Republic of Yemen Fawaz Baoum* (POW)
People's Democratic Republic of Yemen Tahir Tamah
People's Democratic Republic of Yemen Tareq al-Fadhli
People's Democratic Republic of Yemen Ali Salim al-Beidh
People's Democratic Republic of Yemen Yasin Said Numan
People's Democratic Republic of Yemen Ali Saleh al-Yafee 
People's Democratic Republic of Yemen Ahmed Bamualem (POW)
People's Democratic Republic of Yemen Ali al-Saadi (POW)
People's Democratic Republic of Yemen Ali Saif Mohammed
People's Democratic Republic of Yemen Mohsin al Twairah

People's Democratic Republic of Yemen Abbas Tanba 
Casualties and losses

254 killed[3]
1,900 injured[3]

(Government claim)

1,800 killed[4][5]

500+ Detained (over 350 released)[6][7]
*Released

The South Yemen insurgency is a term used by the Yemeni government to describe the protests and attacks on government forces in southern Yemen, ongoing since 27 April 2009, on South Yemen's independence day. Although the violence has been blamed on elements within the southern secessionist movement, leaders of the group maintain that their aims of independence are to be achieved through peaceful means, and claim that attacks are from ordinary citizens in response to the government's provocative actions. The insurgency comes amid the Shia insurgency in the country's north as led by the Houthi communities. Southern leaders led a brief, unsuccessful secession in 1994 following unification. Many of them are involved in the present secession movement. Southern separatist insurgents are active mainly in the area of former South Yemen, but also in Ad Dali' Governorate, which was not a part of the independent southern state.[8]

Background

In 1990, North Yemen and South Yemen united into one country, but in 1994, South Yemeni army units staged an armed revolt against what they considered corrupt crony state rule by North Yemeni dictator Ali Abdullah Saleh. The revolt however failed as Saleh enlisted Salafi and Jihadist forces to fight against Southern forces of the Yemeni Socialist Party. However, after 15 years, in 2009, prominent Southern Islamist leader Tariq al-Fadhli, who had fought for the Mujahideen in the Soviet war in Afghanistan, broke his alliance with President Saleh to join the secessionist Southern Movement. This gave new power to movement, in which al-Fadhli became a prominent figure. That same month, on 28 April, a revolt in the South started, with massive demonstrations in most major towns.[9]

Insurgents

The political movement behind the so-called 'insurgency' is a group called the Southern Movement. Led by exiled South Yemeni leaders and opposition figures, this group calls for peaceful protests. However, their protests have recently often turned into riots, some with armed fighters. The insurgency has occasionally been linked by the Yemeni government to Islamist groups, including ex-military commanders and South-Yemeni tribes. South Yemen is home to several jihadist movements, some of which are believed to be affiliated with al-Qaeda, most notably a group called the Aden-Abyan Islamic Army. Naser al-Wahishi the leader of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula expressed support for the South Yemeni separatist movement.[10] However leaders of the Southern Movement were quick to deny any links with al-Qaeda.[11] Many believe that Saleh's government is using al-Qaeda as a means to win international support against insurgencies in the North and South.[12] As a response to such accusations, Tariq al-Fadhli - one of the leaders of the southern movement - posted a video of himself on YouTube raising the American flag with the national anthem over his compound in an attempt to openly distance himself from Al-Qaeda.[13]

There are many leaders within the movement, including Fadi Hassan Ahmed Baoum who is head of the Southern Movement's Supreme Council. He was arrested and later released by Yemeni authorities. Meanwhile, Tahir Tamah has been said to be behind the group's militant faction.[7]

Timeline

2009-2010 Insurgency

2011 Yemeni revolution

Situation in March 2012, showing the area where there was presence of South Yemen resistance

Post-Revolution (2012)

The southern movement, like the Houthis rejected a GCC brokered deal between the GPC and Al-Islah and boycotted the February 21, 2012 presidential election leaving Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi as only candidate.[62]

2014

An activist with Southern Movement confirmed the clash, saying the attackers belonged to the militant Southern Resistance group.[2]

See also

References

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  6. ,
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