Armies of Liberation

An in depth profile of Yemen’s ambassador to the US at Time today fails to note that Abdulwahab Abdulla Al-Hajjri is President Ali Abdullah Saleh’s brother-in-law.

Time: The reason his bosses have kept him there so long, he says, is that “they think it’s an investment, because they think you develop experience and an understanding of how the system works.” Yemen’s ambassador to the UN is also a relative of the president.

In Yemen, the concentration of power in the hands of Saleh’s family goes beyond their control of the instruments of force (military and security forces) and extends to the national economy. The NYT noticed recently that many of President Saleh’s relatives are top security commanders.

(Presidential son) Ahmed Saleh is head of the Yemen Republican Guard and the country’s special forces. The president’s nephews — sons of his late brother — include Amar, the deputy director for national security; Yahye, head of the central security forces and the counterterrorism unit; and Tarek, head of the Presidential Guard. The president’s half brother is head of the air force.

As the following listing I compiled in 2006 demonstrates, Saleh’s relatives also control a large segment of the Yemeni economy in addition to their duties as military leaders. They also “own” much of the land. One trigger for instability in Southern Yemen is widespread land theft by the ruling family. The corporations listed below are huge monopolies in various business sectors.

President Saleh’s Relatives’ Economic Interests

Ahmed Ali Abdullah Saleh, Special Forces and Republican Guards Commander, Eldest Son, Al-Haj Company For Heavy Equipments and Cars

Ali Abdullah Saleh, President, Partner of Tawfick Abul-Raheem, Sole Distributor of Gas and Petroleum Products

Ali Mohsen Al-Hamar Military Commander Northern and Western regions, Hawan For Petroleum Services and Alraida Group for Engineering.

Khalid Alarhabi Deputy Chief of The Presidential Palaces, Son in-law ,Yemen Space Company

Mohamed Saleh Al-Hamar, Air Force Commander, Half Brother, Alhashidi Petroleum Company

Yahya Mohamed Abdullah Saleh Commander Of Security Central Forces, Nephew, Al Mas Company For Petroleum Services and Ha Wi Cable Chinese Company

Mohamed Saleh Al-Hamar Air Force Commander Half Brother

Tariq Mohamed Abdullah Saleh Commander Private Forces Nephew

Yahya Mohamed Abdullah Saleh Commander Of Security Central Forces Nephew

Amar Mohamed Abdullah Saleh Deputy National Security Organization Nephew

Ahmed Abdullah Al-Hajry Governor of Taiz Brother in law to second wife

Abdu-Wahab Abdullah Alhajry Ambassador to Washington D.C. Brother in law to second wife

Abul-Rahman Alkwaa Minster of Youth and Sports Brother in law to third wife

Khalid Abdul-Rahman Alkwaa Under Secretary, Foreign Ministry Son of The Brother in-law

Khalid Alarhabi Deputy Chief of The Presidential Palaces Son in-law

Abdl-Kareem Al-Arhabi Minister of Planning and International Co-Operation In-law

Tawfick Saleh Abdullah Saleh Chairman of The National Tobacco Company Nephew

Abdul-Khalek Al-Qadi Chairman of Yemen Airways Son in-law

Abul-Khalik Al-Qadi Commander of Almajed Forces in Taiz Uncle

Tawfik Abdul-Raheem The sole distributor of Oil & Gas products Business Partner

Shaher Abul-Haq Saba Mobile Phones, Mercedes-Benz, Coca Cola, Yemen International bank, Oil Exploration Business Partner

Here’s another version of the same list:

MILITARY

1-Brigaider General Mohamed Saleh Al-Ahmar, Commander of the Air Force
half brother of president Saleh ( one mother ).
2-Brigaider General Ali Saleh Al-Ahmar, chief of staff of the general command
half brother of president Saleh.
3-Brigaider General Ali Mohsen Al-Ahmar, commander of the first tank division , commander of the north western military zone .
half brother of president Saleh.
4-Brigaider General Mehdi Makwala, commander of the southern military zone
( Hashd tribe and Sanhan village of Saleh ).( Aden Zone )
5-Brigaider General Mohammed Ali Mohsen, Commander of the Eastern
Military Zone ( Hadramout ).
(Hashed Tribe and Sanhan Village of President Saleh )
6-Colonel Ahmed Ali Abdullah Saleh , Commander of the Republican Guards
and Commander of the Special Forces.
son of the President Saleh .
7-Colonel Yahya Mohamed Abdullah Saleh , commander of the Central
Security Forces .
son of Saleh’s brother .
8-Colonel Tareq Mohammed Abdullah Saleh, Commander of the Special
Guards.
son of Saleh’s brother Mohammed.
9-Colonel Ammar Mohammed Abdullah Saleh , Chairman of the National
Security.
son of Saleh’s brother Mohammed.
10-Brigaider General Saleh Al-Dhaneen , commander of Khaled Forces
( Hashed tribe and Sanhan Village of Saleh. )

COMMERCIAL

1- President Ali Abdullah Saleh Al-Gar Farm,-Partner of Tawfiq Group for Fuel, The Economy Establishment .
2- Ali Mohsen Saleh Al-Ahmar and his son Mohsen Ali Mohsen
Hadwan Oil Services and Support. Pioneer Engineering Group.
3-Yahia Mohamed Abdullah Saleh (son of his brother Mohamed )
Al-Maz Group, Hawai Cables Company .
4- Mohammed Saleh Al-Ahmar ( half brother of Saleh )
Al-Hashdi Petroluem Company .
5-Ahmed Al-Kuhlani.( brother in-law of Saleh and Governor of Aden )
Pioneer Engenering Group, Al-Atheer Contracting Company. Gavlar Special Company .
6-Khaled Al-Arhabi ( brother in-law of Ahmed Ali Abdullah Saleh )
Yemen Space Company .
7-Saleh Al-Dhaneen Raidaan Contracting Company

8- Ali Al-Shater , chairman of the political directorate of the armed forces and
editor of the 26 September newspaper. ( his son Bassam Ali Al-Shater )
Al-Qusoor Contracting Company , dealing in contracts with ministry of
defence from buildings to supply etc.
9-Abdul Salam Ghaleb Al-Qamesh ( son of chairman of political security )
Al-Kaoon company for Communications.and oil support and Services.
10-Noman Duwaeed and Ali Ahmed Duwaeed ( brother in-law to Saleh )
The Yemen International United Company