On 30 July 2024, the Security Council Committee removed the names of Late President Ali Abdullah Saleh and Former Ambassador, Brigadier General Ahmed Ali Abdullah Saleh from Its Sanctions List.
The overdue delisting of the two Yemeni leaders comes after almost a decade since the Late President Saleh and Ahmed Ali Abdullah Saleh was designated for sanctions after being accused of "aliening themselves with the Houthi rebels in their bid to seize the capital Sanaa, playing a key role in facilitating the Houthi military expansion and engaged in acts that threaten the peace, security, or stability of Yemen."
The designation meant that their assets were frozen and they were subjected to global travel ban on them
During all those years many things have changed in Yemen and in the life of the late President, who was assassinated by Houthi rebels early December 2017, Mr Ahmed Ali Abdullah Saleh and their supporters who were wondering when their names would be delisted allowing the late President to rest in peace and allowing Mr Saleh to be free and enjoy his human rights and essential activities!!
When we look back at the sanctions imposed during 2015 on Mr Ahmed Ali Abdullah Saleh, when he was accused of “engaging in or providing support for acts that threaten the peace, security or stability of Yemen., and playing a key role in facilitating the Houthi military expansion”, we could clearly remember that, on the contrary, and in line with the GCC’s initiative (designed by the Gulf Cooperation Council to solve Yemen’s 2011-2012 political crisis), Mr Saleh was appointed as Yemen’s Ambassador to UAE on April 10th 2013 ,after leaving his post as Commander of the Yemeni Republican Guard.
While residing in UAE he managed his diplomatic duties but suddenly he was replaced by another envoy and later he was subjected to the designation for sanctions!!
As a matter of facts after all those years the unfair and outdated designation did not met the listing criteria since Mr Saleh did not engage in or provide any support for any acts that threaten the peace, security or stability of Yemen. He have not undermine neither former President Hadi’s authority nor the current internationally recognized authority.
He did not hinder the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen, Hans Grundberg’s efforts to a set of measures to implement a nation-wide ceasefire, and for the resumption of an inclusive political process under UN auspices.
Mr Ahmed Ali Abdullah Saleh continued to call for peace, security, stability, democracy, equal political participation, and peaceful coexistence among all the people of Yemen without discrimination in rights or duties.”