Sadiq al-Ahmar
Encyclopedia
Sheikh
Sadiq bin Abdullah bin Hussein bin Nasser al-Ahmar (born 6 October 1956 in al-Khamri, 'Amran Governorate
, Yemen
) is a Yemeni politician and the leader of the Hashid
tribal federation and the Al-Islah
tribal confederacy. He succeeded his father Abdullah ibn Husayn al-Ahmar
in these positions after Abdullah's death in 2007. He is best known for his role in the 2011 Yemeni uprising
, in which fighters under his command attacked and seized government facilities in the Battle of Sana'a
.
after the establishment of North Yemen
. He studied at the undergraduate level in Egypt
until his father's relationship with the Egyptian government deteriorated, forcing Sadiq to move back to Yemen to complete his studies. Sadiq continued his studies in the United States
beginning in 1982 after graduating in Yemen. He returned to Yemen shortly after earning his small aircraft pilot's licence in 1987.
in 1993, marking his formal entry into the Yemeni political system. He ascended to the position of tribal chief after the death of his father, Abdullah al-Ahmar, in late 2007. Unlike Abdullah, Sadiq and his brothers have not been seen as supporters of Ali Abdullah Saleh
. Sadiq had publicly condemned al-Qaeda
and had voiced some support for Saleh's war against the terror organisation
, but remained critical and suspicious of the president's motives, declaring that Saleh's primary intent was not to combat terrorism but to extract aid money from the United States.
In February 2011, he stepped down from his position in the Yemeni General People's Congress in solidarity with the growing popular protest movement
in Yemen. Sadiq had initially tried to mediate between the opposition and Saleh, but after an incident on 18 March in which government troops opened fire on demonstrators, al-Ahmar formally broke with the regime and joined the opposition, prompting other tribal leaders to do the same. Sadiq's relationship with the government continued to deteriorate as the uprising continued, culminating in the Battle of Sana'a
, in which guards and tribesmen loyal to him attacked government soldiers and facilities in Sana'a beginning on 24 May, the bloodiest fighting seen in Yemen since the beginning of the uprising. On 26 May, Saleh issued warrants for the arrest of Sadiq and the nine other al-Ahmar brothers, charging them with treason. On the same day, the tribal leader vehemently insisted that he would not seek mediation with Saleh, calling the president a "liar" and saying that Saleh would "leave [Yemen] barefoot" if left in power.
Sheikh
Not to be confused with sikhSheikh — also spelled Sheik or Shaikh, or transliterated as Shaykh — is an honorific in the Arabic language that literally means "elder" and carries the meaning "leader and/or governor"...
Sadiq bin Abdullah bin Hussein bin Nasser al-Ahmar (born 6 October 1956 in al-Khamri, 'Amran Governorate
'Amran Governorate
Amran is a governorate of Yemen.-Districts:*Al Ashah District*Al Madan District*Al Qaflah District*Amran District*As Sawd District*As Sudah District*Bani Suraim District*Dhi Bin District*Habur Zulaymah District*Harf Sufyan District...
, Yemen
Yemen
The Republic of Yemen , commonly known as Yemen , is a country located in the Middle East, occupying the southwestern to southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, and Oman to the east....
) is a Yemeni politician and the leader of the Hashid
Hashid
The Hashid tribal federation is the second largest tribal federation in Yemen. Member tribes of the Hashid Confederation are found primarily in the mountains in the North and Northwest of the country. It was headed by Sheikh Abdullah ibn Husayn al-Ahmar until his death on December 29, 2007 and is...
tribal federation and the Al-Islah
Al-Islah
The Yemeni Congregation for Reform, frequently called Islah or Al-Islah, , is the main opposition party in Yemen. At the last legislative elections, 27 April 2003, the party won 22.6 % of the popular vote and 46 out of 301 seats.-Foundation:...
tribal confederacy. He succeeded his father Abdullah ibn Husayn al-Ahmar
Abdullah ibn Husayn al-Ahmar
Sheikh Abdullah bin Husayn bin Nasser al-Ahmar was a politician and tribe leader of Yemen. He was speaker of the Assembly of Representatives of Yemen from 1993 to 2007 and also was the Sheikh of the Hashid tribal federation and the Al-Islah tribal confederacy.He inherited the position of Sheikh...
in these positions after Abdullah's death in 2007. He is best known for his role in the 2011 Yemeni uprising
2011 Yemeni uprising
The 2011 Yemen Uprising followed the initial stages of the Tunisian Revolution and occurred simultaneously with the Egyptian Revolution and other mass protests in the Middle East in early 2011. In its early phase, protests in Yemen were initially against unemployment, economic conditions and...
, in which fighters under his command attacked and seized government facilities in the Battle of Sana'a
Battle of Sana'a
The Battle of Sana'a was a battle during the 2011 Yemeni uprising between forces loyal to Yemeni leader Ali Abdullah Saleh and opposition tribal forces led by Sheikh Sadiq al-Ahmar for control of the Yemeni capital Sana'a and, on the part of the opposition, for the purpose of the downfall of...
.
Early life
Sadiq al-Ahmar was born on 6 October 1956 in the village of al-Khamri, located in the 'Amran Governorate of Yemen. His family moved to Sana'aSana'a
-Districts:*Al Wahdah District*As Sabain District*Assafi'yah District*At Tahrir District*Ath'thaorah District*Az'zal District*Bani Al Harith District*Ma'ain District*Old City District*Shu'aub District-Old City:...
after the establishment of North Yemen
North Yemen
North Yemen is a term currently used to designate the Yemen Arab Republic , its predecessor, the Mutawakkilite Kingdom of Yemen , and their predecessors that exercised sovereignty over the territory that is now the north-western part of the state of Yemen in southern Arabia.Neither state ever...
. He studied at the undergraduate level in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
until his father's relationship with the Egyptian government deteriorated, forcing Sadiq to move back to Yemen to complete his studies. Sadiq continued his studies in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
beginning in 1982 after graduating in Yemen. He returned to Yemen shortly after earning his small aircraft pilot's licence in 1987.
Political life and role in the 2011 Yemeni uprising
Sadiq became a member of the Assembly of Representatives of YemenAssembly of Representatives of Yemen
The Assembly of Representatives is the legislature of Yemen. The Assembly has 301 members, elected for a six year term in single-seat constituencies.-See also:* List of Speakers of the Assembly of Representatives of Yemen...
in 1993, marking his formal entry into the Yemeni political system. He ascended to the position of tribal chief after the death of his father, Abdullah al-Ahmar, in late 2007. Unlike Abdullah, Sadiq and his brothers have not been seen as supporters of Ali Abdullah Saleh
Ali Abdullah Saleh
Field Marshal Ali Abdullah Saleh is the first President of the Republic of Yemen. Saleh previously served as President of the Yemen Arab Republic from 1978 until 1990, at which time he assumed the office of chairman of the Presidential Council of a post-unification Yemen. He is the...
. Sadiq had publicly condemned al-Qaeda
Al-Qaeda
Al-Qaeda is a global broad-based militant Islamist terrorist organization founded by Osama bin Laden sometime between August 1988 and late 1989. It operates as a network comprising both a multinational, stateless army and a radical Sunni Muslim movement calling for global Jihad...
and had voiced some support for Saleh's war against the terror organisation
Yemeni al-Qaeda crackdown
The Yemeni al-Qaeda crackdown refers to military operations by the Yemeni government and the United States government against al Qaeda and related targets in Yemen as part of the Global War on Terror. The crackdown began in 2001 and escalated on January 14, 2010 when Yemen declared open war on al...
, but remained critical and suspicious of the president's motives, declaring that Saleh's primary intent was not to combat terrorism but to extract aid money from the United States.
In February 2011, he stepped down from his position in the Yemeni General People's Congress in solidarity with the growing popular protest movement
2011 Yemeni uprising
The 2011 Yemen Uprising followed the initial stages of the Tunisian Revolution and occurred simultaneously with the Egyptian Revolution and other mass protests in the Middle East in early 2011. In its early phase, protests in Yemen were initially against unemployment, economic conditions and...
in Yemen. Sadiq had initially tried to mediate between the opposition and Saleh, but after an incident on 18 March in which government troops opened fire on demonstrators, al-Ahmar formally broke with the regime and joined the opposition, prompting other tribal leaders to do the same. Sadiq's relationship with the government continued to deteriorate as the uprising continued, culminating in the Battle of Sana'a
Battle of Sana'a
The Battle of Sana'a was a battle during the 2011 Yemeni uprising between forces loyal to Yemeni leader Ali Abdullah Saleh and opposition tribal forces led by Sheikh Sadiq al-Ahmar for control of the Yemeni capital Sana'a and, on the part of the opposition, for the purpose of the downfall of...
, in which guards and tribesmen loyal to him attacked government soldiers and facilities in Sana'a beginning on 24 May, the bloodiest fighting seen in Yemen since the beginning of the uprising. On 26 May, Saleh issued warrants for the arrest of Sadiq and the nine other al-Ahmar brothers, charging them with treason. On the same day, the tribal leader vehemently insisted that he would not seek mediation with Saleh, calling the president a "liar" and saying that Saleh would "leave [Yemen] barefoot" if left in power.