Yemen's Ex-President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi Passes Away Aged 80

Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi, who led Yemen during one of its most chaotic periods, has died in the Saudi capital Riyadh at the age of 80. The news was first reported by Yemen TV and later confirmed by family sources who said he had been admitted to hospital after a sudden deterioration in his health. Hadi’s presidency began in 2012 following the resignation of Ali Abdullah Saleh during the Arab Spring uprisings. Tasked with steering the country through a fragile transition, he initiated wide-ranging changes to the armed forces and security apparatus. However, his efforts were quickly overshadowed by the rapid advance of Houthi rebels who captured Sanaa in late 2014. After being placed under house arrest and later resigning, Hadi escaped to Aden, withdrew his resignation, and appealed for foreign military support. The Saudi-led intervention that followed turned Yemen into a battlefield and triggered a humanitarian catastrophe affecting millions. Hadi remained in exile in Riyadh for most of his later years, attempting to maintain influence over the anti-Houthi coalition. In 2022, he stepped aside in favor of a new presidential council, hoping to consolidate opposition forces and open a path to negotiations. Despite these efforts, fighting has continued and peace remains elusive. His death removes a key figure from the political landscape at a moment when Yemen’s future direction is still unresolved.