Popular Committees (Yemen)

The Popular committees (Arabic: اللجان الشعبية), also known as the People's Committees, are armed groups formed by Yemeni tribes on behalf of more professional armed forces.

Overview

The Yemeni army has required the support of tribal militias or what have become known as People's Committees in internal and external wars. When the 1963 revolution in northern Yemen did not receive military support from the United Kingdom, some troops allied with the deposed imams to regain power. Tribal links weakened, especially in Taiz and Ibb; members received a monthly salary, wore military uniforms and underwent military training.^[1][2][3]

During the presidency of Abdul Rahman al-Iryani (1967–1974) the military battled over policy, beginning with a conflict over the establishment of the National Council. The "popular committees" further polarized the country.^[4]

During the 1980s Ali Abdullah Saleh reemphasized tribal affairs, in contrast with assassinated president Ibrahim al-Hamdi. His government clashed with the Houthis in Saada and 'Amran Governorates from 2004 to 2009, and the popular committees were used to a regional al-Qaeda's insurgency.^[5][6]

In course of the Yemeni Revolution, more and more self-defense groups or popular committees sprung up around the country. One of these was led by warlord Abdullatif Al-Sayed who initially fought against President Saleh's government and with al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), but later sided with the new government of Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi. He reorganized his forces as auxiliaries for the army and supported Hadi in the later Yemeni Civil War.^[7][8] By 2015, popular committees had spread to other provinces of Yemen,^[9][10] and played a major role in the Battle of Aden (2015) against the Houthis.^[11]

By 2018, the Houthi rebels had also started to organize their own "popular committees".^[12]

See also

• Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi

References

1. "52nd anniversary of the September 26 Revolution". Yemen Times. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
2. "Yemen Civil War". Retrieved 30 April 2016.
3. Farea Al-Muslim. "The Popular Committee Phenomenon in Yemen: Fueling War and Conflict". Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
4. "IRIN - "Popular Committees" feed Yemen polarization". IRIN. 3 November 2014. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
5. Almasmari, Hakim (12 April 2012). "Yemen government says it killed 42 in clashes with militants". CNN. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
6. "31 dead in Yemen fighting with Qaeda". The Nation. 31 May 2012. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
7. "In south Yemen, a militia leader is president's top ally". Associated Press.
8. "Yemen: Popular Committees Take Control | al Akhbar English". Archived from the original on 20 April 2016. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
9. "مقتل خمسة أشخاص في اشتباك بين مقاتلي القاعدة وميليشيا في اليمن". Archived from the original on 9 February 2015. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
10. Mohamed Musharraf (7 May 2014). "Yemen says army captures Al-Qaeda stronghold". Reuters UK. Archived from the original on 1 June 2016. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
11. Mohammed Mukhashaf (16 February 2015). "Forces loyal to president seize parts of Yemen's economic hub". Reuters UK. Archived from the original on 24 December 2015. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
12. Eleonora Ardemagni (19 March 2018). "Yemen's Military: From the Tribal Army to the Warlords". IPSI. Retrieved 29 May 2018.