Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar
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علي محسن صالح الأحمر
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Mohsen in 2018
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| 3rd Vice President of Yemen | |
| In office 4 April 2016 – 7 April 2022 |
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| President | Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi |
| Preceded by | Khaled Bahah |
| Succeeded by | Seven deputy chairmen of the Presidential Leadership Council, including Aidarus al-Zoubaidi and Tareq Saleh |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Ali Mohsen Saleh al-Ahmar
June 20, 1945 Sanhan, Sana'a Governorate, North Yemen |
| Political party | General People's Congress |
| Relations | Ali Abdullah Saleh (Distant cousin) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Mutawakkilite Kingdom of Yemen (1961–1962) Yemen Arab Republic (1962–1990) Yemen (1990–present) |
| Branch/service |  Yemen Army |
| Years of service | 1961–Present |
| Rank |
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| Commands | North-Western Military District 2011–2012 1st Armoured Division 1987–2011 |
| Battles/wars |
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Ali Mohsen Saleh al-Ahmar (Arabic: علي محسن صالح الأحمر; born 20 June 1945) is a Yemeni military leader and politician. He served as the Vice President of Yemen from 2016 to 2022. He is a high-ranking officer, a lieutenant general, in the Yemeni Army.
Before becoming Vice President, he commanded the northwestern military district and the 1st Armoured Division. He also helped create the General People's Congress political party. In 2016, President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi appointed him Vice President. This decision was seen as a move to use military strength to regain control of the capital, Sana'a.
Contents
Early Life and Military Training
Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar was born in Sanhan, a town near Sana'a, Yemen. He grew up and went to school there. He is not part of the well-known al-Ahmar ruling family of the Hashid tribe.
Joining the Army
In 1961, Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar joined the army of the Mutawakkilite Kingdom of Yemen. He became a first lieutenant in 1968 in the army of the Yemen Arab Republic. He fought in the North Yemen Civil War from 1962 to 1967, supporting the Republican side.
He later attended the Yemen Military Academy, graduating in 1974 with a bachelor's degree. After graduation, he was promoted to captain. He continued his military education, earning a Ph.D. from Nasser Military Academy in Cairo in 1974. He rose through the ranks, becoming a major general in 2007. In 2016, he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and became Deputy Supreme Commander of the Yemen Armed Forces. He was relieved of his Vice President post in 2022.
Political and Military Career
Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar began his military career as a leader of an infantry company in 1970. He later commanded a tank company and then an independent tank battalion.
He became close to Ali Abdullah Saleh in 1973. When Saleh became president in 1978, Mohsen was promoted to full colonel. He was given command of an Armoured Brigade. He became Chief of Staff of the 1st Armoured Division in 1983. He also commanded the 1st Brigade of that division.
In 1995, he became commander of the North-Western Military District. In 2001, he was appointed commander of both the 1st Armoured Division and the North-Western Military District. Later, in 2013, he became the President's Advisor for Defense and Security.
Leading Military Operations
In 2004, President Ali Abdullah Saleh asked him to lead military operations against the Houthi militia. Mohsen also played a role in local government, serving as chief of the Local Council for Cooperative Development in Sanhan District for nine years.
He helped establish the General People's Congress party in 1980, led by President Ali Abdullah Saleh. He was a member of the party's Standing Committee for several years. Mohsen was also important in the process of Yemeni unification. He helped combine and reorganize the armed forces after Yemen became one country.
He is known to have some Salafi beliefs. He has supporters in Saudi Arabia and has helped them set up religious institutions in the Zaydi heartland of Sa'dah.
Vice Presidency
On April 3, 2016, President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi appointed Mohsen as the Vice President of Yemen. As Vice President, he played a key role in leading military efforts against the Houthis and forces loyal to Saleh. He oversaw many battles, including those in Marib, Midi, Taiz, and Shabwah.
In 2017, Mohsen led a meeting for the Security Taskforce. This group works to fight terrorism in Yemen. It includes the United States, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Mohsen worked with this group to share security and intelligence knowledge. They also coordinated efforts to build military units to fight terrorism and stop illegal activities.
2011 Revolution and Military Changes
Relations between Saleh and Mohsen had become difficult before the 2011 uprising. This was due to rivalries with the president's sons. In March 2011, Mohsen announced he would protect the anti-government protesters in Yemen. Other top army commanders joined him. President Saleh called this move "mutinous."
In December 2012, President Hadi removed Mohsen from his position. This was part of Hadi's plan to reorganize the military. He wanted to remove powerful figures from former President Ali Abdullah Saleh's time. The forces Mohsen commanded, like the First Armoured Division, became part of the Defense Ministry.
2014 Houthi Takeover of Sana'a
In September 2014, fighting broke out in Sana'a between Houthi forces and some army units. Mohsen led battles against the Houthis, but they quickly gained control of many government buildings in Sana'a. These included the state television, prime minister's office, and the Ministry of Defense.
Leaving Yemen
After the Houthi takeover of Sana'a, it was believed that Mohsen had left Yemen. He later confirmed that the Saudi Embassy helped him leave for Saudi Arabia. His homes in Sana'a were taken over by Houthi fighters after he left.
2015 Yemeni Civil War
After leaving Yemen, Mohsen returned in December 2015 to lead military operations in the northern Hajjah Governorate. In 2016, he moved his headquarters to Ma'rib Governorate.
Since becoming Vice President in 2016, he has been very active in the fight against the Houthis and Saleh's forces. He has overseen important battles in places like Ma'rib, Midi, Taiz, and Shabwah Governorate.
Mohsen regularly meets with ambassadors from the USA, UK, and countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council. He has also supported peace talks held in Kuwait.
See Also
- 1994 Yemeni Civil War
- 2011 Yemeni Revolution
