SANA’A, April 29 — After the election of President Hadi on February 21, Yemenis have begun to feel that Yemen is witnessing political progress and have seen the election of Hadi as an end to the regime of Ali Abdullah Saleh, who ruled Yemen for over three decades.

Hadi gained the trust of the six million Yemenis who voted in the presidential elections, and Yemeni political parties had a consensus on his nomination. He dismissed a number of Saleh’s relatives in control of the military, some governors and officials loyal to Saleh, and politicians involved in corruption.

Before his election when he was a vice president, Hadi was dubbed as weak and silent.

Yet Hadi’s legitimacy was enforced after millions of Yemenis voted for him, and he enjoys regional and international support, according to the researcher and political activist, Nabeel Al-Bukairi.

“On the basis of popular legitimacy and the revolution, Hadi could play a significant role in rearranging the complicated Yemeni political landscape which has existed for more than three decades,” he told the Yemen Times.

“Hadi realizes the seriousness of the current Yemeni situation, and if there is no political statesmanship and national responsibility toward what is happening, Yemen will not be a safe and secure country,” he went on.

“He [Hadi] also understands that if Yemenis don't seize this golden opportunity of a global agreement to help Yemen, the loss of this opportunity will take Yemen nowhere but hell,” Al-Bukairi added.

“What has been done by Hadi during the two past months is an achievement when compared with the complications of the current moment,” Fahmi Al-Alim, a journalist, told the Yemen Times.

“This is reflected to a large extent by his commitment to the success of the GCC power-transition deal, ability to ignore Saleh, and making the bold decision to dismiss Saleh’s half-brother, Mohammad Saleh Al-Ahmar, chief of the Air Forces, and Saleh’s nephew Tariq Mohammad Abdullah Saleh, commander of the Special Forces—a move abhorred by Saleh and his family,” he said. 

“Since his election on February 21, Hadi has taken many actions aimed at moving the political settlement forward,” he added.

“Over two months, Hadi has paved the way to complete what remains of the settlement in its second phase, after the success of the first phase, which included the formation of the National Unity Government, the Military Committee [which was formed on Dec 4, 2011 to restore security and stability], as well as presidential elections,” he pointed out.

“However, Hadi's efforts are still below the level required by the people, as he is supposed to have implemented many changes in line with the GCC deal by this past March, in particular the army restructuring and holding the national dialogue.”

"However, these were impeded by the former president, whose relatives still run the largest military and security services and have refused to obey the military shake-up which could end their power in the state they ruled for 33 years," he added.

Hadi needs to be backed by the countries overseeing the Gulf Cooperation Council-backed deal. In particular, there must be support for the military reorganizing, a move that will remove Saleh’s son and nephews from power, in order to create a new national military,” concluded Al-Alim.

Cosmetic accomplishment

A spokesman from the General Revolutionary Forum, Ali Al-Bukhaiti, believes that Hadi’s achievements are merely cosmetic accomplishments aimed at keeping the same regime in power.

He pointed out that Hadi might have future political aspirations, stressing that his government still has a connection to Saleh’s family.   

"Hadi will not make real changes if the power centers that control the army and security apparatuses are not changed and replaced by commanders not loyal to Saleh or the commander of the of the First Armored Division, Ali Mohsin Saleh," said Al-Bukhaiti. 

Jamal Al-Nimri, a young man from Mahwit governorate, told the Yemen Times that there have been many achievements in the political process since Hadi was elected president on February 21, emphasizing that people can now enjoy freedoms and dignity not to be had during 33 years of “gang rule.”

“Hadi rooted out many of those who surrounded Saleh, such as the bosses of the Yemeni Economic Corporation and military commanders,” he added.

“Security has been boosted, but what is happening in Abyan makes many people concerned,” he added, mentioning that he believes Hadi will put an end to Al-Qaeda-affiliated activity in Abyan.

“Hadi has only achieved two percent of the people’s ambitions regarding the objectives of the revolution,” Murad Al-Saeedi, a youth from Raima governorate said, indicating that the new military appointments have been a sham.

Al-Nimri said, "Hadi was supposed to arrest the killers, hold them accountable, bring them to justice, and dismiss the heads of corruption: Ahmed Ali Abdullah Saleh, Yahya Mohammad Abdullah Saleh and Amar Mohammad Abdullah Saleh.”

Majdi Mahroos, from Hodeidah governorate, believes that Hadi can reduce the level of political unrest, stressing that compromise has been reached between different political sides, and that Hadi took bold presidential decisions in dismissing Saleh’s relatives.

“He further appointed officials and governors who enjoy popularity in some governorates,” he added, asserting that the Yemeni political solution is a role model for other Arab Spring countries.

“Hadi created an appropriate atmosphere for regional and international support” he made clear. “The Gulf states and Untied States are interested in supporting the interim government.”

“Essential services have developed remarkably, life has returned to normal, the Military Committee has been formed, sandbags and checkpoints have been removed from the capital Sana’a, private forces were set up to maintain security in the capital Sana’a, and some military commanders loyal to the former regime were dismissed."