Late on Wednesday, November 23rd, the President Ali Abdullah Saleh, agreed to sign the Gulf Cooperation Council deal in Saudi Arabia. By signing the deal, Saleh accepts to end his 33-year rule in exchange for immunity from prosecution for him and his family. The power should be transferred within 30 days to the deputy Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi. However, upheaval remains strong in the country. Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets in Sanaa on Wednesday and on Thursday protesting against the deal protecting Saleh from prosecution. According to the latest information available, at least five demonstrators have been shot dead and 24 others wounded by gunmen loyal to Saleh’s regime in the past hours. More demonstrations and unrest are likely in coming weeks as Yemen enters into a difficult transitional political period. The security in the country is not guaranteed and violence could spontaneously erupt at any time.
This is the fourth attempt to negotiate Saleh’s departure. During the past negotiations between the Yemeni government and the Gulf Arab countries, Saleh has backed out at the last minute. Yemen has faced ten months of political and social unrest, inspired by the successful revolutions in Egypt and Tunisia. Since February, violent demonstrations took place in the capital Sanaa and elsewhere, leaving at least 250 dead.
Due to the current situation, travellers must be aware that several western embassies advise their citizens against all travel to Yemen and ask those currently in the country to leave as soon as possible by commercial means.
