Former Yemeni Leader Mansour Hadi Passes Away at Age 80

Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi, Yemen’s internationally recognized leader who ruled mainly from exile during eight years of conflict, has passed away at 80. State-run Yemeni TV confirmed that Hadi died at his residence in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, although additional details were not provided.

Rashad al-Alimi, the head of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, expressed that Hadi was committed to the Yemeni people’s pursuit of “a just state, freedom, and human dignity.” In honor of his leadership, the Yemeni government declared three days of mourning with flags flown at half-staff.

Mansour Hadi rose to power in 2012 after long-time ruler Ali Abdullah Saleh resigned during the Arab Spring. Though his presidency aimed to guide Yemen through political changes, it faced numerous challenges, including internal unrest and external threats from both Houthis and Al-Qaeda.

Hadi’s presidency ended in 2022, when he transferred power to al-Alimi following a UN-brokered ceasefire. Throughout his military and political career, Hadi played crucial roles in Yemen’s complex landscape, from a military officer against southern separatists to a president trying to unite fragmented factions.

(With inputs from agencies.)