UN says Yemen sliding towards civil war

The UN has warned that Yemen is on the brink of civil war, as Shia rebels moved to finalize their takeover of the Arab nation. The U.S., UK and France are closing their embassies due to the political turmoil
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TIMELINE OF YEMEN’S INSTABILITY

2011: Arab Spring protests eruptacross Yemen, raising hopes of endto over 30 years of autocratic rule byPresident Ali Abdullah Saleh (right)

2012: Saleh steps down in favourof his deputy – Abdrabbuh MansurHadi (far right) – but continues towield considerable power

2012-13: Government beset byinternal tensions, allowing peripheralgroups to vie for control – Shiite Houthi rebels in north, and separatistmovement and Al Qaeda in south

July 2013: U.S. steps up dronestrikes against Al Qaeda in Yemen

2014: Government proposal todivide country into six federal statesopposed by Houthis, who insteadback separatist plan for two regions

Sep 2014: Houthi rebels overruncapital, Sanaa. UN-brokered peacedeal provides for rebel withdrawaland formation of new government

Jan 2015: Houthis reject draft ofnew constitution. Hadi governmentresigns in protest

Feb: Houthis proclaim governmenttakeover and establishment oftransitional five-member council toend Yemen’s power vacuum
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Approximate areas of control: As of Jan 30, 2015

Regime

Houthi

Separatist

Al Qaeda presence

SAUDI ARABIA

Sadah

Al Hazm

Sanaa

Hodeida

Red Sea

Taizz

Aden

Al Bayda

Marib

Ataq

YEMEN

Al Mukalla

Gulf of Aden

Al Ghaydah

OMAN

100 miles 160km 

Sources: Stratfor, Twitter, wire agencies

Pictures: Getty Images, AP

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