Saudi Leadership Mourns Death of Former Yemeni President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi

LONDON/DUBAI: Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman have expressed their condolences following the death of former Yemeni president Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, who passed away on Thursday at the age of 80.

According to the Saudi Press Agency, the Saudi leadership conveyed sympathy to the Yemeni people and Hadi’s family after the long-time political figure died at his residence in Riyadh.

Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi played a central role in Yemen’s modern political history, leading the country through years of instability, political transition and civil conflict.

A former military commander from southern Yemen, Hadi served for nearly two decades as deputy to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh before assuming the presidency in 2012 after Saleh stepped down amid widespread protests and political unrest.

During his time in office, Hadi oversaw a difficult transitional period that included efforts to draft constitutional reforms, address internal divisions and manage the escalating conflict involving the Iran-backed Houthi movement.

The civil war in Yemen deepened during his presidency, triggering one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises and drawing regional powers into the conflict.

In 2022, Hadi transferred his presidential powers to an eight-member Presidential Leadership Council headed by Rashad Al-Alimi as part of internationally backed efforts aimed at reviving peace talks and ending the prolonged war.

Tributes and condolences have continued to pour in from regional leaders and political figures following news of Hadi’s death.