
Yemen The Opportunities Post-Conflict
On 23 November 2011, Yemen’s now former president Ali Abdullah Saleh signed a power-transfer agreement, brokered by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in Riyadh, effectively ending his decades long rule in Yemen. Under the agreement, Saleh agreed to transfer his power to his Vice-President, Abd Rabbuh Mansur Al-Hadi, within 30 days and leave his post as president by February 2012 in exchange for immunity from prosecution. This agreement in many ways signals the end of an era in Yemen, one in which Saleh’s inner circle dominated the political and economic situation in the country. Saleh’s era was marked by widespread corruption with Salah often helping those close to him gain monopolistic control over large parts of the economy. The complex, intertwined network of elites he helped create for his own political gain came to control the oil industry, imports, processing, and packaging and distribution of goods. While Yemen has made significant steps to since Saleh’s departure to combat corruption and return the country to some degree of stability, it still faces a long road ahead in creating a safe and successful business environment in a country famous for its political instability and corruption.