Two years after its uprising Yemen does not look any closer to finding a solution to its woes, its leader having been unable or unwilling to compromise their ambitions for the sake of their expecting nation.
At a time when Yemenis should be reaping the fruits of their democratic struggle, as the only nation in the region to have chosen peace over violence, many have called to a return to the streets since politicians failed so far to translate popular will on the ground.
This Friday, a cluster of protesters took to the streets under the banner, “We shall rescue our nation by continuing our revolution.” Will the group might not yet carry much traction, their frustration however is shared by many, across the political spectrum. From north to south, Yemenis want things to change for the better.
And while in truth this demonstration will likely be ignored by state officials since its numbers failed to commandeer attention, warned analysts have warned it nevertheless signifies that latent tensions and resentments could yet find a new catalyst should instability persists.
Protesters on Friday urged others to join them, to save the nation they said, we need to stand together.
As banners in Sana’a called for meaningful change, politicians too have expressed some reservations as to President Abdo Rabbo Mansour’ Hadi’s ability to orchestrate institutional change. In exclusive comments to Asharq al-Awsat, a pan-Arab newspaper, Salem Saleh, a former adviser to the president, called on on Saudi Arabia and the Arab Gulf to take action to “rescue the country from its bitter reality.”
Critical of the authorities for not assuming their responsibilities toward the nation, he urged President Hadi to “either adopt a clear position or courageously resign and give responsibility to those who can handle it.”