Alliance of Yemeni Tribes

Alliance of Yemeni Tribes
Participant in the 2011 Yemeni uprising
Active	30 July 2011 — present
Ideology	Revolutionary
Groups	Hashid Bakil
Leaders	Sadiq al-Ahmar
Headquarters	Ta'izz, Yemen
Area of operations	Yemen Ma'rib Governorate Sana'a Governorate Ta'izz Governorate
Strength	30,000-60,000 volunteers
Allies	National Council for the Forces of the Peaceful Revolution Yemen Army defectors
Opponents	Government of Yemen

The Alliance of Yemeni Tribes, sometimes referred to as the Yemeni Tribes' Alliance, is an alliance of tribes in Yemen opposed to the government of President Ali Abdullah Saleh. It was formed on 30 July 2011 amidst the civil uprising in Yemen to defend anti-government protesters. Its leader, Sheikh Sadiq al-Ahmar of the Hashid tribal federation, has also stated his intention to remove Saleh and his sons from power in his capacity as head of the Alliance.^[1]

The Alliance is headed up by a 116-member "consultative council".^[2]

Composition

The exact strength of the Alliance is unknown, but at the ceremony in Sana'a that marked its inception, between 500 and 600 tribal leaders and chiefs attended. The Hashid, which are in revolt against the government despite being the tribe of Saleh himself, are known to be part of the coalition, as are the Bakil, Yemen's largest tribal confederation and one whose members have clashed with government loyalists in Arhab District during the uprising.^[2][3] Reportedly only some of the Bakil tribes were part of the Alliance originally, but days after its foundation, on 3 August, the Bakil's General Conference declared "full support" for anti-government tribal fighters in Arhab.^[4]

The tribes constituting the Alliance have been characterised in news media as "pro-revolution".^[5]

Proclamations

At the headquarters of General Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar, a prominent defector from the Yemen Army who leads the 1st Armoured Division, the Alliance of Yemeni Tribes was declared on 30 July 2011. Sadiq al-Ahmar was designated as its leader. After his appointment, Sadiq al-Ahmar said, "Ali Abdullah Saleh will not rule us as long as I am alive." Tribal leaders comprising the Alliance vowed "to protect and defend ... the popular and peaceful revolution". The coalition also declared a de facto collective security arrangement with the Yemeni protest movement, warning, "Any aggression or threat against the [protest] venues ... will be considered an attack against the tribes."^[1]

In a statement on 7 August 2011, the Alliance warned the government against conducting military operations in the Hasaba district of central Sana'a, an area seen as a bastion of the protest movement. The statement called on tribesmen to defend areas of the city claimed by the Yemeni opposition by any means necessary.^[6]

Areas of operation

Though the exact composition of tribes party to the Alliance is unclear, anti-government tribal fighters have been known to be active in Sana'a Governorate, especially in Sana'a proper^[7][8] and the rugged Arhab District to its north;^[9] Ma'rib Governorate, east of Sana'a;^[10] and Ta'izz Governorate, particularly in Yemen's second city of Ta'izz.^[11]

See also

• Free Syrian Army
• National Liberation Army (Libya)

References