UNCLASSIFIED//FOUO 21 May 2012

Open Source Center

Report

Yemen -- Politicians Divided Over Inclusion of Al-Qa'ida in Dialogue Ahead of the first round of dialogue among various political factions in Yemen scheduled for 30 June, Yemeni politicians appear divided over the possibility of including Al-Qa'ida and its offshoot Ansar al-Shari'ah in the discussions. While Yemeni President Abd-Rabbuh Mansur Hadi and former President Ali Abdallah Salih decisively rejected talks with the group, other politicians appear to be more open to the idea of inviting Al-Qa'ida to participate. Meanwhile, press reporting on statements by several prominent Ansar al-Shari'ah members suggests the group is willing to engage in political dialogue with the government. Reports on a national dialogue process engaging a broad swath of Yemen's numerous social and political groupings emerged as incumbent President Hadi assumed the Presidency in February. Four days after ordering the formation of an eight-member contact group tasked with concluding the preparations for dialogue by 30 June (SABA),1 however, President Hadi on 10 May forcefully rejected dialogue with Al-Qa'ida and vowed to confront the organization militarily. Hadi's 10 May statement echoed similar comments made by former President Salih, who had also called for a dialogue that would exclude Al-Qa'ida. In a statement published by the official website of the Ministry of Defense, Hadi said that he "categorically rejects any dialogue with Al-Qa'ida and its terrorist offshoots." Hadi added that there will be "no leniency or understanding" with Al-Qa'ida and asserted that the only way to confront the group is "law, and military, security, and popular resolve" (26 September.net, 10 May).2 Previously, former President Salih, who is now the chairman of the General People's Congress, supported the idea of a dialogue that would exclude Al-Qa'ida, adding that the only way to deal with such groups is "by eradicating them" (Yemen Post, 22 April; Al-Yaman al-Yawm TV, 18 March).3 4

While Prime Minister Muhammad Salim Ba-Sindwah's most recent statement on the subject was consistent with both Hadi's and Salih's remarks, in previous comments Ba-Sindwah had proposed a two-pronged approach that included the possibility of Al-Qa'ida's inclusion in the upcoming dialogue. In an interview with the largest circulation Saudi-based Ukaz newspaper, Ba-Sindwah condemned Al-Qa'ida's "criminal" and terrorist acts and said that Yemen is "very serious" about combating Al-Qa'ida and is "wagering a lot on the Saudi role in crushing" the organization (5 May).5 In earlier statements, however, Ba-Sindwah said that Al-Qa'ida would be dealt with in two ways: "The first is confronting its violence and the second is engaging in dialogue to convince Al-Qa'ida elements to contribute to building Yemen, not sabotaging it."

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Ba-Sindwah went on to say that if Al-Qa'ida is willing to abandon violence, "there would be nothing to prevent it from taking part in the dialogue" (Al-Taghyir, 11 April).6 Meanwhile, some influential political and tribal leaders have expressed a strong desire to include Al-Qa'ida in the upcoming dialogue. Hammud al-Dharihi, senior member of the Islamist Al-Islah Party's Higher Commission, said that the use of force against Al-Qa'ida would only lead to the organization's expansion and added that "the ideal solution" is "unreserved dialogue to which the ulema of the nation can contribute" (Al-Jumhur, 21 April).7 Prominent Salafi leader Abd-al-Wahhab al-Humayqani, secretary general of the Preparatory Committee of the Salafi Al-Rashad Union Party, urged the government to hold "a serious dialogue" with Al-Qa'ida, "consider its demands, and release its detainees who are languishing in prison without trial" (Al-Ahali, 5 April).8 Shaykh Sadiq al-Ahmar, head of the Yemeni Tribal Alliance and chieftain of the Hashid tribe -- Yemen's second-largest tribal confederation -- told the UAE-based AlKhalij: "If they are Yemenis, we welcome them and accept dialogue with them. If they are not Yemenis, we will not deal with them. We welcome any Yemeni in the national dialogue whether from Al-Qa'ida, the Southern Mobility Movement, or the Huthists" (3 April).9

Al-Qa'ida Signals Willingness for Dialogue Despite continued fighting with the Army in the south -- and prior to a suicide-bombing attack on a Yemeni military parade claimed by Ansar al-Shari'ah that reportedly left at least 90 Yemeni soldiers dead in San'aa on 21 May10 -- recent statements by Al-Qa'ida figures suggest a willingness to engage the Yemeni Government politically. According to the independent Yemen Observer, Ansar al-Shari'ah recently requested a "truce" with the Yemeni Government and asked President Hadi to "recall his troops and begin negotiating with the group." Ansar al-Shari'ah's demands were reportedly conveyed to Hadi by local tribal leaders and clerics (12 May).11 Prior to his death in a US drone strike on 6 May, prominent Al-Qa'ida leader Fahad alQusu said that Al-Qa'ida is "open to dialogue regarding some issues" and criticized the Yemeni Government "for declaring war on us while at the same time seeking dialogue with all parties" (Al-Wasat, 4 April).12 Jalal Muhsin al-Marqashi, a prominent Ansar al-Shari'ah field commander in Zinjibar, Abyan Governorate, said that Ansar al-Shari'ah is willing to hold "dialogue with anyone, but we have our red lines," on top of which is "the implementation of God's Shari'ah" (Aden Life, 22 January).13

This OSC product is based exclusively on the content and behavior of selected media and has not been coordinated with other US Government components.

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[Internet Site | | Sanaa SABA in Arabic | The President Orders the Formation of an 8-Member Contact Group | 6 May 2012 | | http://www.sabanews.net/ar/news268014.htm | 17 May 2012 | Sanaa SABA in English -- Official news agency of Yemen; URL: http://www.sabanews.net]
2

[Internet Site | | Sanaa 26 Sibtimbar Online in Arabic | The President Categorically Rejects Dialogue With the Terrorists | 10 May 2012 | | http://www.26sep.net/news_details.php?lng=arabic&sid=81616 | 17 May 2012 | Sanaa 26 Sibtimbar Online in Arabic -- Yemeni Armed Forces' official news website; URL: http://www.26sep.net/index.php?lng=Arabic]
3

[OSC | | OSC ID: GMP20120423163001 | 22 April 2012 | | Salih Attacks Yemen's Hadi Over Decrees, Reiterates 'No Dialogue' With Al-Qa'ida | | (U) | (U) | Sanaa Yemen Post Online in English -- Website of independent weekly newspaper, critical of government policies; updated daily; URL: http://www.yemenpost.net/Default.aspx]
4

[OSC | | OSC ID: GMP20120319054020 | 18 March 2012 | | Yemen: Former President Salih Calls For Dialogue Excluding Al-Qa'ida | | (U) | (U) | Sanaa Al-Yaman al-Yawm Satellite Channel Television -- Television channel reportedly owned by Yemeni Republican Guard Commander Ahmad Ali Abdallah Salih, son of former President Ali Abdallah Salih]
5

[OSC | | OSC ID: GMP20120505614005 | 5 May 2012 | | Yemeni PM Basindwah Interviewed on Current Conditions; Praises Saudi Support | | (U) | (U) | Jedda Ukaz Online in Arabic -- Website of largest circulation Saudi daily; often critical of Israel and US Middle East policy. URL: http://www.okaz.com.sa]
6

[Internet Site | | Sanaa Al-Taghyir Online in Arabic | Ba-Sindwah From Doha: The Only Way Out is Comprehensive, Unconditional Dialogue | 11 April 2012 | | http://www.al-tagheer.com/news42799.html | 17 May 2012 | Sanaa Al-Taghyir Online in Arabic -- Independent news website, focusing on democratic change and human rights issues, critical of government policies; URL: http://www.al-tagheer.com]
7

[Internet Site | | Al-Jumhur | | 21 April 2012 | | http://www.aljumhor.net/portal/news-10366.htm | 17 May 2012 |

]
8

[OSC | | OSC ID: GMP20120416139004 | 5 April 2012 | | Yemen: Salafi Leading Figure Urges Govt To Engage in Dialogue With Al-Qa'ida | | (U) | (U) | Sanaa Al-Ahali Online in Arabic -- Website of Yemeni independent political weekly newspaper; URL: http://alahale.net]
9

[OSC | | OSC ID: GMP20120403163002 | 3 April 2012 | | Yemeni Chieftain Calls For 'Comprehensive' Dialogue, Invites Al-Qa'ida To Join | | (U) | (U) | Sharjah Al-Khalij Online in Arabic -- Website of conservative, independent, pro-government daily; URL http://www.alkhaleej.ae/]
10

[OSC |OSC ID: GMP20120521054016 | 21 May 2012 | Al-Qa'ida-Affiliated Group Claims Responsibility for Suicide Bombing in Sanaa| |(U) | Aden Adan al-Ghad in Arabic; URL http://www.adenalghad.net/]
11

[OSC | | OSC ID: GMP20120513116003 | 12 May 2012 | | Yemen: Ansar Al-Shari'ah Reportedly Seeks To Negotiate 'Truce' With Government | | (U) | (U) | Sanaa Yemen Observer Online in English -- Website of independent, limited-circulation, twice-weekly newspaper; URL: http://www.yobserver.com]
12

[OSC | | OSC ID: GMP20120413157001 | 4 April 2012 | | Yemen: Al-Qa'ida Key Figure Accuses Govt of Following US Ambassador's Orders | | (U) | (U) | Sanaa Al-Wasat Online in Arabic, website of independent political weekly newspaper; URL: http://www.alwasat-ye.net]
13

[OSC | | OSC ID: GMP20120124115001 | 22 January 2012 | | Yemen: 'Mujahidin' Amir in Zinjibar Supports Libya-Style Regime Change | | (U) | (U) | Aden Life in Arabic--Website: http://www.adenlife.net/]

This OSC product is based exclusively on the content and behavior of selected media and has not been coordinated with other US Government components.

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