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July 10, 2013
Timeline: Instances of Insubordination in the Yemeni Security Forces
Since President Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi assumed office in February 2012, 22 brigades and one battalion have rebelled, as well as a handful of security organizations. The stream of mutinies picked up in August 2012, soon after the issue of presidential decrees removed brigades from the commands of the Republican Guard and First Armored Division. The frequency of mutinies further increased after decrees in December 19, 2012 finally disbanded the two organizations and assigned their leaders to new posts.
Click to enlarge.
Military Mutinies since January 2012
(Bolded dates indicate political milestones)
January 22, 2012: Yemeni Air Force[1]
January 28, 2012: Republican Guard in Sana’a[2]
February 21, 2012: Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi elected president of Yemen
February 22, 2012: 39th Armored Brigade in Aden[3]
February 25, 2012: President Hadi assumes office
March 29, 2012: 314th Armored Brigade in Sana’a[4]
August 6, 2012: Eight brigades transferred out of Republican Guard and First Armored Division[5]
August 8, 2012: Second Mountain Infantry Brigade in Lawder, Abyan[6]
August 14, 2012: Second Mountain Infantry Brigade (again) in Sana’a[7]
September 30, 2012: 14th Brigade in Ma'rib[8]
October 16, 2012: 111th Infantry Brigade in Abyan[9]
November 6, 2012: Employees at al Hudaydah Air Base[10]
November 7, 2012: Employees at Daylami Air Base, Sana’a[11]
November 13, 2012: 64th Armored Battalion of 35th Armored Brigade in al Dhaleh[12]
November 14, 2012: Political Security Officers in Sana'a[13]
November 30, 2012: 26th Mechanized Infantry Brigade in Mukayras, al Bayda[14]
December 18, 2012: 9th Brigade in Sa'ada[15]
December 19, 2012: Five decrees restructuring Yemeni military[16]
December 27, 2012: 314th Armored Brigade in Sana'a[17]
January 8, 2013: 29th Mechanized Brigade in Harf Sufyan, Amran[18]
January 14, 2013: 15th Infantry Brigade in Zinjibar, Abyan[19]
January 20, 2013: 30th Brigade in Ibb[20]
February 2, 2013: Third Mountain Infantry Brigade in Ma'rib[21]
February 18: 14th Armored and Third Mountain Infantry Brigades in Ma’rib City, Ma’rib[22]
March 13, 2013: 22nd Armored Brigade in Taiz[23]
March 17, 2013: 133rd Infantry Brigade in Sa’ada[24]
March 19, 2013: 30th Brigade in Hamza Camp, Ibb[25]
March 23, 2013: Special Forces in al Subaha, Sana’a[26]
March 31, 2013: 90th Aviation and 39th Training Brigades in Anad Base, Lahij[27]
April 6, 2013: Fourth Brigade in Rada’a, al Bayda[28]
April 8, 2013: Air Defense Forces of Republican Guard[29]
April 10, 2013: Eight decrees issued containing major military appointments[30]
April 11, 2013: 22nd Armored Brigade in Taiz[31]
April 16, 2013: 8th Missiles Brigade in Bilad al Rus, Sana'a[32]
April 21, 2013: 26th Mechanized Brigade in al Bayda[33]
April 21, 2013: Fourth Brigade at Camp 48 in Sana'a[34]
April 22, 2013: 8th Brigade in Bilad al Rus, Sana'a[35]
April 27, 2013: 111th Infantry in Ahwar, Abyan[36]
~April 28, 2013: 10th Brigade in al Hudaydah, al Hudaydah[37]
May 7, 2013: Air Force Police at Daylami Base, Sana’a[38]
May 9, 2013: 15th Infantry Brigade in Zinjibar, Abyan[39]
May 25, 2013: 102nd Brigade al Jumayma, Bani Hushaysh, Sana'a[40]
~May 25, 2013: Security Forces in Sana’a[41]
May 29, 2013: Military Academy in Sana’a[42]
June 15, 2013: Republican Guard in Sana’a[43]
June 16, 2013: First Armored Division in al Hudaydah[44]
June 30, 2013: First Armored Division in Sana’a[45]
July 2, 2013: 17th Infantry Brigade in Bab al Mandab, Taiz[46]
July 2, 2013: Republican Guard in Dhamar City, Dhamar[47]
[1] “Soldiers of Yemen’s Air Force protest against their commander,” Yemen Post, January 22, 2013. Available: http://yemenpost.net/Detail123456789.aspx?ID=3&SubID=4560&MainCat=3
[2] “Second eruption of protests in the Republican Guard brigades, members of the Fourth Brigade in al Sawad camp in Sana’a cut off the Sana’a-Taiz road,” Mareb Press, January 1, 2012 [Arabic]. Available: http://marebpress.net/news_details.php?sid=39998&lng=arabic
[3] “Military uprising in 39th Armored Brigade reveals secrets of Southern Movement control on a number of voting centers in Aden,” Mareb Press, February 22, 2012 [Arabic]. Available: http://marebpress.net/news_details.php?sid=40883&lng=arabic
“Protests inside Badr camp in Aden, soldiers raid leaders’ offices,” Yemenat, February 23, 2012 [Arabic]. Available: http://yemenat.net/master1/story20094.htm
[4] “Soldiers from the 314th Brigade cut off a street in Sana’a demanding the resignation of their commander,” al Masdar Online, March 29, 2012 [Arabic]. Available: http://almasdaronline.com/index.php?page=news&article-section=1&news_id=30295
[5] “Presidential decrees forming Presidential Protective Guard and transferring brigades from the Division and the Guard to leadership in their military districts,” Saba, August 6, 2012 [Arabic]. Available: http://www.sabanews.net/ar/news277201.htm
[6] “Tension in Lawder, Abyan from the 2nd Brigade objecting to the decrees of President Hadi,” al Masdar Online, August 8, 2012 [Arabic]. Available: http://almasdaronline.net/index.php?page=news&article-section=1&news_id=34940
“The military council contains the protests of the Second Brigade in Camp 48 of the Republican Guard,” al Masdar Online, August 11, 2012 [Arabic]. Available: http://www.almasdaronline.info/index.php?page=news&article-section=1&news_id=35009
[7] “Pro-Saleh troops attack Yemen’s Defense Ministry,” AFP, August 14, 2012. Available: http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/yemen/pro-saleh-troops-attack-yemen-defence-ministry-1.1062036
[8] “Troops expel military commanders in Ma’rib,” al Sahwa, September 30, 2012. Available: http://www.alsahwa-yemen.net/arabic/subjects/5/2012/9/30/23014.htm
[9] “Dozens of soldiers in the 111th Infantry rebel against their leadership,” Aden al Ghad, October 16, 2012 [Arabic]. Available: http://adenalghad.net/news/19345.htm
[10] “Violence and tension at al Daylami Base after students of Aviation Institute escalate,” Barakish Net, November 7, 2012 [Arabic]. Available: http://www.barakish.net/news.aspx?cat=12&sub=11&id=39060
[11] “Violence and tension at al Daylami Base after students of Aviation Institute escalate,” Barakish Net, November 7, 2012 [Arabic]. Available: http://www.barakish.net/news.aspx?cat=12&sub=11&id=39060
[12] “Armored Battalion in 35th rebel because of resignation of their commander,” Aden al Ghad, November 13, 2012 [Arabic]. Available: http://adenalghad.net/news/21017.htm
[13] “Breaking: Officers and soldiers of the Political Security Organization escalate their protests and block off 60th Street with tents,” Barakish Net, November 14, 2012 [Arabic]. Available: http://www.barakish.net/news.aspx?cat=12&sub=11&id=39426
[14] “Soldiers of Republican Guard Control Military Camp,” al Sahwa, December 1, 2012. Available: http://www.alsahwa-yemen.net/arabic/subjects/5/2012/12/1/24902.htm
[15] “Leaders of the 9th Brigade in Sa’ada governorate bring in their tribe to suppress soldiers,” Barakish Net, December 19, 2012 [Arabic]. Available: http://www.barakish.net/news.aspx?cat=12&sub=11&id=41427
[16] “Issue of decree by president and supreme commander of the armed forces for formation of special forces,” Saba, December 19, 2012 [Arabic]. Available: http://www.sabanews.net/ar/news292154.htm
“Issue of presidential decree to reform the Missile Batteries Group,” Saba, December 19, 2012 [Arabic]. Available: http://www.sabanews.net/ar/news292160.htm
“Presidential decree of the supreme commander of the armed forces on the main components of the organizational restructuring of the armed forces,” Saba, December 19, 2012 [Arabic]. Available: http://www.sabanews.net/ar/news292153.htm
[17] “Officers and soldiers of the 314th Brigade expel their commander ‘Mohammed Khalil’ accusing him of corruption,” al Sahwa, December 27, 2012 [Arabic]. Available: http://www.alsahwa-yemen.net/arabic/subjects/1/2012/12/27/25689.htm
[18] “Amran: Soldier killed and others wounded after soldiers of the 29th Mechanized Brigade munity against their leader,” al Tagheer, January 9, 2013 [Arabic]. Available: http://www.al-tagheer.com/news52774.html
[19] “Soldiers of the 15th Brigade in Abyan raid the central prison in Zinjibar and free the prisoners,” Sahafah, January 14, 2013 [Arabic]. Available: http://sahafah.net/show960908.html
[20] “Individuals from 30th Republican Guard Brigade revolt against their commander and expel him while waiting for government decision,” Yemen Press, January 21, 2013 [Arabic]. Available: http://yemen-press.com/news17003.html
[21] “One of the defunct guard camps declares insurgency in Ma’rib,” Mareb Press, February 4, 2013 [Arabic]. Available: http://marebpress.net/news_details.php?lng=arabic&sid=51787
“Ma’rib: Third Mountain Infantry Brigade cuts main line between Ma’rib and Sana’a,” Mareb Press, February 25, 2013 [Arabic]. Available: http://www.marebpress.net/news_details.php?lng=arabic&sid=52530
“Members of the Third Infantry Brigade elevate a colleague to the rank of brigadier general and deal with him as brigade commander,” Barakish Net, February 28, 2013 [Arabic]. Available: http://barakish.net/news.aspx?cat=12&sub=11&id=45704
“Ma’rib: Third Brigade assassinates officer in military police and a number of his companions,” Mareb Press, May 12, 2013 [Arabic]. Available: http://marebpress.net/news_details.php?lng=arabic&sid=55425
“Third Brigade soldiers kill military police commander; Murad tribes are flocking to Ma’rib,” al Masdar Online, May 12, 2013 [Arabic]. Available: http://almasdaronline.com/article/45490
“Soldiers from the Third Mountain Infantry Brigade leave Ma’rib after plundering weapons and supplies,” Mareb Press, May 22, 2013 [Arabic]. Available: http://marebpress.net/news_details.php?lang=arabic&sid=55797
[22] “Ma’rib governor: Soldiers from the 13th [sic] Infantry Brigade and Republican Guard and al Houthi supporters exploit the demonstration to create chaos,” Mareb Press, February 18, 2013 [Arabic]. Available: http://marebpress.net/news_details.php?lng=arabic&sid=52298
[23] “Clashes in Taiz military brigade, soldiers surround their commander after a protest demanding his departure,” al Masdar Online, March 13, 2013 [Arabic]. Available: http://almasdaronline.com/article/42780
“Soldiers in Sa’ada expel Major General Mahdi after he conveys Salehs’ greetings to them,” al Masdar Online, March 17, 2013 [Arabic]. Available: http://almasdaronline.com/article/42947
[24] “Soldiers in Sa’ada Expelled Major General Mahdi After He Conveyed Saleh’s Greetings to Them,” al Masdar Online, March 17, 2013 [Arabic]. Available: http://almasdaronline.com/article/42947
[25] “30th Brigade Soldiers and Officers Expel New Commander Appointed by Ahmed Ali,” al Masdar Online, March 19, 2013 [Arabic]. Available: http://almasdaronline.com/article/43036
[26] “Special Forces soldiers prevent their commander from practicing his work and Presidential Protection Forces impose ban on al Sabaha Camp,” al Masdar Online, March 23, 2013 [Arabic]. Available: http://almasdaronline.com/article/43194
[27] “End of military training flights in Anad air base,” Mareb Press, April 1, 2013 [Arabic]. Available: http://marebpress.net/news_details.php?lng=arabic&sid=53832
[28] “Troops from the Fourth Brigade of the Republican Guard announce mutiny, demand the release of their colleagues detained by al Qaeda,” Mareb Press, April 6, 2013 [Arabic]. Available: http://marebpress.net/news_details.php?lng=arabic&sid=54056
[29] “Protests rocking the rest of the Republican Guard Brigades,” Mareb Press, April 8, 2013 [Arabic]. Available: http://marebpress.net/news_details.php?lng=arabic&sid=54150
[30] “President Hadi issues new army restructuring decisions,” Saba, April 10, 2013 [Arabic]. Available: http://www.sabanews.net/en/news305422.htm
“Presidential decree appointing leadership positions in the armed forces,” Saba, April 10, 2013 [Arabic]. Available: http://www.sabanews.net/ar/news305414.htm
“Presidential decree dividing the theater of military operations in the Republic of Yemen, designating military districts and appointing commanders,” Saba, April 10, 2013 [Arabic]. Available: http://www.sabanews.net/ar/news305411.htm
[31] “After a month-long absence, al Bukhaiti storms the brigade with tribal gunmen,” Mareb Press, April 12, 2013 [Arabic]. Available: http://marebpress.net/news_details.php?sid=54277&lng=arabic
“Leader of the 4th District allows al Bukhaiti to enter the 22nd Brigade in Taiz and perform his duties without causing tension among the soldiers,” al Masdar Online, April 12, 2013 [Arabic]. Available: http://almasdaronline.com/article/44542
[32] “Protests inside the 8th Missiles Brigade Forces Commander Brigadier General Zayad to depart,” al Masdar Online, April 17, 2013 [Arabic]. Available: http://almasdaronline.com/article/44347
[33] “Reservists from the Fourth Brigade expel their commander from Camp 48, and soldiers from 26th Brigade refuse to allow their new commander to enter,” al Masdar Online, April 21, 2013 [Arabic]. Available: http://almasdaronline.com/article/44493
[34] “Reservists from the Fourth Brigade expel their commander from Camp 48, and soldiers from 26th Brigade refuse to allow their new commander to enter,” al Masdar Online, April 21, 2013 [Arabic]. Available: http://almasdaronline.com/article/44493
[35] “The ‘Orjan’ missiles brigade expels its commander from the camp without a car,” Akhbar al Yom, April 24, 2013 [Arabic]. Available: http://www.akhbaralyom.net/news_details.php?lng=arabic&sid=66617
[36] “Fourth District fails to contain the rebellion in the 111th Brigade,” Barakish Net, May 1, 2013 [Arabic]. Available: http://barakish.net/news.aspx?cat=12&sub=12&id=49441
[37] “Al Hudaydah: Soldiers detain 200 trucks at the 16th kilometer: protests denouncing the neglect of residents in al Salif,” Mareb Press, April 28, 2013 [Arabic]. Available: http://marebpress.net/news_details.php?sid=54950&lng=arabic
[38] “Ma’rib: Tension prevails in the governorate, tribesmen flock to the area after clashes between the Third Brigade and the military police,” Mareb Press, May 7, 2013 [Arabic]. Available: http://marebpress.net/news_details.php?sid=55264&lng=arabic
“Tribal gunmen cut off main road south of Sana’a; the security services are just ‘watching,’” al Masdar Online, May 10, 2013 [Arabic]. Available: http://almasdaronline.com/article/45414
[39] “Breaking: Violent clashes in the 15th Infantry Brigade in Zinjibar, Abyan,” Barakish Net, May 9, 2013 [Arabic]. Available: http://barakish.net/news.aspx?cat=12&sub=11&id=49896
[40] “Members of the 102nd Brigade in Bani Hushaysh expel their leader and al Jaifi is able to end the rebellion,” al Tagheer, May 27, 2013 [Arabic]. Available: http://al-tagheer.com/news57903.html
“Commander of the reservist forces visit the 102nd Brigade to resolve the issue and appoint Brigadier General al Tawiti as its commander,” al Masdar Online, May 27, 2013 [Arabic]. Available: http://almasdaronline.com/article/46182
[41] “Source: End of uprising of soldiers against director of security in the Yemeni capital,” al Masdar Online, May 29, 2013 [Arabic]. Available: http://almasdaronline.com/article/46227
[42] “Uprising at the High Military Academy in Sana’a,” Mareb Press, May 29, 2013 [Arabic]. Available: http://marebpress.net/news_details.php?lang=arabic&sid=56066
[43] “Soldiers from the Republican Guard continue to cut off road east of the capital Sana’a,” Mareb Press, June 15, 2013 [Arabic]. Available: http://www.marebpress.net/news_details.php?lng=arabic&sid=56731
[44] “Protesting soldiers close eastern entrance to al Hudaydah City,” Barakish Net, June 16, 2013 [Arabic]. Available: http://barakish.net/news.aspx?cat=12&sub=23&id=51789
[45] “Soldiers cut off 60th street and cause stifling traffic in west Sana’a,” Barakish Net, June 30, 2013 [Arabic]. Available: http://www.barakish.net/news.aspx?cat=12&sub=11&id=52421
[46] “Taiz: Individuals from the 17th Brigade besiege brigade leadership headquarters,” Mareb Press, July 3, 2013 [Arabic]. Available: http://marebpress.net/news_details.php?sid=57432&lng=arabic
[47] “Military leadership mediation refused in the 7th Military District,” Mareb Press, July 2, 2013 [Arabic]. Available: http://marebpress.net/news_details.php?sid=57423&lng=arabic
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