Embassy of the Republic of Yemen
Islamabad - Pakistan
The President (Ali Abdullah Saleh)
President Ali Abdullah Saleh was born on March 21st 1942 in Bait Al Ahmar village in the Sana'a Governorate. He joined the armed forces in 1958 at the age of 16, and continued his studies while serving as a soldier. In 1960 he joined cadet school. Along with other young officers cadets, he was responsible for the planning and execution of the September 26th 1962 revolution. President Ali Abdullah Saleh was wounded on numerous occasions while defending the revolution and the Republic. In 1963 he was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant and during the 70-day siege of Sana'a he showed heroic acts. He attended the School of Armour and specialized in armored warfare in 1964.
On June 24th 1978 he was appointed as member of the interim Presidential Council of the Republic and Deputy Commander-In-Chief of the Armed forces. A month later he was elected President of the Yemen Arab Republic and the Commander-In-Chief of the armed forces. In 1979 he was unanimously promoted to Colonel in appreciation of his efforts to rebuild the Armed forces. On August 30th 1982 he was elected Secretary General of the People's General Congress and was awarded the order of the Republic, which is the highest order of the state in recognition of his devotion to public duty.
On May 20th 1990, the Shura council unanimously granted him the rank of General in appreciation of his great efforts for the reunification of the nation, and on May 22nd 1990 he was elected as the president of the Presidential council and hoisted the flag of the Republic of Yemen in the city of Aden, thus declaring the reunification of Yemen and ending partition for good. He was re-elected as the president of the Presidential Council on October 11th 1993 following the April 27th 1993 general election.
President Ali Abdullah Saleh challenged the attempts made to redivide the nation by the secessionist conspiracy. He led battles to defend unity and safeguard democracy during the war of summer, 1994 until victory was achieved for Yemeni unity on July 7th 1994.
On October 1st 1994 he was elected president of the Republic by the parliament. He was granted the rank of Marshal on December 24th 1997 by parliament in appreciation of his contribution to build the modern state. On September 23rd 1999 he was re-elected president of the Republic of Yemen in the first direct presidential election by the people of Yemen.
And his Excellency received on October 10, 2002 an Honorary Doctorate Degree of Philosophy from Chosun University, Korea.
Achievements
- Founding the modern Yemen State
- Stabilizing the Republic of Yemen
- Achieving, then defending Yemen's Unity
- Making democracy a reality in Yemen
- Respecting human rights
- Assuring women's participation in political and public life
- Stabilizing economy through monetary, fiscal and administrative reforms
- Controlling inflation
- Accomplishing self-sufficiency in vegetables and fruit
- Producing and marketing oil, gas and minerals
- Constructing roads throughout Yemen
- Reconstructing the Marib Dam
- Improving educational and health sectors
- Modernizing and reinforcing military
- Establishing Aden Free Zone