In March 2015, Yemeni President Abdrabbo Mansour Hadi was forced to flee the southern city of Aden as Houthi rebels descended on his presidential palace. Since then, he and his government have touted their legitimacy primarily from Saudi Arabia, which is chief among the coalition of nations fighting on Hadi’s behalf to wrest control of Yemen from the Houthis and their ally, former President Ali Abdullah Saleh. Members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) support Hadi, and many Yemenis as well see their country’s internationally-recognized government as the least-worst alternative to Houthi domination. However, as the conflict enters its second year, Hadi and his backers have not yet made the case that the government can articulate a viable future.
Following months of siege and conflict in Aden, Yemeni popular resistance forces were able to repel Houthi rebels from the city thanks to the July 2015 arrival of coalition infantry and armor. Though coalition troops and anti-Houthi forces have forced the rebels’ front lines northward, security and stability in Aden remain elusive. Extremist groups, including al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and Daesh (“Islamic State”), continue to operate in the city with near impunity. The popular resistance cadres that were instrumental in fending off the Houthis remain mobilized, yet outside the purview of the Yemeni government.
