Former Yemeni President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi Dies in Riyadh at the Age of 81

Yeni Yemen - Political Editor
2026-05-30 12:42 م
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Former Yemeni President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi passed away today in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, after years away from public life and amid reports of deteriorating health, according to Yemeni media outlets and sources close to him.

With Hadi's death, Yemen closes a complex political chapter associated with the transitional period that followed the 2011 uprising, as well as the major events that reshaped the country, including the Houthi takeover, the outbreak of war, and the deep divisions that have affected Yemen over the past decade.

Born in 1945 in Al-Wadea District of Abyan Governorate, Hadi was regarded as one of the most prominent political and military figures in modern Yemeni history. Before Yemeni unification, he held several military and security positions and later served as Vice President following the 1994 civil war alongside former President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

Hadi assumed the presidency in 2012 as a consensus candidate under the Gulf Initiative following the 2011 protests. He led a highly challenging transitional period that eventually culminated in the Houthi takeover of Sana’a in September 2014 and the outbreak of a prolonged conflict that has continued since 2015.

In April 2022, Hadi transferred his presidential powers to the Presidential Leadership Council headed by Dr. Rashad Al-Alimi, bringing to an end nearly a decade as the internationally recognized President of Yemen.

During his final years, Hadi withdrew completely from public life as reports of his declining health continued to emerge. His death was announced today at the age of 81.

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