Former Yemeni Vice President Ali Salem al-Beidh passes away

ABU DHABI, Jan. 17 (YPA) – Ali Salem al-Beidh, the former Vice President of the Republic of Yemen, passed away this Saturday in the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi, at the age of 90.

His death marks the end of a political journey that defined pivotal turning points in modern Yemeni history.

The late leader was the final Secretary-General of the Yemeni Socialist Party, which ruled South Yemen prior to unification. He is widely regarded as the true architect of the 1990 merger agreement, serving as the first Vice President of the unified state.

His legacy remains tied to two historic milestones: the signing of the unity pact on May 22, 1990, and the subsequent declaration of secession on May 21, 1994, which triggered the famous 1994 civil war.

After leaving Yemen following the 1994 conflict, al-Beidh lived in exile across various Arab and European capitals before settling in Abu Dhabi. In his final years, he withdrew completely from the political and media spotlight, leaving behind a complex legacy as both a primary founder of Yemeni unity and a key figure in the Southern movement.

YPA