The half-brother of slain former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh has been appointed to a top spot in the country’s military, announced the government.
A presidential decree published on the state-run Saba news agency named Ali al-Humeiri, half-brother of Saleh, head of Yemen's army reserve.
The appointment could signal an overture between the government of Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi, which has fought the Iran-backed Houthi militias for four years, and political factions still loyal to slain Saleh, a government official in Aden said.
Ali Abdullah Saleh was murdered by the Houthis in December only days after he announced that he was severing his alliance with them and calling for opening a new chapter in ties with the Saudi-led Arab Coalition.
Humeiri fled the Houthi-held capital, Sanaa, to Saudi Arabia following Saleh's death.
The government decree noted Humeiri’s new chosen name that he adopted after the murder of his half-brother: Ali Saleh Ali Abdullah Afash al-Humeiri.
This was interpreted as a sign that he was keen on inheriting some of the slain former president’s legacy.
The late Saleh was keen in his final speeches to cement his name as “Ali Abdullah Saleh Afash al-Humeiri.”
Ali Saleh al-Humeiri had come to the spotlight after Saleh’s death in December. He first made headlines in January after he managed to flee the Houthis to Riyadh.
Humeiri will succeed Samir al-Hajj, who was appointed by Hadi as reserve commander over a year ago.
Military officials told Asharq Al-Awsat that Humeiri adopts strict leadership skills, as shown in his former command of the republican guard. He also demonstrated a cunning on the field, which are characteristics that are sought by Hadi and his legitimacy forces.
These are perhaps the traits that led the late Saleh to appoint him in 2001 as director of his military office or the office of the high commander of the armed forces. This was a post he retained until the end of his half-brother’s ruler.
Humeiri was ousted by Hadi when he assumed power.
Later, Ali Abdullah Saleh appointed Humeiri to the republican guard in 2011. Prior to this appointment, he served as Yemen’s military attache in Washington.
