Darrin Simmons
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

 SANAA, Yemen-Yemeni Prime Minister Mohammed Salem Basindwa survived an assassination attempt when unidentified assailants opened fire on the Prime Minister’s motorcade on Saturday while he was returning from his office.  No one was injured during the attack.

Prime Minister Basindwa was appointed by President Abd Rabbuah Hadi in 2011 following the resignation of former President Ali Abdullah Saleh during a “Gulf-brokered power transfer deal.”  This is the first attack on the Prime Minister while other of his cabinet members have been targets.

With its prime location beside Saudi Arabia, one of the world’s top oil exporters with key access to international shipping routes, stability in Yemen has captured the attention of many Western countries.

However, Yemen has been experiencing numerous bouts of upheaval and turmoil in the last few years following Saleh’s resignation.  Southern and eastern Yemen have seen frequent assassinations of military and security officials in the past two years following an Islamist insurgency.

As of now, no one has claimed responsibility for the attack, however, authorities have reason to believe Al Qaeda is involved.  Yemen is home to the headquarters of Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), which is considered one of the most hostile branches.

It was discovered last week, via an intercepted phone call, that Al Qaeda was planning an attack that would “change the face of history.”  Authorities believe this attack and assassination attempt are what led to the closing of many U.S. and other Western embassies in the Middle East earlier this month.

The U.S. State Department issued a statement saying “We strongly condemn this brazen assassination attempt and remain committed to supporting Yemen as it pursues meaningful and peaceful reform through its ongoing transition process.”

The U.S. has long supported Yemen with funds and logistical information while regularly using drones to hunt down wanted Al Qaeda militants.  On Friday, four suspected members of Al Qaeda were killed in a drone strike while Saturday saw five other Al Qaeda leaders killed in a similar strike.

Yemen’s Interior Ministry said that Qa’ed al-Dahab, the commander of a local Al Qaeda-linked group, has escaped the last two drone strikes and remains a central threat.

Ali al-Sarari, an aid to the Prime Minster, reported that security forces are in the process of tracking down the vehicle used in the shooting.  He further stated that Basindwa’s guards identified the license plates of the vehicle.

For more information, please see the following: 

Al Arabiya-Aide: Yemen’s PM escapes assassination attempt-September 1, 2013

Al Bawaba-Yemeni PM survives assassination attempt-September 1, 2013

Aljazeera-Yemen PM escapes assassination attempt-August 31, 2013

BBC-Yemen violence: PM Basindwa unhurt in assassination bid-August 31, 2013

Reuters-Yemen PM escapes unhurt after gunmen shoot at motorcade: aide-August 31, 2013