Ali Abdullah Saleh was designated for sanctions on 7 November 2014 pursuant to paragraphs 11 and 15 of Resolution 2140 (2014), as meeting the designation criteria set out in paragraphs 17 and 18 of the Resolution. Ali Abdullah Saleh has engaged in acts that threaten the peace, security or stability of Yemen, such as acts that obstruct the implementation of the agreement of 23 November 2011 between the Government of Yemen and those in opposition to it, which provides for a peaceful transition of power in Yemen, and acts that obstruct the political process in Yemen. Per the 23 November 2011 agreement backed by the Gulf Cooperation Council, Ali Abdullah Saleh stepped down as President of Yemen after more than 30 years. As of autumn 2012, Ali Abdullah Saleh had reportedly become one of the primary supporters of violent Huthi actions in northern Yemen. Clashes in the south of Yemen in February 2013 were a result of the combined efforts of Saleh, AQAP and southern secessionist Ali Salim al-Bayd to cause trouble before the 18 March 2013 National Dialogue Conference in Yemen. More recently, as of September 2014, Saleh has been destabilising Yemen by using others to undermine the central government and create enough instability to threaten a coup. According to a September 2014 report by the United Nations Panel of Experts for Yemen, interlocutors alleged that Saleh supports violent actions of some Yemenis by providing them with funds and political support, as well as ensuring that GPC members continue to contribute to the destabilisation of Yemen through various means.

EU

Restrictive measures in view of the situation in Yemen

UN

Yemen

Asset freeze and prohibition to make funds available, Restrictions on admission

- All assets of the listed persons and entities should be frozen. It is also prohibited to make any funds or assets directly or indirectly available to them. - Member States shall enforce travel restrictions on persons listed in the Annex of Council Decision 2014/932/CFSP.

On 26 February 2014, in view of the ongoing violence, terrorist activities and political, security, economic and humanitarian challenges in Yemen, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2140 (2014), where it reaffirmed its commitment to the unity, sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Yemen, and established travel restrictions and asset freezes to designated persons and entities. On 14 April 2015, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2216 (2015) which imposed an arms embargo in relation to persons who engaged in acts that threaten the peace, security or stability of Yemen. Derogations to the restrictive measures are possible as well as exemptions for humanitarian purposes.