Former Yemeni President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi died on May 28, 2026, in a Riyadh hospital at the age of 80, Yemeni officials confirmed [1, 2]. He had suffered heart-related health problems and his condition worsened suddenly in the week before his death [2].
Hadi held office as Yemen’s internationally recognized president for a decade from 2012 until April 2022, when he transferred powers to the newly formed Presidential Leadership Council [1, 2]. He assumed the presidency following the departure of longtime leader Ali Abdullah Saleh amid widespread protests and political upheaval [1, 2].
In 2015, as Yemen’s civil war intensified, Hadi fled house arrest by the Houthi rebel movement and relocated to Saudi Arabia, where he spent his final years [1]. He received medical treatment during his illness, including care in the United States, according to sources [2].
The Yemeni government declared three days of national mourning and ordered flags to be flown at half-staff in tribute to Hadi [1]. Rashad al-Alimi, head of the Presidential Leadership Council, praised the former president, saying, "He led the battle to defend the republican system," and noted Hadi's commitment to freedom and dignity for Yemenis [1].
Hadi’s death marks the end of a significant chapter in Yemen’s recent history. After ceding power in 2022, the Presidential Leadership Council continued efforts to manage the ongoing conflict and political challenges in Yemen [1, 2].
