Ahmad bin Hussein al-Ghashmi | |
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أحمد حسين الغشمي | |
4th President of the Yemen Arab Republic | |
In office 11 October 1977 – 24 June 1978 | |
Prime Minister | Abdul Aziz Abdul Ghani |
Preceded by | Ibrahim al-Hamdi |
Succeeded by | Abdul Karim Abdullah al-Arashi |
Personal details | |
Born | Hamdan District, Sana'a Governorate, Yemen | 21 August 1935
Died | 24 June 1978 Sana'a, North Yemen | (aged 42)
Manner of death | Assassination |
Political party | None (Military) |
Military service | |
Allegiance | North Yemen |
Years of service | 1956–1978 |
Rank | Major General |
Battles/wars | |
Ahmad bin Hussein al-Ghashmi (21 August 1935 – 24 June 1978)[1] (Arabic: أحمد حسين الغشمي, romanized: Aḥmad Ḥusayn al-Ghašmī) was the fourth President of the Yemen Arab Republic (North Yemen) from 11 October 1977 until his assassination eight months later. Al-Ghashmi had assumed power when his predecessor, Ibrahim al-Hamdi, was assassinated.[2]
Ahmad (Ahmed) al-Ghashmi was born in Hamdan District, Sanaa Governorate.[3] According to some sources he was born in 1938,[1] but according to others[3] he was born in 1941.
After the coup d'état of September 26, 1962, the North Yemen Civil War (1962-1970) began. Al-Gashmi took part in it on the side of Abdullah al-Sallal against Muhammad al-Badr.[3][1]
By the time Ibrahim al-Hamdi was president of Yemen, al-Gashmi was vice president of the Leadership Council and Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces.[3]
On 11 October 1977, al-Hamdi was assassinated and al-Gashmi took over the country.[1][2] A man believed to be a Saudi agent was accused of assassinating the president. Al-Gashmi himself was also suspected.[4][5][6]
President al-Ghashmi reinstated the 1970 Constitution, which had previously been suspended by al-Hamdi, the country's previous President, in 1974. However, an important body such as the Consultative Council was not reinstated, and at the same time the office of the President was introduced.[7]
He appointed Ali Abdullah Saleh as military governor in Taiz, who became the next president.[8]
His assassination occurred on 24 June 1978 when he was meeting an envoy sent by People's Democratic Republic of Yemen President, Salim Rubai Ali. A briefcase, reportedly containing a secret message, exploded, killing both al-Ghashmi and the envoy. It is not conclusively known who set off the explosion.[2][9]
Coincidentally, Rubai Ali died in a coup three days after this event.
North Yemen (1918–1990) |
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South Yemen (1967–1990) | |||||
Republic of Yemen (1990–) | |||||