Officials confirmed this Friday that a group of disgruntled soldiers attempted to storm the presidential palace in a failed bid to bring forth change and force state dignitaries to look at their demands.
Fighting in between the former Republican Guards, an elite group which was prior to Yemen's military restructuration under the direct command of Gen. Ahmed Ali Saleh, eldest son to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, broke out on Friday, leaving one man dead.
Within minuted od the attack against the presidential palace, the Defense Ministry immediately ordered the deployment of armored vehicles and the dispatch of several units to cordon off the area and maintain a security buffer zone, as to not only contain the security breach but prevent the mutiny from spreading to residential areas.
Witnesses told reporters that a group of former Republican Guards (several hundreds according to some estimate) began marching toward the presidential palace when gunshots were heard. Within minutes the military police spring into action backed up by police units.
Former Republican Guards soldiers have complained of unfair treatment and unpaid Ramadan bonuses.
The elite of the military, the Republican Guards have been accustomed to preferential treatments, such as financial bonuses as well as better health and education benefits.
Ever since the dismantlement of the corps has had to deal with a fall from grace, its soldiers reduced to the rank of regular soldiers, which for many led to deep-seated resentment.
While this particular incident was quickly dealt with, analysts have warned against a potential military backlash whereby former military units would seek to breakaway from the armed forces and go rogue under a different leadership.
Even if Yemen did successfully complete the restructuration of its armed forces the crucial matter of loyalty was however never fully addressed, leaving many soldiers in a semi-state of limbo.
It is important to note that for over three decades Yemen's military has been organized around personal loyalty over that of the flag and the state, leaving the country open to fragmentation and a conflicting hierarchy.