Abdul Karim Ali Al-Iryani or Al-Eryani (/ˈæbdʊl 
listen); Arabic: عبد الكريم علي يحيى محمد عبد الله الإرياني; 12 October 1934 – 8 November 2015) was the Prime Minister of Yemen from 29 April 1998 to 31 March 2001. Al-Eryani, along with President Ali Abdullah Saleh, was a member of the General People's Congress (GPC).
Abd Al-Karim Al-Iryani | |
|---|---|
| Prime Minister of Yemen | |
| In office 29 April 1998 – 31 March 2001 | |
| President | Ali Abdullah Saleh |
| Preceded by | Faraj Said Bin Ghanem |
| Succeeded by | Abdul Qadir Bajamal |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Yemen | |
| In office 1984–1990 | |
| Prime Minister of North Yemen | |
| In office 1980–1983 | |
| Preceded by | Abdul Aziz Abdul Ghani |
| Succeeded by | Abdul Aziz Abdul Ghani |
| Minister of Education of North Yemen | |
| In office 1976–1978 | |
| Minister of Development of North Yemen | |
| In office 1974–1976 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 12 October 1934 Eryan, Ibb, North Yemen |
| Died | 8 November 2015 (aged 81) Frankfurt, Germany |
| Nationality | Yemeni |
| Political party | General People's Congress |
| Alma mater | Yale University |
Contents
Early life and educatioEdit
Born in Eryan, a village in the central highlands of Ibb, in 1934, Al-Iryani belonged to a prominent family that had held government posts in the region for centuries; many of his ancestors and relatives were judges.[1] He studied in the United States, receiving a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from the University of Georgia in 1962, a Master of Science in Agriculture from the same institution in 1964, and a Ph.D. in Biochemical Genetics from Yale University in 1968.
CareerEdit
Before Yemen's unification, Al-Iryani served in the government of North Yemen as Minister of Development (1974–1976), Minister of Education (1976–1978), Prime Minister (1980–1983), and Minister of Foreign Affairs (1984–1990).[2] Following unification in 1990, Al-Iryani continued to serve as Minister of Foreign Affairs for the united Republic of Yemen until 1993, when he became Minister of Development briefly before returning to the post of Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1994. Al-Iryani was appointed as Prime Minister after Faraj Said Bin Ghanem abruptly resigned on 29 April 1998. He served in this capacity until 31 March 2001, when he was succeeded by Abdul Qadir Bajamal.
Later life and deathEdit
Al-Iryani was a member of the Global Leadership Foundation, a non-profit organisation set up in 2004 by FW de Klerk to support good governance and reduce conflict around the world. He has been credited with brokering the Arab Spring peace negotiations in 2012, resulting in a transition plan for President Saleh to resign.[3]
Al-Iryani died on 8 November 2015 in Frankfurt. Mustapha Noman, a former ambassador to Spain, called him "the last statesman Yemen had, and will have, for another generation."[1]
ReferencesEdit
- ^ a b Eva Sohlman (November 12, 2015). "Abdul Karim al-Eryani, 81, Dies; Yemeni Politician Brokered Arab Spring Peace". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. Retrieved February 9, 2019.
- ^ "Abd al-Karim al-Iryani". Retrieved February 9, 2019.
- ^ Walter Kemp (June 4, 2012). "The Man in the Middle of Yemen's Transition: An Interview with Abdul Karim Al-Eryani". Retrieved February 9, 2019.
External linksEdit
- Abdulkarim Al-Eryani on Charlie Rose
- Abdul-Karim Al-Iryani collected news and commentary at Al Jazeera English
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Abdul Aziz Abdul Ghani |
Prime Minister of North Yemen 1980–1983 |
Succeeded by Abdul Aziz Abdul Ghani |
| Preceded by Faraj Said Bin Ghanem |
Prime Minister of Yemen 1998–2001 |
Succeeded by Abdul Qadir Bajamal |