Yemeni President orders military shake-up

Yemeni President Abd Rabo Mansour Hadi has announced plans to restructure the Yemeni army, and end the division in military ranks. The move is aimed at reforming a key part of the military once controlled by former President Ali Abdullah Saleh. Under plans, Saleh’s loyalists will be removed from top military positions,  and there will be a merger between the Republican Guards, led by Saleh's son, and the 1st Armoured Division, led by dissident General Maj. Gen. Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar under the Ministry of Defence. The decisions come at a key time for Yemen, with the national dialogue conference close to fruition. According to these decisions, the army, after restructuring, will consist of ground forces, air forces, naval forces and border guards. President Hadi has named a new commander, General Ahmed Ali al-Maqdasi, to replace the leader of the Central Security and nephew of the former President. He has also dismissed Saleh’s son from leadership of the Republican Guards. Hadi’s decisions also involve reshaping the special operations forces, as well as merging the missile brigades under the leadership of the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.