Salim Rubai Ali

Who was Salim Rubai Ali?

Salim Rubayyi Ali or Salim Rubai Ali from June 22, 1969 to his surrender and execution by firing squad on June 26, 1978. Rubayyi led the left wing of the National Front for the Liberation of South Yemen (NF) which forced the British to withdraw from South Arabia on November 29, 1967. Rubayyi's radicals gained dominance over the more moderate President Qahtan al-Shaabi elements of the NF, allowing their leader to seize power. He retained the title of Chairman of the Presidential Council throughout his term, even as the NF changed the name of the country from the People's Republic of South Yemen to the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen in 1970. Rubayyi's NF joined with other parties 1975, creating the United Political Organisation NF (التنظيم السياسي الموحد الجبهة القومية), all rival parties were outlawed earlier. However, he opposed the idea of the Yemeni Socialist Party's (YSP) future creation promoted by Abdul Fattah Ismail.

Rubayyi appointed Muhammad Ali Haitham as his Prime Minister when he became Chairman. Haitham served until August 1971, when he was replaced by Ali Nasir Muhammad.