The people of Yemen have proved that they were wise enough to survive the Arab Spring peacefully and with few losses. Yemen has remained intact with the people supporting the new government which has been put in place. When former president Ali Abdullah Saleh agreed to the GCC plan for him to step down, the country avoided a civil war.

Yemen did not have to destroy its institutions and the fabric of its society in ushering in a new future and in turning a new page in its history. It used its wisdom to satisfy the demands of the Yemeni people who took to the streets clamoring for a change in the country’s regime.

At the same time, Yemen did not need to discard the achievements of the previous regime. It did not have to revoke its constitution and did not have to end the tenure of the ruling party which has acquired considerable experience in running the government.

The country has benefitted from the advice of its neighbors on how to maintain stability and security. When Yemen accepted the GCC initiative, it overcame the ordeal which several other Arab countries are currently undergoing.

After the recent presidential election which installed former vice president Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi in the presidency, the new government can concentrate on finding solutions to the country’s problems instead of fighting its own people as is happening in other parts of the Arab world.

And with the Yemeni people unanimously behind the new government, the country can confidently continue its fight against terrorism, the main obstacle to the progress of the country and the Middle East region. Yemen is on the right track of building a new future for its people.