Inspired by demonstrations in Tunisia and Egypt, Yemeni civilians began demonstrating against their government in early 2011. The particular target of their demonstrations was then-President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who had controlled the country since 1990. At first, protests were relatively tolerated. However, over a few months time, the Saleh government's response to popular demonstrations became more and more severe, culminating in the killing of dozens of protestors in March 2011. The violence used to disperse the anti-Saleh protests prompted numerous government officials and military members to resign, which, combined with continued protest, pressured Saleh into signing a power-transfer agreement in late 2011. This power-transfer agreement was realized with the popular election of Abdrabbuh Hadi as head of state in 2012. He was originally intended to hold office for 2 years, during which he'd guide the drafting of a new constitution and prepare for presidential elections in 2014.

However, before this transitional process was finished, conflict once again broke out in Yemen. In 2014, the Houthi armed movement progressively seized control of important government buildings and residences in the Yemeni capital of Sana'a, in protest of fuel subsidy reforms and purportedly seeking a greater say in the new constitution. What began as occupation eventually became an all out coup d'etat, with Hadi resigning from office in 2015. This coup sparked a civil war in Yemen, which in turn prompted the Saudi Arabian government to intervene.

As of February 2020, fighting continues throughout Yemen, between the Houthi government (known as the Supreme Political Council), Hadi loyalists aided by Saudi Arabian forces, and al-Qaeda fighters seeking to take advantage of the conflict to establish a new base. The entire country is in the grip of a humanitarian crisis, including high rates of illness, displacement, and food insecurity. Almost 10 years after the Jasmine Revolution, Yemen's political future remains deeply uncertain.