The killing of Ali Abdullah Saleh on December 4, 2017, has generated a wide range of comments on his important role in Yemeni politics. Alongside many of his predecessors throughout Republican Yemen, he died violently, reflecting the instability of the country. As president for 33 years, he was the longest serving ruler of Yemen since 1918, beating Imam Yahya by three years. By the time he was removed from the presidency in early 2012, there is no doubt that he personally had