Muhammad, Ali Nasir

Born 1939 in Dathina. State and political figure of the People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen (PDRY).

The son of a peasant, Muhammad took part in the national liberation movement. In 1963 he became a member of the National Front for the Liberation of Occupied South Yemen (known as the National Front, or NF, since 1967). After South Yemen achieved independence in 1967, Muhammad occupied a number of key government posts. In 1971 he became prime minister and a member of the Presidential Council of the PDRY. He was chairman of the council from July to October 1978. In April 1980 he became chairman of the presidium of the People’s Supreme Assembly.

Muhammad was named a member of the general leadership of the NF in December 1969. He became a member of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the NF in March 1972 and a member of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the United Political Organization National Front in October 1975. In October 1978, Muhammad was elected a member of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the Yemen Socialist Party, becoming its general secretary in April 1980. Muhammad was awarded the Order of Friendship of Peoples in 1979.