Ahmed served in various capacities in Yemeni army and ministry of defense until 1994.[2] That year he became director of logistics and supply.[2] He later joined the Congress Party.[3][4] He was appointed defense minister by President Ali Abdullah Saleh in February 2006.[2][5] He succeeded Abdullah Ali Alewa in the post.[6]
Later, Ahmed began to cooperate with future President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi.[5] Ahmed retained his post in the government formed on 7 December 2012 after Saleh was removed from office.[3] The so-called national reconciliation government was headed by prime minister Muhammad Salim Basindwah.[7]
Assassination attempts
Ahmed survived an assassination attempt on 27 September 2011 in Aden.[8] He escaped another assassination attempt unhurt in Sanaa on 11 September 2012.[9] However, the attack killed at least 13 people.[9] He escaped an ambush by al-Qaeda gunmen southeast of Sanaa on 9 May 2014.[10]