Publications

Analysis December 15, 2025 29:27 MIN Yemen’s History of Political Alliances and Lessons for the Future By Maysaa Shuja Al-Deen, and Tawfeek Al-Ganad Alliances are a common phenomenon in Yemen, deeply rooted in the country’s political life and social structures. Yemeni tribes, for example, often form alliances for protection and defense that are based more on mutual interests than on blood ties. This pattern extends into the political sphere, where Yemen has witnessed various types of political alliances during its modern history. This study examines past alliances among political actors in Yemen, from the declaration of political pluralism as a constitutional right following unification in May 1990 to 2017. Most of these alliances were temporary and tactical, often formed to confront common adversaries, and ended in dramatic ruptures. Despite their shortcomings, however, these alliances enriched Yemeni political life in several ways. For example,… Continue reading Analysis December 12, 2025 11:09 MIN The STC Moves Into Eastern Yemen – Reaction from Sana’a Center Experts By Hussam Radman, Yasmeen al-Eryani, Abdulghani Al-Iryani, and Maysaa Shuja Al-Deen In early December, armed forces affiliated with the secessionist, UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) seized control of Hadramawt and Al-Mahra, displacing tribal forces led by Amr Bin Habrish and 1st Military Region army units affiliated with the Islah party. With its eastward expansion, the STC now controls nearly all of the territory of the former South Yemen state, including its most productive oil fields. The takeover has ushered in a new phase of the Yemen conflict, with the potential for territorial lines to be redrawn and the regional balance of power now in flux. Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) chief Rashad al-Alimi and Prime Minister Salem bin Breik have left the interim capital for Saudi Arabia, where they have held a… Continue reading Main Publications December 11, 2025 03:03 MIN Energy Transition in Yemen: A Path to Justice and Sustainable Development By Abeer Al-Eryani, and Musaed Aklan Yemen’s energy sector is currently facing a severe crisis. For millions of Yemenis, accessing reliable electricity is a daily struggle, characterized by prolonged blackouts, limited fuel supplies, and deteriorating infrastructure, which in turn exacerbate the country's humanitarian conditions. This policy brief underscores the importance of a just and conflict-sensitive energy transition in Yemen, addressing the interconnected challenges of conflict, economic instability, and energy poverty. It emphasizes the urgent need for an energy transition that enhances energy access, promotes decarbonization, and supports peacebuilding and socioeconomic recovery. The brief outlines the current energy landscape in Yemen, identifies critical policy gaps, and highlights both top-down and grassroots opportunities for sustainable energy development. It acknowledges the significant challenges in the energy sector, including its… Continue reading Analysis December 10, 2025 07:55 MIN China’s Growing Role in the Yemen Conflict By Aseel Saraih China is emerging as a significant external player in Yemen, influencing both the country's internal dynamics and the broader regional landscape. During a meeting with Saudi and Iranian officials on December 9, Beijing reiterated its support for a UN-backed political solution to the conflict. However, despite its official position as a proponent of peace and non-intervention, an increasing number of intelligence reports and geopolitical analyses suggest that China is providing indirect support to the Houthis (Ansar Allah) through intermediaries like Iran. This support, including dual-use technology such as missile and drone components, as well as satellite imagery, has arguably not only bolstered the Houthis' military capabilities but also deepened the imbalance between the group and its opponents in Yemen’s internationally… Continue reading Analysis November 12, 2025 06:25 MIN UNSC Considers PoE Report Findings Ahead of Yemen Sanctions Vote By CJ Pine The UN Security Council will decide on the renewal of its targeted sanctions regime and mandate of the Panel of Experts (PoE) for Yemen in a vote scheduled for November 13. In preparation for this, the Panel has released its final report for the past year. It includes detailed findings, with over 100 annexes of supporting material, on Houthi violations of the sanctions regime, highlighting emerging smuggling trends and revenue generation. The Security Council is expected to at least agree on the annual renewal of the sanctions regime. However, it remains to be seen whether any updates will be introduced, based on the Panel’s findings and recommendations. The renewal is also not the only chance for action. Following this, the… Continue reading News November 5, 2025 02:25 MIN Statement: The Sana’a Center Condemns the Incitement Campaign by the Islah Party and its Aligned Military Elements The Sana’a Center for Strategic Studies strongly condemns the incitement campaign directed against the Center and its Chairperson, Maged al-Madhaji—a vicious online smear campaign that culminated in a statement issued by the Tur al-Bahah Military Axis on November 4, 2025. The statement made unfounded accusations naming Al-Madhaji and Sana’a Center writers as part of what it described as an “imminent terrorist plot” allegedly meant to incite chaos in the city of Al-Turbah in Taiz governorate. Such claims directly threaten the personal safety of al-Madhaji and, more broadly, individuals working in the civil sphere. The targeting of the Center and its Chairperson came two days after the Sana’a Center published an editorial addressing the state of lawlessness in Taiz, following the… Continue reading Yemen Review section October 28, 2025 15:19 MIN July-September 2025 Socotra: Climate Change and Memory in Photos By Saad al-Ajmi al-Socotri, Nasser Abdulrahman, and Mahmood Fatehi “Respecting God's tenets, living in harmony, simplicity, and peace, and doing as our parents and grandparents did.” Socotra, a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site, has one of the most unique and isolated ecosystems in the world. Located off the coast of Yemen near the Horn of Africa, the Socotra archipelago sits at the crossroads of the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean. The archipelago is home to incredible biodiversity: 37 percent of its 825 plant species are endemic. It is also home to rare trees, including the iconic dragon’s blood tree, and a diverse array of animals, including both terrestrial and marine birds, several of which are threatened species. In 1992, during the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil,… Continue reading Editorial October 28, 2025 02:57 MIN July-September 2025 A Lawless Land: Government Factions Must Impose Order or Risk Losing Legitimacy The assassination of Taiz official Iftehan al-Mashhari in broad daylight is the starkest example yet of how political violence and impunity have taken root in the territories under the control of the Yemeni government. Her killing is the latest in a series of assassinations targeting those who threaten the financial interests of powerful warlords who have entrenched their positions during the conflict. These militants flout the law, carry out extrajudicial killings, and terrorize residents, while the nominal authorities either provide them with political cover or turn a blind eye. This pattern of lawlessness has persisted for over a decade. It is a direct consequence of the government’s failure to restrain affiliated armed groups and maintain law and order, undermining its… Continue reading Yemen Review section October 28, 2025 10:04 MIN July-September 2025 Politics and Diplomacy — The Yemen Review, July-September 2025 By Casey Coombs Following women-led demonstrations in Aden and Taiz in May and June, widespread protests erupted in Hadramawt’s capital, Mukalla, on July 28, leading to the storming of a local authority building and the Munawwira electricity plant. The unrest was sparked by severe power outages lasting up to 20 hours a day. Protesters blocked streets, and shops were closed as Hadrami Elite forces fired live rounds to disperse crowds. The Mukalla People and Youth Escalation Committee, which organized the protests, accused Hadramawt Governor Mabkhout bin Madi of corruption and marginalizing locals, demanding his removal under slogans such as “No oil without Hadramawt rights.” The Hadramawt Security Committee, led by Bin Madi, denied reports of casualties during the unrest and blamed “malicious actors”… Continue reading Analysis October 28, 2025 08:42 MIN July-September 2025 A New Approach to Reforming the Government of Yemen By Hussam Radman In 2022, Yemen's internationally recognized government replaced then-President Abdo Rabbu Mansour Hadi with a Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), which was tasked with serving as the country’s new executive political and legal authority. While the transition was framed as a response to growing domestic demand for change, it was primarily driven by external influence, most notably from Saudi Arabia. The Kingdom’s urgency to extricate itself from its costly military entanglement in Yemen led to efforts to secure a negotiated settlement with the Houthis, culminating in what became known as the roadmap for peace. The roadmap has since stalled amid regional transformations following the events of October 7. The turmoil that ensued has underscored an important reality: despite its weakness and marginalization,… Continue reading Analysis October 28, 2025 06:59 MIN July-September 2025 No End in Sight: An Uncertain Future for the Houthi-Israeli Conflict By Salah Ali Salah As a fragile ceasefire takes hold in Gaza, questions are being raised about how it might influence the Houthis’ confrontation with Israel. For nearly two years, these unlikely adversaries have been locked in an unprecedented war of attrition—a conflict that began with symbolic and propagandistic strikes by the Houthis but has since escalated into sustained engagement. The Houthis have thrust themselves into the Gaza war with growing force, escalating from alleged acts of solidarity with Palestinians to increasingly bold attacks. In response, Israel has expanded its retaliation, from attacks on Yemen’s energy infrastructure, ports, and cement factories to the targeted assassination of Houthi leaders and more sensitive administrative, military, and security targets, resulting in civilian deaths. Developments in the region… Continue reading Yemen Review section October 28, 2025 05:36 MIN July-September 2025 A Dying Cause: The Lost Gains of the Muhammasheen By Jawhar Mokhtar Ahmed Historically relegated to the bottom of Yemen’s social hierarchy, the muhammasheen (marginalized ones) are a minority group that has endured decades of systematic marginalization and exclusion. The surge of activity by international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) following Yemen’s 1990 unification brought greater attention to their struggle, leading to meaningful advocacy efforts from both local and international organizations and creating momentum for the community. But the outbreak of war in 2015 and the ensuing protracted conflict threaten to undermine these hard-won gains. As international support for Yemen recedes, the plight of the muhammasheen is once again being relegated to the margins, leaving the community increasingly vulnerable. Although there are no officially recognized statistics, UN reports and other studies estimate the population of… Continue reading