Analysis

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 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 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 Analysis October 28, 2025 05:10 MIN July-September 2025 Calls for Recognizing Somaliland and the Implications for Yemen By Ahmed Al-Ahssab There have been growing signals of possible international recognition of the Republic of Somaliland. Former British Defense Secretary Gavin Williamson alluded to the possibility of US President Donald Trump recognizing Somaliland’s independence in November 2024. His remarks coincided with favorable positions expressed by US officials who had worked with Trump, such as Peter Pham and Tibor Nagy, as well as moves by American lawmakers. The president of Somaliland has also predicted that his country will soon secure its first formal recognition of independence, possibly within the coming year. A former British colony, Somaliland united with what was known as Italian Somaliland to form the Somali Republic in 1960. Following the collapse of the central government in 1991, Somaliland declared its… Continue reading Analysis October 19, 2025 10:10 MIN What Does the Gaza Ceasefire Mean for Yemen? By Abdulghani Al-Iryani, Maysaa Shuja Al-Deen, and Hussam Radman A tenuous ceasefire has gone into effect in Gaza, halting two years of war that have resulted in the deaths of more than 67,000 Palestinians. As part of the first phase of a US-brokered agreement, surviving Israeli hostages taken by Hamas during its deadly October 7 incursion have been released, along with a number of Palestinian prisoners, and Israeli forces have begun a partial withdrawal from the strip. However, the deal remains extremely fragile. Past ceasefires have failed to hold, and there are already disagreements over the return of the dead and humanitarian access. Hamas, which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had vowed to destroy, is already reasserting control in Gaza. The deal put forward by the US is intentionally… Continue reading Analysis September 2, 2025 07:49 MIN Israeli Strikes Target Houthi-Appointed Cabinet, PM and Other Ministers Killed By Sana’a Center Staff, Abdulghani Al-Iryani, and Hussam Radman On August 28, Israeli strikes targeted a high-level meeting of ministers appointed by the Houthi group (Ansar Allah) in Sana’a, killing Prime Minister Ahmed Ghaleb al-Rahawi and other cabinet officials. Airstrikes hit residential neighborhoods of Sana’a city a day after Houthi forces launched a ballistic missile toward Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport. For over a year, Israel has targeted ports, airports, and infrastructure in Sana’a and other Houthi-held areas of Yemen in response to regular missile and drone barrages by the group, which states it is fighting Israel in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. The Houthis confirmed the death of Al-Rahawi, along with at least 11 other individuals. While the attack represents a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between the… Continue reading Analysis August 26, 2025 09:03 MIN Hadramawt on Edge: Public Outcry Exposes Governance Crisis By Mohammed al-Katheri The outbreak of violent protests across Hadramawt since late July has plunged the region into chaos, as political, military, and tribal groups vie for control of Yemen’s largest governorate. Persistent fuel shortages have caused severe blackouts in the capital, Mukalla, and other cities across Hadramawt, as hundreds of people have taken to the streets for weeks of protests. Chief among the protestors’ grievances has been failing public services, primarily severe electricity and water shortages. While security forces have attempted to restore order, and electricity provision has improved, continuing widespread demonstrations and the lack of a coordinated response from Hadramawt’s milieu of political actors point to a deeper and more systemic crisis. Recent developments have left many reconsidering the future of… Continue reading Analysis August 19, 2025 06:19 MIN Rial Surges Under Revitalized Central Bank By Sana’a Center Economic Unit The Yemeni rial has seen a dramatic recovery since late July, appreciating by over 44 percent after months of hemorrhaging value. Its sudden rise is the result of a multi-pronged approach led by the government-run Central Bank of Yemen in Aden (CBY-Aden). Key measures have included curbing speculation and currency manipulation, institutionalizing import financing, and mandating the exclusive use of the rial in domestic transactions. These reforms received unprecedented political backing from the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), the government, and local authorities, a pivotal shift in combating the systemic weaknesses that have long undermined the stability of the currency. By mid-July, the new Yemeni rial, which circulates in government-controlled areas, had tumbled to YR2,900 per US$1, its worst collapse since… Continue reading Analysis July 22, 2025 10:14 MIN April-June 2025 The Bride of the Red Sea: A Century of Transformation in Hudaydah By Tawfeek Al-Ganad Hudaydah has long served as a battlefield for those seeking control over Yemen. Since the 15th century, various empires, including the Portuguese, the Mamluks, the Ottomans, and the British, have made both successful and unsuccessful attempts to dominate the region. A century after the Mutawakkalite Kingdom of Yemen, commonly referred to as the Imamate, first extended its authority over the region, Hudaydah continues to hold immense strategic importance. Since the outbreak of regional conflict after October 7, 2023, Hudaydah has been targeted by airstrikes from the United States, Britain, and Israel, which have destroyed key pillars of its economic power, particularly the ports of Hudaydah, Ras Issa, and Al-Salif. Nevertheless, Hudaydah remains the military and economic center of Yemen’s West… Continue reading