Publications

Yemen Review section October 16, 2024 06:49 MIN Quarterly: July-September 2024 Opening the Road to Besieged Taiz City: Easing Travel vs. Continued Hardship By Wissam Mohammed The strategic Al-Qasr road, connecting the heart of Taiz city to the eastern entrance of Al-Hawban, a major industrial area, was finally reopened on June 13, 2024, by the Houthi group (Ansar Allah). This development marked the end of a nine-year siege that had encircled Taiz from three sides. The reopening of the road has significantly alleviated the arduous journey for travelers to and from Taiz, who previously had to navigate treacherous, secondary roads winding around Jabal Sabir, the mountain that borders the city from the south. Previously, travel from the city center to the eastern part of Taiz could take up to six hours; now, the same journey can be completed in less than half an hour. Nevertheless, the… Continue reading Yemen Review section October 16, 2024 04:42 MIN Quarterly: July-September 2024 Extreme Weather Puts Lives at Risk, Worsens Cholera Crisis By Musaed Aklan, and Solenn Al-Majali Between July and September 2024, heavy rains and severe flooding caused widespread devastation across Yemen’s governorates. More than half a million Yemenis were affected, according to the UN, with significant loss of life, disrupted public services, and severe damage to agriculture, homes, and historic landmarks. Yemen’s vulnerability lies in the intensity of rainfall rather than the amount, coupled with the rapid onset of flooding. By mid-August, the civilian death toll neared 100, with 600 injured and around 69,500 households impacted through the loss of their homes or livelihoods. Over 6,000 families were displaced in Hudaydah, 3,500 in Hajjah, and more than 7,000 in Marib. In regions such as Tihama and Al-Jawf, where around 80 percent of homes are made of… Continue reading The Yemen Review October 16, 2024 12 Sections The Yemen Review Quarterly: July-September 2024 On July 19, a Houthi drone reached Tel Aviv, killing one person and wounding ten, the first time the Houthi group (Ansar Allah) has inflicted casualties in an attack against Israel. Israel responded the next day with airstrikes on the port of Hudaydah, destroying infrastructure and fuel stores and killing six workers. Dozens of others were hospitalized with severe burns. The Houthis unsuccessfully targeted Tel Aviv again on September 15, and Israel undertook further airstrikes on port and power facilities in Hudaydah governorate two weeks later, killing four and injuring 40. There is concern that the strikes will interrupt the flow of humanitarian aid through Hudaydah and that the loss of fuel reserves could lead to shortages in Houthi-held areas.… Continue reading News October 1, 2024 01:38 MIN Sana’a Center Media Call Shines Light on Ongoing Houthi Crackdown on Yemeni Civil Society In response to an alarming wave of arbitrary arrests and forced confessions of Yemeni aid workers, UN staff, foreign embassy employees, and activists, the Sana’a Center hosted a media call to discuss this growing threat to civil society. The event, held on Friday, September 27, and moderated by Daraj Media Editor Diana Moukalled explored the impact of these detentions, which have drastically reduced aid distribution to millions living under Houthi rule. In recent months, Houthi authorities in Sana’a have intensified their arrest campaigns, falsely accusing many of involvement in an international spy ring. Diala Haidar, a Yemen researcher for Amnesty International, said, “the ongoing campaign has raised fears among humanitarian workers in Yemen that they may be detained simply for… Continue reading Main Publications September 23, 2024 25:35 MIN Enhancing the Role of Microfinance Banks for Sustainable Impact in Yemen By Wadhah Al-Awlaqi Yemen's microfinance sector is undergoing a radical transformation. Despite initial success in empowering small businesses, the ongoing conflict has exposed deep vulnerabilities. Competition between the fractured central banks has driven a surge in microfinance bank (MFB) licenses. While this promises to expand financial inclusion, it raises serious concerns about long-term sustainability and financial stability. Several other factors are driving the transformation of existing money exchange companies into MFBs. These include the erosion of trust in the traditional banking system, the growth of the informal financial sector, and maneuvering by the exchange companies themselves. Additionally, lower entry requirements compared to conventional banks make becoming an MFB an attractive option. However, the surge in MFBs presents its own challenges. The divide in… Continue reading Main Publications September 16, 2024 37:17 MIN Child Soldiers in Marib and Shabwa By Ali Al-Sakani, Majd Ibrahim, and Casey Coombs The prevalence of child soldiers fighting in Yemen’s war has become common knowledge as Houthi (Ansar Allah) forces continue to publicly recruit and deploy children in military operations. Other armed groups in Yemen also recruit minors, although on a smaller scale and in a less public manner. In order to understand what accounts for that disparity and other aspects of child recruitment in Yemen, this policy brief seeks to explore the reasons why children have joined armed groups in Marib and Shabwa, two frontline governorates in which Houthi forces, Saudi-backed pro-government forces, and UAE-backed forces affiliated with the Southern Transitional Council (STC) are present. The warring parties have battled fiercely over control of Marib and Shabwa – two of only… Continue reading News August 29, 2024 02:03 MIN A Balancing Act for Moscow: Sana’a Center Panel Discusses Russia’s Position on Yemen Despite being mired in the Ukraine conflict, Russia continues to strengthen its influence in the region and nurture ties with various players, including Yemeni actors. “What happened in the Middle East after October 7 has made Russia view the whole region from a different lens,” said Michael Yakushev, a former Russian diplomat and Expert on Eurasian Affairs. On August 28, the Sana’a Center for Strategic Studies, in partnership with the Center for Arab-Eurasian Studies, organized a discussion on Russia’s strategic position on the current Red Sea crisis. The panel was moderated by Amr Abdel-Hamid, Director of the Center for Arab-Eurasian Studies. Noting Russia’s long-standing support of the Palestinian cause, Yakushev observed how the general perception among ordinary Russians is that… Continue reading Main Publications August 22, 2024 18:09 MIN The Impact of War on Youth Activism in Yemen By Roza al-Hakimi Youth form a distinct social group in Yemeni political culture. After experiencing marginalization and manipulation during the era of President Ali Abdullah Saleh, the 2011 revolution gave hope for a new era of inclusion in which political parties would take Yemeni youth seriously as stakeholders and decision-makers on senior committees. Young activists were later integrated as a specific category of political actors in the National Dialogue Conference, and specific roles and quotas were defined for youth in the country’s political future as part of the Conference’s outcomes. However, the war that erupted following the Houthi takeover of Sana’a in 2014 erased gains made by youth during the transition period and led to divisions between youth activists inside and outside Yemen.… Continue reading News August 21, 2024 02:36 MIN Yemeni and Saudi Commentators Debate Yemen Peace Plan Are the peace talks between Saudi Arabia and the Houthi group (Ansar Allah) likely to establish a framework that will allow Yemeni parties to create a durable settlement among themselves? Or has Riyadh created a fatally flawed process that concedes too much ground to the Houthis from the start, ensuring that they dominate future Yemeni talks as the stronger party? Those critical questions were debated in a panel discussion organized on August 19 by the Sana’a Center for Strategic Studies, featuring Sana’a Center Chairperson Maged al-Madhaji and Badr al-Qahtani, the Gulf desk editor in London for Saudi-owned pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat, and moderated by prominent Saudi journalist Eman al-Hamoud. “Yemen and Saudi Arabia have a common interest in the restoration… Continue reading Main Publications August 21, 2024 27:41 MIN Women’s Networks Shaping Economic and Social Empowerment in Hadramawt By Dr. Maryam Alkubati This policy brief highlights how women’s networks in Hadramawt governorate have provided crucial support for Yemeni women, helping them overcome professional barriers in a social context where traditional norms often restrict their public roles. Across various professional fields, Hadrami women have credited much of their success to the assistance provided by and opportunities afforded through women’s networks. Both formal and informal, these networks serve as essential support systems, providing women with emotional guidance, professional growth, access to information, mentorship, and collaborative opportunities, which are key to navigating the barriers to economic participation. Prominent organizations have helped bridge the gaps between local and broader community resources, connecting women in Hadramawt with influential figures and opening doors to opportunities that might otherwise… Continue reading News August 16, 2024 02:05 MIN A Long Road to Justice: One Year On from the Yemen Declaration for Justice and Reconciliation Ongoing human rights violations continue to prevent sustainable peace in Yemen, according to a panel of human rights lawyers, experts and activists who participated in a webinar hosted by the Sana’a Center for Strategic Studies on August 14, 2024. The panel marked the one year anniversary of the Yemen Declaration for Justice and Reconciliation, a landmark treatise that articulates the signatories' collective demand for a clear transitional justice framework within a peace settlement. Maysaa Shuja Al-Deen, senior researcher at the Sana’a Center, said that the Declaration unified Yemeni civil society’s calls for justice and to end human rights violations in Yemen. “A single organization on its own cannot leverage international pressure, especially as the Houthi police state intensifies,” said Shuja… Continue reading News August 7, 2024 00:43 MIN Sana’a Center Launches Channels on WhatsApp and Telegram The Sana'a Center for Strategic Studies is pleased to announce the launch of two new channels on WhatsApp and Telegram. This initiative aims to reach a broader audience, providing real-time updates on the latest developments in Yemen across various social media platforms. These channels focus on security and speed, with rapid notifications and easier access to new publications. The platforms will be used to share policy papers, research, analysis, reports, news, and video clips. To join us on Telegram, search for "Sana'a Center for Strategic Studies" in the app’s search box or use this link: Sana’a Center Telegram Channel. You can also follow the Sana'a Center on WhatsApp by searching for "Sana'a Center for Strategic Studies" or by clicking on… Continue reading