peace

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 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 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 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 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 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 News September 1, 2025 01:00 MIN The Launch of Transitional Justice Week Transitional Justice Week in Yemen commenced on August 29, marking the launch of an initiative aimed at highlighting the importance of transitional justice in achieving sustainable peace in Yemen. Led by the Transitional Justice Team at the Yemen Peace Forum in partnership with the Sana’a Center for Strategic Studies, events running from August 29 to September 2 will bring together victims of violations, representatives of victims’ associations, youth, civil society organizations, as well as Yemeni and international human rights experts and advocates. Sessions will tackle central themes of transitional justice, including enforced disappearances, truth-seeking, accountability, reparations, and guarantees of non-recurrence, while highlighting the tireless efforts of civil society organizations and families of the disappeared. Discussions will also explore how cultural… 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 Main Publications August 4, 2025 08:01 MIN Yemen International Forum 2025 Report The third Yemen International Forum (YIF III) took place in Amman from February 16 - 18, 2025, gathering more than 300 participants to discuss peace prospects and stability in Yemen. Since the outbreak of the war on Gaza in October 2023, Yemen has been tested in myriad ways. Attacks on the Red Sea and the rising prominence of the Houthis within the “Axis of Resistance” have thrust Yemen into regional conflict, undermining hope for an end to its decade-long war. Since the last YIF held in the Hague in June 2023, where discussions centered on cautious optimism for a potential peace settlement, Yemen has undertaken a dramatic U-turn. Peace efforts have taken a backseat while international attention has increasingly turned… Continue reading