Sana'a

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 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 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 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 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 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 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 Analysis July 22, 2025 09:33 MIN April-June 2025 The Narrative Battle of the Iran-Israel War By Salah Ali Salah The 12-day military confrontation between Israel, the US, and Iran has come to a halt. This was no ordinary exchange of fire; all parties employed their most advanced military capabilities, and both Iran and Israel suffered significant casualties, in addition to material and, perhaps more importantly, psychological losses. After days of a relentless Israeli air campaign, the conflict’s turning point came with the US bombing of Iran’s nuclear facilities using B-2 strategic bombers. In turn, Tehran responded by striking the Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar – an attack that caused no actual damage but was instead a symbolic gesture, aimed at saving face rather than intended to inflict harm. US President Donald Trump announced the cessation of hostilities shortly thereafter.… Continue reading Yemen Review section July 22, 2025 05:01 MIN April-June 2025 An Opportunity to Reset Yemeni-Iranian Relations By Maysaa Shuja Al-Deen Iran’s Axis of Resistance is on the ropes. The degrading of Hamas during the ongoing Gaza war, the recent Israeli-Iranian confrontation, the weakening of Hezbollah during Israel’s war in Lebanon, and the downfall of the Assad regime in Syria have significantly reshaped dynamics in the Middle East to the detriment of Tehran and its allies. There is one exception, however: the Houthis in Yemen. Despite Iran’s losses elsewhere, the Houthis continue to hold power in Yemen and appear largely unaffected by a year and a half of military action carried out by the US and Western allies, and by Israel. For many observers, this would make the Houthis a priority for continued Iranian support. While this argument holds some logic,… Continue reading Yemen Review section July 22, 2025 09:08 MIN April-June 2025 Israel’s Genocide in Gaza Destabilizes Yemen and the Region By Magnus Fitz The Middle East has been marked by escalating violence and deepening volatility since October 7, 2023. Hamas’ assault against Israel opened the door for the realization of long-standing Israeli ambitions of a reconfigured region, which has fanned the flames of instability in several countries. In Gaza, these ambitions have been propelled not merely by Western indifference but by direct abetment. In Yemen, instability has manifested in Houthi attacks in the Red Sea and against Israel, which has invited direct military action by some of the world’s great military powers. The sum of Israel’s wars–from Gaza and the West Bank to Yemen, Lebanon, Syria, and Iran–has been tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of deaths and immense destruction, sowing the seeds… Continue reading