DOCSLIB.ORG

Political Change with Pitfalls : an Interim Report on the Yemeni

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Political Change with Pitfalls : an Interim Report on the Yemeni INTERNATIONAL POLICY ANALYSIS | FES YEMEN Political Change with Pitfalls An Interim Report on the Yemeni Transition Process TIM O. PETSCHULAT September 2012 n Political change in Yemen is making slow but steady progress as the transfer-of- power agreement, known as the Gulf Initiative, is implemented. So far, this interna- tionally brokered two-year transition plan has been regarded as a success. It brought about the resignation of Ali Abdullah Saleh after thirty-three years as president, as well as the election of the transitional President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi. A National Dialogue Conference is about to be formed, which is to produce a new constitution within the next nine months, thereby creating the conditions for parlia- mentary and presidential elections in spring 2014. n Nevertheless, a successful political transition towards a democratic and stable Yemen is not guaranteed. The process is being jeopardised by an elite power struggle that is raging behind the scenes. n The international community can and should exert pressure on those who are put- ting a successful transition process at risk. At the same time, it is necessary to support reform-oriented forces. If the Gulf Initiative fails, Yemen is threatened by complete state failure, civil war, and further deterioration of an already dramatic humanitarian situation. TIM O. PETSCHULAT | POLITICAL CHANGE WITH PITFALLS Yemen was one of the countries that started what be- n Spreading instability around the border areas with came known as Arab Spring. After months of protests, Saudi Arabia and Oman; violent attacks by the regime against peaceful protest- n Streams of refugees; ers, and a split in the armed forces, Yemen managed a n An increase in piracy on the oil export routes, etc. comparatively peaceful transfer of power. With the as- sistance of the international community, the Gulf States The division of the Yemeni army in March 2011 is widely brokered a transition roadmap, which was signed by all considered to have triggered the GCC engagement. Fol- parties represented in the Yemeni parliament and whic h lowing the bloody assaults on demonstrators by snipers led to the fall of former president Ali Abdullah Saleh. By loyal to the regime in the Yemeni capital on 18 March signing the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Initiative in 2011, General Ali Muhsen Al-Ahmar declared his solidar- November 2011, Saleh formally accepted the end of his ity with the Youth Revolution and ordered soldiers of thirty-three-year presidency. the First Armoured Division to protect the demonstra- tors at what had become known as »Change Square« in Since then, little has been reported about Yemen in the Sana’a. At the same time, numerous government minis- European press. The Yemeni model generally seems to ters, parliamentarians, and diplomats – as well as a large be regarded as a successful one. In March 2012, German number of army officers – resigned or defected in pro- Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle proposed the GCC test. A few days later, the Al-Ahmar Sheikhs – leaders of Initiative as a model for a regime change in Syria despite the most powerful and well-armed tribal confederation fundamentally different political conditions. While this (Hashed) – followed suit and declared their opposition to doesn’t necessarily say much about the minister’s for- President Saleh. Since Saleh and his clan still maintained eign policy expertise, it does give an indication of the control over the major parts of the armed forces, Yemen generally positive assessment of the GCC Initiative. in April 2011 was on the brink of a civil war that would have impacted on neighbouring countries. The six Gulf In fact, the Yemeni transition plan has produced some States reacted quickly and presented the GCC Initiative notable achievements. Whether it can actually move the in April, supported by the UN, the USA, and the EU. It country out of its deep economic, political, and humani- came into force on 23 November 2011 when, after sev- tarian crisis remains to be seen. It lies primarily in the eral revisions, Ali Abdullah Saleh finally signed it. Leaders hands of Yemeni elites to shape the process of demo- from all parties represented in the Yemeni parliamentary cratic reconstruction in line with the GCC Initiative in a had already given their signatures long before. participatory and effective way. Nonetheless, the inter- national community must also play its part – in particular by identifying and isolating disruptive forces. Content of the Agreement The Transition Agreement, which includes the original The GCC Initiative GCC Initiative as well as the implementation mechanism agreed between the ruling General People’s Congress Background (GPC) and the opposition alliance known as Joint Meeting Parties (JMP), stipulates a political transition in two phases: In the past, the GCC has not exactly known for active political engagement outside its six member states. Nor The first phase began with Ali Abdullah Saleh’s signing is it the Gulf States’ desire for political renewal and de- of the Transition Agreement in November 2011. As early mocracy to which Yemen owes its peaceful transition. as May 2011 Saleh had promised to sign several times Rather, the decisive factor was the fear of a comprehen- and had backtracked repeatedly, usually on very short sive state failure in the south-western Arabian Peninsula, notice, much to the annoyance of national and inter- and its foreseeable consequences: national VIPs who had come to witness the procedure more than once. Following an assassination attempt on n The spread of Al-Qaeda to other parts of the Arabian 3 June inside the presidential mosque that left several Peninsula; people dead and Saleh himself, as well as other high- n Extensive weapons smuggling; ranking government officials, severely injured, Saleh 1 TIM O. PETSCHULAT | POLITICAL CHANGE WITH PITFALLS continued to put off signing the initiative by demanding The Transition Agreement spells out the following topics to further specify details of its implementation. and tasks for the National Dialogue: He finally seems to have been convinced by a mixture n »The process of drafting the Constitution, including of far-reaching immunity promises and coordinated dip- the establishment of a Constitutional Drafting Com- lomatic threats pressure by the diplomatic international mission and its membership; community, regarding toincluding threats to freeze n Constitutional reform, addressing the structure of the his foreign bank accountsassets. With his signature, State and political system, and submitting constitu- he transferred many of his presidential powers to Vice tional amendments to the Yemeni people through a President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, while remaining referendum; nominal president until early presidential elections put a n The dialogue shall address the issue of the South in formal end to his term. Subsequently, a Government of a manner conducive to a just national solution that National Unity was formed, led by a prime minister from preserves the unity, stability, and security of Yemen; the ranks of the opposition alliance. While the compo- n Examination of the various issues with a national di- sition of the Parliament did not change (about 80 per mension, including the causes of tension in Sa’ada; cent of former ruling party GPC, 20 per cent of the op- n Taking steps towards building a comprehensive demo- position alliance JMP), the thirty-four cabinet posts were cratic system, including reform of the civil service, the divided equally between GPC and JMP. judiciary, and local governance; n Taking steps aimed at achieving national reconcilia- One of the most important objectives of the first phase tion and transitional justice, and measures to ensure was the establishment of a Military Committee to over- that violations of human rights and humanitarian law come the divisions of the armed forces, to demilitarise do not occur in the future; the cities, and to provide security. The transition plan n The adoption of legal and other means to strengthen also stipulated (thus far unsuccessfully) the establishment the protection and rights of vulnerable groups includ- of an Interpretation Committee, which was intended to ing children as well as the advancement of women; mediate in case of disagreement on the interpretation of n Contribution to determining the priorities of program- the Transition Agreement. mes for reconstruction and sustainable economic de- velopment in order to create job opportunities and The first phase ended ninety days after Saleh signed the better economic, social, and cultural services for all.« Transition Agreement. The Parliament nominated a con- (Quoted from the UN Translation) sensus candidate, who was elected – or rather confirmed – by the people with remarkable turnout, as president of The National Dialogue is to begin in September 2012 Yemen for a period of two years. Since February 2012, at the latest, shall deal with all of the above-mentioned former Vice-President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi holds issues within six months, and then submit final recom- Yemen’s highest public office. mendations. Immediately after these six months, the government is to appoint a Constitutional Commission, The second phase is supposed to provide for the or- which shall develop a draft constitution within three ganisation and implementation of a National Dialogue, months. Then a constitutional referendum is to be con- through which all relevant political and social stakehold- ducted. Parliamentary and presidential elections are ers are to shape the future of their country together. The planned within three months after the public adoption Transition Agreement doesn’t offer details regarding the of the constitution. The Transition Agreement is binding. exact shape and form of this dialogue conference, but In case of discrepancies between the Initiative and the there are clear statements about who is to participate current Yemeni constitution, it is the former, which is to and what is to be negotiated.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Yemen Sheila Carapico University of Richmond, [email protected]
    University of Richmond UR Scholarship Repository Political Science Faculty Publications Political Science 2013 Yemen Sheila Carapico University of Richmond, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: http://scholarship.richmond.edu/polisci-faculty-publications Part of the International Relations Commons, and the Near and Middle Eastern Studies Commons Recommended Citation Carapico, Sheila. "Yemen." In Dispatches from the Arab Spring: Understanding the New Middle East, edited by Paul Amar and Vijay Prashad, 101-121. New Delhi, India: LeftWord Books, 2013. This Book Chapter is brought to you for free and open access by the Political Science at UR Scholarship Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Political Science Faculty Publications by an authorized administrator of UR Scholarship Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Yemen SHEILA CARAPICO IN FEBRUARY 2011, Tawakkol Karman stood on a stage outside Sanaa University. A microphone in one hand and the other clenched defiantly above her head, reading from a list of demands, she led tens of thou­ sands of cheering, flag-waving demonstrators in calls for peaceful politi­ cal change. She was to become not so much the leader as the figurehead ofYemen's uprising. On other days and in other cities, other citizens led the chants: men and women and sometimes, for effect, little children. These mass public performances enacted a veritable civic revolution in a poverty-stricken country where previous activist surges never produced democratic transitions but nonetheless did shape national history. Drawing on the Tunisiari and Egyptian inspirations as well as homegrown protest legacies, in 2011 Yemenis occupied the national commons as never before.
    [Show full text]
  • The Political Economy of Arab Presidents for Life ÀÀÀ and After
    Middle East Development Journal, Vol. 5, No. 1 (2013) 1350001 (13 pages) °c Economic Research Forum DOI: 10.1142/S1793812013500016 THE POLITICAL ECONOMY OF ARAB PRESIDENTS ¤ FOR LIFE | AND AFTER ROGER OWEN Center for Middle Eastern Studies Harvard University Cambridge, MA [email protected] Received 23 August 2012 Accepted 23 January 2013 Published 14 March 2013 The system of personalized Arab presidential power based on a strong security state had its origins in the assertion of national sovereignty in the dangerous post-independence world of the 1950s and 1960s. and then becoming more monarchical in character over time, including the attempt to perpetuate itself by passing power on to the ruler’s son. Key to this development was the appearance around each ruler of a small group of crony-capitalists who used their privileged access to secure state monopolies which they then schemed to protect after the ruler’s death. Both developments, that of family dictatorships, as well as their associated corruption and cronyism, can then be used to account in large measure with the uprisings associated with the Arab `Spring'. Keywords: Personalized power; authoritarianism; crony capitalism; coup-proof; kleptocracy; succession; Arab middle class; Arab Spring. by WSPC on 03/19/13. For personal use only. 1. Introduction Middle East. Dev. J. Downloaded from www.worldscientific.com The overthrow of a series of long-term dictatorships was clearly the major aim of the revolutionaries of the so-called `Arab Spring'. And remarkably successful they were. In a relatively short period of time, three republican presidents for life (Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, Hosni Mubarak, and Muammar Qadda¯) have been deposed, two others (Bashar Hafez al-Assad and Ali Abdullah Saleh) have been forced into the ¯ght of their lives to defend themselves, and two others again (Abdelaziz Boute°ika and Omar al-Bashir) much weakened, although by a variety of forces not all directly connected with an active youth rebellion.
    [Show full text]
  • Yemen's National Dialogue
    arab uprisings Yemen’s National Dialogue March 21, 2013 MOHAMMED HUWAIS/AFP/GETTY IMAGES HUWAIS/AFP/GETTY MOHAMMED POMEPS Briefings 19 Contents Overcoming the Pitfalls of Yemen’s National Dialogue . 5 Consolidating Uncertainty in Yemen . 7 Can Yemen be a Nation United? . 10 Yemen’s Southern Intifada . 13 Best Friends Forever for Yemen’s Revolutionaries? . 18 A Shake Up in Yemen’s GPC? . 21 Hot Pants: A Visit to Ousted Yemeni Leader Ali Abdullah Saleh’s New Presidential Museum . .. 23 Triage for a fracturing Yemen . 26 Building a Yemeni state while losing a nation . 32 Yemen’s Rocky Roadmap . 35 Don’t call Yemen a “failed state” . 38 The Project on Middle East Political Science The Project on Middle East Political Science (POMEPS) is a collaborative network which aims to increase the impact of political scientists specializing in the study of the Middle East in the public sphere and in the academic community . POMEPS, directed by Marc Lynch, is based at the Institute for Middle East Studies at the George Washington University and is supported by the Carnegie Corporation and the Social Science Research Council . It is a co-sponsor of the Middle East Channel (http://mideast .foreignpolicy .com) . For more information, see http://www .pomeps .org . Online Article Index Overcoming the Pitfalls of Yemen’s National Dialogue http://mideast .foreignpolicy .com/posts/2013/03/18/overcoming_the_pitfalls_of_yemen_s_national_dialogue Consolidating Uncertainty in Yemen http://mideast .foreignpolicy .com/posts/2013/02/22/consolidating_uncertainty_in_yemen
    [Show full text]
  • S/Prst/2013/3
    United Nations S/PRST/2013/3 Security Council Distr.: General 15 February 2013 Original: English Statement by the President of the Security Council At the 6922nd meeting of the Security Council, held on 15 February 2013, in connection with the Council’s consideration of the item entitled “The situation in the Middle East”, the President of the Security Council made the following statement on behalf of the Council: “The Security Council welcomes President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi’s announcement of the launch of the National Dialogue Conference on 18 March and commends those that have engaged constructively in the preparatory stages of the process. The Security Council also welcomes the issuance of a decree regarding the formation of the Executive Bureau for the Mutual Accountability Framework. “The Security Council reiterates the need for the transitional period to be a Yemeni-led process, underpinned by a commitment to democracy, good governance, rule of law, national reconciliation and respect for the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all people in Yemen. “The Security Council emphasizes the need for the National Dialogue Conference to be conducted in an inclusive manner involving the full participation of all segments of Yemeni society, including representatives from the South and other regions, and the full and effective participation of youth and women, as stipulated in the final report of the Preparatory Committee. The Security Council calls upon all parties to honour the timetable and benchmarks set out in the transition agreement and for all sides to act in good faith, in a peaceful, transparent, constructive, and reconciliatory manner.
    [Show full text]
  • Banks of Downgraded S&P Rating Extends to Pharmaceuticals
    AILY EWS MONDAY, MAY 13, 2013 N D ISSUE NO. 2190 NEWSTAND PRICE LE 4.00 EGYPT www.thedailynewsegypt.com Egypt’s Only Daily Independent Newspaper In English MENA COORDINATOR IN CAIRO A PASSIVE POWER RUNNIN’ ‘rOUND IN CAIRO White House coordinator for the Defence Minister Al-Sisi says the Cairo Runners’s half marathon Middle East, North Africa and the Armed Forces will not intervene in proved to be impressively Gulf Region Philip Gordon comes political affairs or begin policing organised, even while they ran in to Cairo 2 the streets 3 Egypt’s traffic-lawless streets 8 Central Bank receives $3bn Court to rule on Shura Council next month Qatari deposit for bonds The court said the verdict regarding the legality of the BONDS TO MATURE IN THREE YEARS WITH 3.5% INTEREST RATE Shura Council and Constituent Assembly, a case that began last year, will be announced on 2 June By Hend Kortam ing, forcing the court to suspend its activity. The Supreme Constitutional Court By the time the court reconvened will announce the verdict regarding the the new constitution had passed. status of the Shura Council on 2 June. The new constitution transfers full The case regarding the upper legislative authority to the Shura house of parliament had been re- Council until a new lower house, ferred to the State Commissioners renamed the House of Representa- Authority, an advisory panel of ex- tives, is elected. perts, to give its recommendations The constitution also bestows new since the status of the legislature has legislative powers on the council in changed after the adoption of the general, in addition to the ones it held constitution.
    [Show full text]
  • Women's Rights and Civic Activism in Yemen's Endless
    WHAT THE WOMEN SAY We Will Survive: Women’s Rights and Civic Activism in Yemen’s Endless War International International Civil Society Action Network Winter 2016 Brief 14 Key Issues • Civilian casualties topped 8100 as bombing and shelling continued in January 2016. The UN states that 80% of Yemen’s population is in need of emergency aid, and some 65% have no access to basic healthcare. • Oxfam reports that rates of early marriage for girls are escalating due to the hardships of war and over 30% of displaced families headed by women facing greater difficulties accessing aid. • The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights found that "almost two-thirds of reported civilian deaths had allegedly been caused by coalition airstrikes, which were also responsible for almost two-thirds of damaged or destroyed civilian public buildings including schools, hospitals, food and beverage factories. • Despite the war, Yemen has a vibrant political landscape and an appetite for For Women’s Rights, Peace, and Security Peace, Rights, Women’s For grassroots change. Retaining that vibrancy, bolstering civil society and channeling ICAN it into an inclusive peace process—should be a key objective of any international ICAN is a registered non-profit, US involvement in Yemen. based organization whose mission is • The last five years gave a new generation of female activists the tools and the to support civil society activism in confidence to demand their rightful place in the next phase of Yemeni democracy. promoting women’s rights, peace and • In the National Dialogue Conference (NDC) women made important advances in human security in countries affected by conflict, transition and closed ensuring their effective political participation) and securing rights in the draft political space.
    [Show full text]
  • The List Established and Maintained Pursuant to Security Council Res. 2140 (2014) Generated On: 19 October 2020 "Generated
    Res. 2140 (2014) List The List established and maintained pursuant to Security Council res. 2140 (2014) Generated on: 19 October 2020 "Generated on refers to the date on which the user accessed the list and not the last date of substantive update to the list. Information on the substantive list updates are provided on the Council / Committee’s website." Composition of the List The list consists of the two sections specified below: A. Individuals B. Entities and other groups Information about de-listing may be found at: https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/ombudsperson (for res. 1267) https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/sanctions/delisting (for other Committees) https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/content/2231/list (for res. 2231) A. Individuals YEi.001 Name: 1: ABD 2: AL-KHALIQ 3: AL-HOUTHI 4: na ﻋﺒﺪاﻟﺨﺎﻟﻖ اﻟﺤﻮﺛﻲ :(Name (original script Title: na Designation: Huthi military commander DOB: 1984 POB: na Good quality a.k.a.: a) Abd-al-Khaliq al-Huthi b) Abd-al-Khaliq Badr-al-Din al Huthi c) ‘Abd al-Khaliq Badr al-Din al-Huthi d) Abd al-Khaliq al-Huthi Low quality a.k.a.: Abu-Yunus Nationality: Yemen Passport no: na National identification no: na Address: na Listed on: 7 Nov. 2014 (amended on 20 Nov. 2014, 26 Aug. 2016) Other information: Gender [Male]. INTERPOL- UN Security Council Special Notice web link: https://www.interpol.int/en/How-we-work/Notices/View-UN-Notices- Individuals click here YEi.002 Name: 1: ABDULLAH 2: YAHYA 3: AL HAKIM 4: na ﻋﺒﺪ ﷲ ﻳﺤﻴﻰ اﻟﺤﺎﻛﻢ :(Name (original script Title: na Designation: Huthi group second-in-command DOB: a) Approximately 1985 b) Between 1984 and 1986 POB: a) Dahyan, Yemen b) Sa'dah Governorate, Yemen Good quality a.k.a.: a) Abu Ali al Hakim b) Abu- Ali al-Hakim c) Abdallah al-Hakim d) Abu Ali Alhakim e) Abdallah al-Mu’ayyad Low quality a.k.a.: na Nationality: Yemen Passport no: na National identification no: na Address: Dahyan, Sa’dah Governorate, Yemen Listed on: 7 Nov.
    [Show full text]
  • The Development of Yemes Diplomacy with the United States on the Government of President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi
    The Development of Yemes Diplomacy with the United States on the Government of President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi Yon Mahmudi1, Muhammad Syauqillah1 and Karen1 1School of Strategic and Global Studies Keywords: foreign policy, cooperation, military, security, Yemen and United States Abstract: The purpose of this research is to know the foreign policy of Yemen led by President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi; to identify the form of Yemeni international cooperation with the United States particularly the political and economic aid during the reign of President Abdullah Mansour Hadi. This study applied the qualitative method in the research. The results of the survey reveal that Abdurrahman Mansour Hadi seeks to fight the Houthi and protect Yemen with diplomatic way, both in the form of political and economic aid. Yemen's foreign policy in the government of President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi aims to muster political power by engaging with other countries in the face of Yemeni internal conflicts such as Saudi Arabia, Iran. This paper will specifically focus on the relation of Yemen government with The United States; The form of cooperation between Yemen and the United States, among others, military training, army support of more personnel, intelligence exchange and joint operations in combating theorists in the Middle East region. 1 INTRODUCTION revolutionary movement in the Saadah region bordering on Saudi Arabia. Assistance provided by During the reign of Ali Abdullah Saleh, when the Saudi Arabia is in the form of logistic and military. entrenched poverty, violence, chaos, hit the nation, The United Nations helped the involvement of the United States and found out that Iran provided and corruption ensued Ali Abdullah Saleh, Hewas incapable of creating internal exclusion and stability, missile technology for Yemen's Shia guerrillas, Al- resulting in frequent conflicts between regions, Houthi.
    [Show full text]
  • Overview of the Conflict in Yemen
    OVERVIEW OF THE CONFLICT IN YEMEN Who’s Who President Ali Abdullah Causes Saleh, former President of The 2011 popular revolts in Yemen forced then President Ali Abdullah Saleh out of power, against the Yemen, forced backdrop of corruption and failed governance accusations. President Saleh was replaced by his deputy Abu to step down in Rabbu Mansour Hadi, who attempted to address grievances. However, his plans received minimal support and 2011 after 33 was opposed by different factions. The Huthis then capitalized on popular discontent and began the years in power. consolidation of their control first in their stronghold of Sa’da and the capital Sana’a. The power expansion was facilitated by their newly forged alliance with former President Saleh. Following the Huthis’ takeover of Sana’a Abd Rabbu in 2015, President Hadi and his government were forced to flee. By 25 March 2015, a Coalition of states led Mansour Hadi, by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) intervened at the request of President Hadi, with the aim current of restoring the internationally recognized government to power. President of In December 2017, the Huthis further consolidated their control after assassinating their ally and former the president Ali Abdullah Saleh, and currently remain in control of most population centres, including Sana’a. internationally recognized Human Toll in numbers Yemeni state. 6,872+ civilians killed and 10,768+ wounded since 2015 Huthis, armed 22 million+ people in need of humanitarian assistance group based in 2.2 million forced from their homes by the fighting the north of Nearly 394,000 children under the age of five suffer from malnutrition the country, 1 million+ people suffered from cholera whose 2,200+ people were affected by diphtheria members 2 million+ children are out of school in Yemen follow Zaidism, 14 million people are facing famine an off-shoot of International human rights and humanitarian law violations Shi’a Islam.
    [Show full text]
  • Politics, Governance, and Reconstruction in Yemen January 2018 Contents
    POMEPS STUDIES 29 Politics, Governance, and Reconstruction in Yemen January 2018 Contents Introduction . .. 3 Collapse of the Houthi-Saleh alliance and the future of Yemen’s war . 9 April Longley Alley, International Crisis Group In Yemen, 2018 looks like it will be another grim year . 15 Peter Salisbury, Chatham House Middle East and North Africa Programme Popular revolution advances towards state building in Southern Yemen . 17 Susanne Dahlgren, University of Tampere/National University of Singapore Sunni Islamist dynamics in context of war: What happened to al-Islah and the Salafis? . 23 Laurent Bonnefoy, Sciences Po/CERI Impact of the Yemen war on militant jihad . 27 Elisabeth Kendall, Pembroke College, University of Oxford Endgames for Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in Yemen . 31 Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy Yemen’s war as seen from the local level . 34 Marie-Christine Heinze, Center for Applied Research in Partnership with the Orient (CARPO) and Hafez Albukari, Yemen Polling Center (YPC) Yemen’s education system at a tipping point: Youth between their future and present survival . 39 Mareike Transfeld, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin Graduate School of Muslim Cultures and Societies Gasping for hope: Yemeni youth struggle for their future . 43 Ala Qasem, Resonate! Yemen Supporting and failing Yemen’s transition: Critical perspectives on development agencies . 46 Ala’a Jarban, Concordia University The rise and fall and necessity of Yemen’s youth movements . 51 Silvana Toska, Davidson College A diaspora denied: Impediments to Yemeni mobilization for relief and reconstruction at home . 55 Dana M. Moss, University of Pittsburgh War and De-Development .
    [Show full text]
  • Yemen: Civil War and Regional Intervention Name Redacted Specialist in Middle Eastern Affairs
    Yemen: Civil War and Regional Intervention name redacted Specialist in Middle Eastern Affairs December 6, 2017 Congressional Research Service 7-.... www.crs.gov R43960 Yemen: Civil War and Regional Intervention Summary This report provides information on the ongoing crisis in Yemen. Since March 2015, Saudi Arabia and members of a coalition it established have been engaged in military operations against an alliance composed of the Houthi movement and loyalists of the previous President, Ali Abdullah Saleh. In early December 2017, the Houthi-Saleh alliance unraveled, culminating in the killing of former president Saleh on December 4, 2017. The killing of Saleh and the end of his forces’ alliance with the Houthis may have changed the dynamic of the war. In the coming months, it is possible that on-the-ground fighting may escalate, as the Saudi-led coalition and remnants of Saleh’s allies join forces to isolate the Houthis. Health facilities in Yemen reported 8,757 conflict-related deaths and over 50,000 injuries from the start of hostilities in March 2015 through October 2017. However, due to the high number of nonfunctional health facilities in Yemen as a result of the war, the United Nations estimates that the death toll in Yemen is significantly underreported. The actual number of casualties is likely much higher, with more than 2,200 Yemeni deaths associated with a cholera outbreak alone in 2017. On November 4, 2017, the Houthis fired a ballistic missile into Saudi Arabia. In response, the Saudi-led coalition accused Iran of supplying more sophisticated missile technology to the Houthis, and said in a statement that the attack “could rise to be considered as an act of war” by Iran.
    [Show full text]
  • 315 Political Participation and Democratic Transition In
    03_KHATIB (DO NOT DELETE) 4/9/2013 3:46 PM POLITICAL PARTICIPATION AND DEMOCRATIC TRANSITION IN THE ARAB WORLD LINA KHATIB* 1. INTRODUCTION The Arab Spring has brought about a fundamental change in the dynamics of political participation in the Arab world. Under the authoritarian systems in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Syria, and other Arab countries, formal political participation was largely restricted to regime-affiliated party activity, co-opted civil society participation, or voting in nontransparent and often fraudulent elections. Informal political participation, through social networks, underground political movements, and social movements, was often the only way for citizens to challenge their regimes.1 Although the Arab Spring did not completely reverse this trend across Arab countries, it has brought, at an astonishing speed, a number of key improvements that facilitate formal political participation, particularly in Egypt and Tunisia. But there are also a number of important challenges, old and new, facing formal political participation in the Arab world in this era of democratic transition. The aim of this Article is to map out the key opportunities and challenges for political participation post-Arab Spring, and the way forward for formal political participation in the region as it negotiates democratic transition. 2. POLITICAL PARTICIPATION AND DEMOCRATIC TRANSITION Political participation and democratic transition are tightly linked. Not only is viable transition dependent on viable political participation, the way forward for political participation is also * Lina Khatib heads the Program on Arab Reform and Democracy at Stanford University’s Center on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law. The author thanks Ahmed Elsisi and Elizabeth Buckner for their assistance with researching this Article.
    [Show full text]