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Conflict in Yemen: a Sectarian Strife Or Petro-Geopolitics?

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Conflict in Yemen: a Sectarian Strife Or Petro-Geopolitics? International Journal of Humanities and Social Science Invention (IJHSSI) ISSN (Online): 2319 – 7722, ISSN (Print): 2319 – 7714 www.ijhssi.org ||Volume 7 Issue 01||January. 2018 || PP.20-25 Conflict in Yemen: A Sectarian Strife or Petro-geopolitics? Dr. S. Fazal D. Firdausi1, Dr. Anshu2 Assistant Professor, CEC, Savitribai Phule Pune University (University of Pune), Pune Associate Professor, Department of Geography, Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi, Delhi Corresponding Author: Dr. S. Fazal D. Firdausi Abstract: Spatial distribution of Petroleum resources and the pattern of its usage is muddled with conflicts and battles for space and power played out in diverse geographical settings. Huge oil reserves and very low cost of production makes the Middle East most outstanding economic region of the world. Yemen, one among the poorest countries of the world has been reeling under multiple crises for years. Currently civil war is going between pro-government and Houthi groups. The situation is proving to be more complex due to the presence of other terrorist groups such as al-Qaeda and ISIS. Yemen has not been endowed with huge oil reserves like other of its Arab counterparts. But it lies on the nerve centre of oil transit and transport to Europe, USA and Asia due to its proximity to Bab-el-Mandeb Strait and Gulf of Aden. Its strategic location manifold increases its geopolitical significance. The on-going strife in Yemen may be interpreted as sectarian or having petro- geopolitical connotations, the only group losing all battles are the poor and common people. Problem in Yemen is soon going to become a huge humanitarian crisis, since millions are being deprived of life-sustaining commodities and basic services. Keywords: Conflict, Geo-strategy, Oil Choke-Point, Petro-geopolitics, Strait ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------- Date of Submission: 03-11-2017 Date of acceptance: 09-12-2017 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------- I. Introduction Oil and Natural Gas, as a source of energy has remained engine of economic growth since the beginning of 20th century. Many believe that the utility of petroleum and natural gas is limited because it is used as fuel for motor vehicles and power generation. However, they are unaware that its derivatives are equally useful and economically lucrative. It is one of the most diverse and multi-functional resource of the World. Spatial distribution of petroleum resources and its pattern of usage is muddled with conflicts and battles for space and power, played out in diverse geographical settings. Geographical space becoming arena of political power play relates it to geopolitics, a discipline defined as analysis of the interaction between geographical settings, perspectives and political processes. Since, both geographical settings and political processes are dynamic, each influences and is influenced by other (Cohen, 2003). Currently the Middle Eastern region accounted for 65 per cent of World‟s proven oil resources. Out of the total OPECs proven oil reserves about 72 per cent is located in this regioni. These huge oil reserves and very low cost of production makes the Middle East most outstanding economic region of the world. The presence of vast energy resources has proved to be a mix of blessings and misfortune for the region. The region has remained affected by inter-state wars and intermittent conflicts between states, non-state actors such as Arab-Israeli conflict, the issue of Palestine, closing of Suez Canal, Iran-Iraq conflict, Iraq-Kuwait war, insurgents in Libya and Iraq, conflict between North and South Yemen and the rising terror of ISIS. Moreover, these events are intrinsically linked with control over resources – mainly oil and natural gas fields, its transit and transport. Such regional wars and struggles not only affect the polity and economy of Middle Eastern states it also affects oil consumers throughout the World. Most of the Middle Eastern nations are part of Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) are responsible for its pricing and worldwide availability. Any change in oil prices and availability affects political stability, economic growth and international security of the consumer nations as well. The contemporary energy-driven contentions among producing, transit and market states determine the World‟s energy security architecture (Olayele, 2014). Political Crisis in Yemen Yemen, one among the poorest countries of the world has been reeling under multiple crises for years. It is consistently facing shortage of food, water and oil for its rapidly growing population. Yemen has often remained in headlines for US drone strikes and Al-Qaeda‟s most active franchise in Arabian Peninsula. It has again become a centre of media‟s attention due to escalating regional rivalry between neighbouring countries, involved in Yemen‟s on-going civil strife. The current crisis in Yemen could be traced back to its own Arab www.ijhssi.org 20 | Page Conflict in Yemen: A Sectarian Strife or Petro-geopolitics? Spring, which led to the removal of President Ali Abdullah Saleh in 2011, who ruled the country for 33 years. Ali Abdullah Saleh famously compared his job to „dancing on heads of snakes‟. Overseeing the political crisis Saudi Arabia, its Gulf allies and western partners supported Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi. Hadi got elected in 2012. As a Sunni, he had strong backing of Sunni majority in Yemen and largely recognised by international community. It temporarily avoided the civil war but failed to introduce more fundamental changes in administration and economy. Hadi also attempted to reform the military but it backfired very badly. Strife started between Hadi‟s government and Houthi rebels, who call themselves „Anasar Allah‟ (supporters of Allah), belong to Zaydi sect of Shia Islam and represents about 20-30 % of Yemen‟s populationii. Houthis demand for greater autonomy in the northern region of Yemen. They ousted Hadi government from Sana‟a and captured several places in Yemen. Due to proximity of Houthis to Iran, Saudi Arabia formed a coalition of more than 10 countries to protect Hadi government and started air-strikes against key positions of Houthi rebels in northern Yemen and in and around Sana‟a. The conflict is becoming a grave humanitarian concern. According to United Nations by November, 2015 at least 5878 people have been killed and 27,867 others have been wounded since the escalation of conflict between forces loyal to the exiled President Mansour Hadi and those allied to Houthi rebel movement. The destruction of infrastructure and restriction on imports against rebels has led to 21.2 million people being deprived of life-sustaining commodities and basic services. Almost 16 million population, or 16% are in need of some kind of humanitarian assistance.iii The conflict has reached 21 out of 22 of Yemen‟s provinces and shows no sign of ending. More than 2.5 million people have been displaced internally; an additional 121,000 people have fled from the country. Yemen usually imports 90% of its food. Due to naval embargo and fighting along Aden imports have slowed down, causing severe shortages of food leading to price rise. These conditions have manifold increased the problems of already disadvantaged poor population of Yemen.iv Strategic Importance of Yemen Until recently, the concept of a single unified Yemen was a state of mind rather than a political reality. This has not always been so, Southern Arabia has alternated between one state, usually ruled from the highlands of North Yemen, and a fragmented form of political control, with numerous competing forces and sphere of influence. Much of this is due to region‟s geography, which has always played a major role in its historical developmentv.The present republic of Yemen is located in the South-west corner of the Arabian Peninsula, bounded on two sides by the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, and on the landward side by frontiers with Saudi Arabia to the north and Oman to the eastern borders, which are still not completely demarcated. The republic also possesses various small groups of Islands in the Red Sea, and much larger Island of Socotria in the Gulf of Aden, which is closer to the continent of Africa than it is so to the coast of Arabia. The westernmost part of Yemen is the coastal strip bordering Red Sea, known as the „Tihamah‟, it is hot, sandy, dry and was formerly badly affected by malaria. Inland part is the central highlands, where relatively abundant rainfall has allowed communities to practice agriculture for thousands of years. In former northern Yemen, the mountain rise to the maximum of 12,000 feet and many towns and villages until recently were accessible only on foot or by pack- animals. The capital Sana‟a lies about 7000 feet and as one travels eastwards rainfall declines and mountains become less dominantvi Although the strategic importance of Yemen is not same as of other major oil producing countries of the middle east, still it has great strategic significance for Arabian Peninsula in general and Saudi Arabia in particular. Yemen may be a small country, but it has a population of 26.1 million, which is having one of the highest population growth rates in the world. The proportion of young population (<24 years) is nearly 63%. These demographic and economic realities have created one of the world‟s most fertile grounds for extremism, terrorism and sectarian struggles. Saudi Arabia also faces threat from Yemeni illegal immigration, smuggling and hostile political forces, many of these illegal immigrants are from unstable countries like Somalia, and therefore any instability in Yemen could have serious repercussions on peace and good order of Arab nationsvii. It is also very important to note that Yemen‟s territory and islands play a critical role due to the presence of global oil „chokepoint‟ at the south-eastern end of Red Sea as „Bab-el-Mandeb‟ or „gate of tears‟.
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