Archive: yemen

7th March 2010
By: Brian Whitaker
An article for the Jamestown Foundation's Terrorism Monitor takes a brief but interesting look at the social roots of al-Qaeda in Yemen. The author, Murad Batal al-shishani, says al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (as the Yemen-based network is known) is dominated by Yemenis (56%) with Saudis… Read more
5th March 2010
By: Brian Whitaker
A demonstrator was shot dead by security forces in Yemen yesterday as he tried to remove a Yemeni flag from a government building and hoist a southern flag in its place during a separatist protest. The shooting, in Radfan (Lahej province), is reported by Reuters and DPA. Meanwhile, more details… Read more
3rd March 2010
By: Brian Whitaker
Last December, the United States provided "firepower and other aid" for air strikes against suspected al-Qaeda militants in Yemen. At the time it was hailed as a great success. President Obama even phoned President Salih and "praised Yemen's efforts in the fight on terrorism, particularly [the]… Read more
3rd March 2010
By: Brian Whitaker
It's strange how Reuters grandly describes the prominent Yemeni separatist, Ali Salim al-Baidh, as "an exiled former president of South Yemen". At a stretch, it's technically correct but it's also misleading. Al-Baidh was secretary-general of the Socialist Party during the last few years of its… Read more
2nd March 2010
By: Brian Whitaker
Security forces in southern Yemen raided a house in Zinjibar (Abyan province) early on Monday and a gun battle ensued. Several people were killed, including Ali Saleh al-Yafei, his wife and at least two children, plus two or more soldiers. Reports differ on the number of casualties. According to… Read more
1st March 2010
By: Brian Whitaker
Separatist demonstrations continued in Yemen yesterday, the second of “two days of southern anger” called to send a message to the international donors’ conference in Riyadh. Twenty-one people were reportedly arrested as result of Saturday’s protests. The authorities switched off mobile phone… Read more
28th February 2010
By: Brian Whitaker
Thousands took to the streets of southern Yemen yesterday in protests timed to coincide with a meeting of the country’s international donors. Demonstrations were reported in the main towns of four provinces – Dhali, Lahij, Abyan and Hadramawt – but there seem to have been only minor outbreaks of… Read more
25th February 2010
By: Brian Whitaker
With the suspension of hostilities between the government and the Houthi rebels in northern Yemen, this seems like a suitable moment for a brief update on the continuing separatist troubles in the south. It is difficult to get an accurate picture because independent reporting of events in the south… Read more
12th February 2010
By: Brian Whitaker
After six months, the latest round in Yemen's pointless war with the Houthi rebels is officially over. An agreed ceasefire was declared at midnight on Thursday. But a ceasefire is not the same as lasting peace. It doesn't mean the Yemeni government can sit back and do nothing (as is likely to… Read more
11th February 2010
By: Brian Whitaker
On the face of it, the Arab Gulf states have every reason to want to help Yemen: if it finally tips over the brink, they will be among the first to suffer. But while none of them wants to see Yemen turn into another Somalia, the idea of a stable, prosperous Yemen is something they also find rather… Read more