Yemen is one of the least known Arab countries and one of the most misunderstood. For outsiders, it can be a baffling place – a wayward republic among the Arabian monarchies, a society that is still largely tribal (and heavily armed to boot), a place where millions while away their afternoons… Read more
Archive: yemen
13th February 2014
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The year 1990 marked what many Yemenis hoped would be the start of a new era when the northern and southern states – relics of British and Turkish imperialism – merged into one.
The British had taken Aden as a colony in 1839 and then extended their authority in the… Read more
13th November 2013
An article in the Washington Post by David Ignatius reveals previously unreported French involvement in Yemen's Houthi conflict last year.
It says that the Saudis asked the US for imagery from surveillance satellites to assist their bombing of rebel positions in Yemen, but this was blocked by the… Read more
22nd July 2013
Hashim al-Asimi, a 20-year-old Yemeni, was heading home last Monday night when two men on a motorbike approached and shot him dead.
Drive-by killings involving unlicensed motorbikes are a regular occurrence in Yemen and usually they are blamed on militants linked to al-Qaeda. Mostly, these attacks… Read more
9th June 2013
On May 29, Alaa Jarban did something that no one in Yemen had ever dared to do before. Using his real name, he announced in a blog post: "I'm Queer".
Alaa, a 23-year-old graduate of Sanaa University, was a prominent youth activist in the revolution that toppled President Saleh and his coming out… Read more
18th May 2013
In a little-noticed move, President Obama signed an executive order this week extending "the national emergency with respect to Yemen" for a further 12 months. The official announcement says:
"The actions and policies of certain members of the Government of Yemen and others continue to threaten… Read more
11th April 2013
Yemen's "interim" president, Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi, issued a series of decrees yesterday which have been hailed as his boldest move yet towards curbing the influence of ex-President Saleh's family.
Saleh's son, Ahmad – formerly in charge of the Republican Guard – was named as Yemen's new… Read more
24th March 2013
Considering that Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi has been president of Yemen for just over a year, it's remarkable how little is known about him. Even during his 18 years as ex-president Saleh's deputy he remained mostly below the radar. It was intriguing, therefore, to see a photo of the future president… Read more
16th February 2013
The UN Security Council yesterday welcomed Yemen's National Dialogue, after Russian objections (reported here yesterday) were overcome.
The statement issued yesterday names both ex-President Saleh and southern separatist leader Ali Salim al-Baidh in connection with "reports of interference" in… Read more
15th February 2013
Russia has prevented the UN Security Council from issuing a presidential statement welcoming Yemen's National Dialoguewhich is due to start on 18 March.
According to diplomats cited by the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), Russia objected to a paragraph mentioning "persistent allegations" against ex-… Read more
ARAB ART ONLINE: Susan Hefuna: Al Sabr Gamil (Patience is Beautiful) 2007. Ink stained on wood 140 x 170 cm. More information | Click to enlarge
