Archive: yemen

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… Read more
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,… Read more
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,… Read more
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… Read more
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
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… Read more
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
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
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… Read more
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