International Crisis Group
text only version
Yemen | Iraq/Iran/Gulf
CrisisWatch database
Recent reports and briefings

Yemen has made substantial progress since its unification in 1990. Nonetheless its widespread poverty, uneven distribution of scarce natural resources, heavily armed civilian population, the presence of al-Qaeda operatives, an ongoing dispute with southern secessionists, and its weak government have aggravated tribal, political and sectarian conflicts.
 
Yemen in many ways has the most open political system on the Arabian Peninsula, committed to developing instruments of a modern state and cooperating with international efforts to uproot the al-Qaeda network. It has faced a serious challenge, however, since the eruption of conflict in the country’s northern governorate of Saada in 2004.  Hundreds have been killed and thousands displaced as a result of the conflict between the government and the Huthi-led rebel group. The war has become increasingly complex and multilayered and is threatening to become a sectarian conflict between Zaydi Shiites and Shafei Sunnis. It involves a growing number of actors, including local tribes and other members of the Saada population, as well as possibly foreign actors. The conflict has spread to adjacent regions, even reaching the outskirts of the capital, Sanaa, in 2008.

In 2007 and 2008 Qatar mediation efforts succeeded in negotiating short-lived ceasefires, and a unilateral ceasefire declared by the government in July 2008 has led to a lull in fighting, though local skirmishes still persist and significant risk of a new eruption of violence remains. Thousands of people have been arbitrarily arrested during the four-year conflict, and some are still being detained despite the ceasefire. The international community has so far with few exceptions failed to recognise the gravity of the Saada conflict and its effect on Yemen’s political, sectarian and social balance.

Crisis Group will continue to monitor the conflict, the political and social climate and the security situation. In order to prevent the war’s continuation, traditional Yemeni instruments should be used by the government, such as inclusion of different political, social and religious groups. International actors should put more pressure on both the rebels and the government to compromise, while promising assistance in reconstruction and development.

Our reports for this project are listed below, starting with the most recent. You can also search for relevant reports using the search box in the top right hand side of this page.

Articles, op-eds, speeches and media releases can be found under the media section.


Recent reports & briefings