The strategic city of Marib saw an increase in fighting on several fronts. The Houthis have been reinforcing their positions in the area, which they attempted to seize in a massive and costly offensive two years ago. Should negotiations break down, Marib is seen as a likely area of renewed contestation due to its oil and gas resources. A new…
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Read also in Publications
Saudi-UAE Spat Comes to a Head in Hadramawt August 15, 2023 Yemen Review section
Two Birds With One Stone: Using Aid Transfers to Support Stable Commodity Prices in Yemen August 4, 2023 Main Publications
Extreme Weather and the Role of Early Warning Systems in Yemen: Al-Mahra as a Case Study August 3, 2023 Main Publications
The Presidential Council’s Year of Failure July 11, 2023 Analysis
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What Remains of the Hashid’s Power? The Rise and Fall of Yemen’s Most Powerful Tribe
A decade of seismic shifts in Yemen’s political landscape has seen the influence of one of its most powerful tribes wane. Among Yemenis and observers alike, however, developments within the Hashid tribal confederation continue to be closely watched, and merit closer scrutiny. The Hashid’s large presence in Amran, which borders the governorate of Sana’a from the north, has historically been…
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Yemeni Women and Changes in Public Space Over Time: An Interview with Helen Lackner
Helen Lackner is one of the foremost scholars focused on the history of the conflict in Yemen. A renowned and prolific author, she lived and worked in Yemen for more than 15 years, working on social aspects of rural development. Currently a non-resident fellow at the Sana’a Center, Lackner sat down to detail observable changes to women’s daily lives and…
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UN, US Continue Shuttle Diplomacy
The UN-led peace process has remained stalled since a formal truce expired without extension last October, and has since been superseded by direct bilateral talks between Saudi Arabia and the Houthi group (Ansar Allah). Nevertheless, the UN and US special envoys have continued to actively consult with the respective belligerents. On August 9, UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg…
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Sana'a Center Editoral In Gulf Rivalry, Yemen is Collateral Damage
Recent revelations of bad blood between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates confirm what observers of Yemeni politics have long known – that the relationship between the two countries leading the military campaign to restore the internationally recognized government has deteriorated to an alarming degree. On the ground, the rift is contributing to political and economic instability, and escalating…
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Absent from the Negotiation Table and Shunned from Public Life: Yemeni Women at a Crossroads
Across the globe, women share the burden of being largely excluded from decision-making bodies, but few are feeling it as acutely as Yemeni women. An almost decade-long war, coupled with a feminist, civil, and democratic experience that is yet unripe, and a strong patriarchal social system, have made it exceptionally hard for women to engage in public life. These factors,…
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Recovering Lost Ground in Shabwa’s Oil Sector
Shabwa’s oil sector has developed in fits and starts. Its first commercially viable oil reserves were discovered in 1987 when the governorate was still part of South Yemen. In 1990, South Yemen united with North Yemen to form the Republic of Yemen, which enlisted foreign energy companies to help develop the nascent oil industry. This included the construction of a…
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Temperatures, Tensions Roil Government – The Yemen Review, June and July 2023
Summer has been dominated by rising tensions among the Saudi-led coalition, as competition between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates continues to undermine the internationally recognized government. The current phase of the rivalry is centered on Hadramawt, the vast eastern governorate bordering Saudi Arabia that has seen repeated bouts of political and military agitation. Saudi talks with the Houthi…
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Saudi Arabia Announces US$1.2 Billion in New Financial Support
Long-waited financial support for the government finally materialized after it reached a dire fiscal situation in June and July. On August 1, Saudi Arabia announced it would support the internationally recognized government with a US$1.2 billion grant to finance the public budget and prop up the value of the Yemeni rial. Saudi Ambassador to Yemen Mohammed al-Jaber stated that the…
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Tribal Tension and Mobilization in Al-Jawf
The latter part of June and early July saw increased tensions in the region straddling the Al-Jawf-Marib border, as Houthi forces began clashing with tribal fighters in an attempt to fortify the area. Following clashes with pro-government forces on June 11 on fronts in eastern Al-Hazm district in the areas of Al-Rayyan, Al-Shahla, Al-Nusoud, and Al-Jadafer, large groups of Houthi…
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