Women

Cybersecurity has become an inseparable part of national security and stability, as the digital realm now encompasses communications, administration, services, and vital data. With the growing reliance on digital services, the potential risks from technical vulnerabilities and the absence of institutional protection are rising. In Yemen, cybersecurity is constrained by limited technical infrastructure and weak institutional frameworks governing data access.…

The governorate of Shabwa possesses a unique geography, ranging from fertile plains to long coastlines, mountain highlands, and vast deserts. It also holds rich natural resources, such as oil and gas. This natural wealth made it the site of the largest investment project in Yemen: the Balhaf liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal. However, Balhaf and other hydrocarbon projects in the…

The December incursion of the Southern Transitional Council (STC) into eastern Yemen appeared at first to be a resounding success for the UAE-backed secessionist movement. It was accompanied by triumphal pronouncements in southern media about the imminent resurrection of a southern state. But the rapid advance into the oil-rich hinterland, displacing pro-government and tribal forces, quickly unraveled in the face…

Over the past two years, Yemen's digital landscape has transformed into a battleground for legitimacy, control, and the shaping of public opinion. As the Houthi group (Ansar Allah) has intensified its campaign of arrests targeting local and international humanitarian workers, including United Nations (UN) and international non-governmental organization (INGO) staff, the social media platform X has emerged as a central…

This paper explores the significant yet often overlooked role of youth in Yemen’s transitional justice process. It is premised on the belief that any peace settlement must be accompanied by a transitional justice process to ensure its sustainability and to address all forms of injustice and violations that have occurred during the war. Crucially, it argues that any transitional justice…

National dialogues have been used as instruments to resolve political crises and pave the way for political transitions and sustainable peace. They have emerged in the context of transitional countries struggling with complex legacies of violence and political instability, including Afghanistan, Mexico, Somalia, and Colombia. Since then, they have evolved into instruments used in a wider variety of national contexts…

Three weeks after Prime Minister Shayea al-Zindani was tasked with forming a government, a notably large cabinet was announced, comprising 35 ministers, including eight ministers of state (see full list and bios below). Since the start of the war, Yemen has seen successive changes in the premiership without corresponding changes in the government, and the formation of quota-based cabinets in…

— Testament of a local resident who witnessed the US raid on Yakla, Al-Bayda, in 2017. With its central location bordering eight other governorates, Al Bayda is considered one of Yemen's most important regions. It was on the frontline between North and South Yemen prior to unification in 1990. Its predominantly Shafi’i (Sunni) population had a history of conflict with…

Yemen has been at the heart of Helen Lackner’s life for more than half a century. A distinguished and prolific author and non-resident fellow at the Sana’a Center, Lackner has covered topics as diverse as climate change, economic collapse, women’s role in society, and the historical roots of the ongoing conflict. The depth and breadth of her work have made…

Yemen’s energy sector is currently facing a severe crisis. For millions of Yemenis, accessing reliable electricity is a daily struggle, characterized by prolonged blackouts, limited fuel supplies, and deteriorating infrastructure, which in turn exacerbate the country's humanitarian conditions. This policy brief underscores the importance of a just and conflict-sensitive energy transition in Yemen, addressing the interconnected challenges of conflict, economic…