President Abdrabbo Mansour Hadi called for unity during a visit to Amran after it was briefly seized by Houthi rebels. The president called upon Amran residents to return to their homes, and announced the allocation of 5 billion rials to begin rebuilding the city.
NEW ANALYSIS
The “NGO-ization” of Yemen
Rooj Alwazir writes for Middle East Eye that despite the $6.2 billion pledged in aid since 2011, the lives of Yemenis remains troublingly frayed. Alwazir argues that aid to the NGO sector has been counter-productive, allowing for corruption to continue and undermining local movements for social change, often in support of Yemeni elites. [Middle East Eye, 7/23/2014]
Saving Yemen
Salman al-Dossary writes in Asharq Al-Awsat that Gulf States have abandoned Yemen after the success of the Gulf Initiative, allowing the situation to deteriorate. Al-Dossary argues that it will be no surprise if Yemen becomes a failed state, and this is a prospect that remains possible as long as the arena is left open to al-Qaeda on the one side and the Houthis on the other. [Asharq Al-Awsat, 7/22/2014]
Fall of Amran sends shock waves across Yemen
Maysaa Shuja al-Deen writes for Al Monitor that the causes of the Yemeni government’s failure to hold Amran against Houthi militias are deeply rooted in history. Al-Deen traces back Houthi grievances to tribal rivalry over power and territory with the Hashid tribe after the reunification in 1990. [Al Monitor, 7/21/2014]
POLITICAL PROCESS
Eid prayer unites Yemen’s political rivals
Eid prayer brought together the current and former Yemeni presidents for the first time since the 2011 uprising. Hours after his call for reconciliation and national unity, President Abdrabo Mansour Hadi along with former President Ali Abdullah Saleh and several senior political leaders performed Eid al-Fitr prayer inside el-Saleh Mosque in Sana’a. [Al Masdar (Arabic), 7/28/2014]
Constitution drafting committee makes progress on draft constitution
The constitution drafting committee announced on July 24 that they finished drafting the political, economic, and social foundations for the federalist state as well as the articles addressing the breakdown of the three branches of government: legislative, judicial, and executive. [Saba (Arabic), 7/24/2014]
INTERNATIONAL ENGAGEMENT
President Abdrabo Mansour Hadi receives G10 ambassadors
President Abdrabo Mansour Hadi received the group of ten (G10) countries ambassadors on July 27. During the meeting, President Hadi raised concern over the growing presence of regional powers aiming to impede the transitional process in Yemen. [Saba, 7/27/2014]
Yemen among US-honored development projects
The United States honored six development projects for helping some of the world’s most politically fragile countries. The projects included providing basic health and water services in Yemen. The awards recognize exceptional development impact and give insight into the United States’ priorities in overseas aid, including its focus on fragile states and food security. [Reuters, 7/23/2014]
SECURITY
Houthi rebels clash with locals in Jawf
Clashes broke out between Houthi rebels and Jawf residents after a peace deal failed to take effect, resulting in 100 casualties. The presidential commission from Sana’a tasked with brokering a peace deal to end the violence failed to reach an agreement with the rebels on July 28. [Sahafa (Arabic), Al Masdar (Arabic), 7/27/2014]
Car bombs kill soldiers in Abyan
Two soldiers and ten jihadists were killed as dozens of suspected al-Qaeda militants attacked three army posts in Abyan. Two car bombs exploded before reaching their targets, while a third went off at a base. [Al Arabiya, 7/27/2014]
Oil flow resumes after pipeline repair, oil shipments arrive from Aramco and Total
Yemen resumed pumping crude oil through its main export pipeline on July 24 after seven people were killed in brief clashes between soldiers and tribesmen. Meanwhile, Aden refineries announced the arrival of 75 thousand tons of crude oil shipments from Saudi Aramco and Total. [Reuters, Al Masdar (Arabic), 7/24/2014]
Yemeni officials killed by unknown gunmen in Lahj and Ibb
Major Belal Karo, commander of an army unit in Lahj, was shot dead by unidentified gunmen riding a motorbike in Lahj. Also on July 24, unidentified gunmen assassinated Colonel Antar, former assistant to the director-general of security in Ibb. [Al Masdar (Arabic), 7/24/2014]
Yemen’s al-Qaeda wing seeks to set up emirate in Hadramawt
Yemen’s al-Qaeda wing has ordered men and women in Hadramawt to obey its strict interpretation of Islamic law, saying it aimed to set up an emirate in the remote area. [Reuters, 7/22/2014]
ECONOMIC AND HUMANITARIAN ISSUES
UN official says Yemen could be first country to run out of water
Since the political crisis erupted in Yemen in 2011, the country has begun to move towards democracy. However, the United Nations World Food Programme representative in Yemen stated that, “many challenges remain in the country, [which is] wracked by civil unrest and widespread water and food insecurity.” [UNDP, 7/25/2014]
President Hadi visits Amran, allocates 5 billion rials for rebuilding
President Abdrabbo Mansour Hadi called for unity during a visit to Amran after it was briefly seized by Houthi rebels. The president called upon Amran residents to return to their homes, and announced the allocation of 5 billion rials to begin rebuilding the city. [Saba (Arabic), 7/23/2014]
UNESCO condemns looting in Socotra
The National Commission for the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) condemned the looting and destruction of archaeological sites that occurred recently in Socotra, Yemen. [Saba, 7/23/2014]
Yemenis struggle as government prepares to lift energy subsidies
President Hadi announced earlier this month that fuel prices will see a significant rise as the state prepares to slowly withdraw all financial rebate. However, frustration is already palpable among Yemenis even before the subsidies are lifted. Although reducing energy subsidies would be good news for the state budget since they cost about $3 billion last year, or a third of state revenue, the immediate impact of the reform may be politically explosive. [Albawaba, Yemen Post, 7/22/2014]