This podcast explores the Arab Spring revolution in Yemen, delving into the background conflicts and political landscape. The speaker, a Yemeni journalist and activist, shares his experiences leading protests in Sanaa and the hopes of a new dawn. The episode discusses escalating tensions, a violent incident during the revolution, and the explosion in the president's mosque. It also touches on political maneuvers and the hopes for a peaceful Yemen.
The Arab Spring in Yemen led to a bottom-up revolution driven by a people desperate for democracy.
Ali Abdullah Saleh's surprising alliance with the Houthis escalated the conflict and pushed Yemen towards chaos.
The revolution in Yemen brought together various factions and civil society groups, but divisions and clashes emerged, blurring the lines between revolution and civil war.
Deep dives
The 18th of March 2011: The Day of Dignity
On the 18th of March 2011, Yemen experienced a fateful day known as the Day of Dignity. Protests erupted after Friday prayers, and security forces began a brutal crackdown. Snipers fired upon the protesters, resulting in the deaths of dozens and leaving many injured. The shocking and violent events sparked anger and fueled further protests, drawing tens of thousands of ordinary citizens to join the movement. As the protests grew, Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar, a close ally of President Ali Abdullah Saleh, defected to the side of the protesters, bringing with him a significant portion of the military. This defection marked a major turning point and signaled that Yemen was on the brink of civil war.
Ali Abdullah Saleh's Unexpected Alliance with the Houthis
Amidst the escalating protests, Ali Abdullah Saleh made a surprising decision to strike a deal with the Houthis, a militant group from the north of Yemen with whom he had waged six wars. Saleh handed over the province of Saada to the Houthis, providing them with control over military installations and weapons depots. This unexpected alliance altered the dynamics of the conflict, as the Houthis started moving southward, clashing with Ali Mohsen's troops and the Al-Ahmar tribal confederation. Saleh's maneuver to involve his enemies in fights with the Houthis became a divisive and complex strategy, further pushing Yemen towards chaos.
The Emergence of Ansar Allah and Iranian Influence
As the conflict intensified, the Houthis rebranded themselves as Ansar Allah, positioning themselves as a political entity and mimicking Hezbollah's strategies. They established their media channel and presented themselves as a fresh political option for the young protesters. Concurrently, Iranian and Hezbollah influence in Yemen grew, with evidence of their presence dating back to 2002. By 2014, the Houthis, now aligned with former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, became a powerful force, benefitting from Iranian backing and the expertise of Hezbollah operatives. The stage was set for a new chapter in Yemen's history.
Political ferment before the Arab Spring in Yemen
Before the Arab Spring arrived in Yemen, there was already a vibrant political atmosphere with civil society activities and rising figures openly critical of the government. Protests were happening, and powerful figures like Tawakul Karman were calling for change. The Arab Spring sparked when thousands of students gathered at Salah University, overwhelming security forces. However, the situation quickly turned violent, with security forces attacking protesters and shooting. The political tensions and protests spread throughout Yemen, leading to a sense of unity and a vibrant democratic civil movement.
Organizing the revolution amidst escalating conflicts
As the revolution progressed, various factions emerged, including the Houthis, the Southern movement, and liberal left activists. The organizing committee was formed to unite these different groups and act as an entity for the revolution. However, complications arose when the organizing committee made the mistake of seeking support from the Houthis, leading to divisions among revolutionaries. Negotiations took place with different political parties, including Islam, but clashes and fighting broke out between factions, escalating tensions and blurring the lines between revolution and civil war.
2011 was a pivotal year for Yemen, and indeed the entire Middle East. After years of wars against the insurgent Houthis in the North, and with years of protests against President Ali Abdullah Selah’s attempts at radical constitutional changes, the Arab Spring which engulfed so many Muslim countries came to Yemen, too. It saw a bottom up revolution take hold in Sanaa, quickly filtering out across the country. It was a cry for democracy from a people fed up with their strongman ruler’s increasingly authoritarian rule. But would it lead to a new constitution for the Yemeni people, or political chaos which radical groups could exploit for their own gains?
In this episode of Conflicted, the third part of our series on Yemen, we welcome back Yemeni journalist and political activist, Baraa Shaiban. He wasn’t just there during the Arab Spring, he played a really significant part in leading it. He tells us his story of leading protests in Sanaa, and all the hope he and his fellow liberal activists had for a new dawn in their country. But was it a dream that could ever be fulfilled? Or would the many other complex factions in Yemeni politics have other ideas?
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