Yemen Observer

Driving around in Yemen, a unique experience

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 19:38:03 PST

If you are a fan of adventure and love to take risks, then come to Sana’a and try your luck with driving. This is the biggest adventure race in the world. When you are behind the wheel you can do almost anything you like.

Change in Yemen should starts from within

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 18:33:58 PST

New era, new government and definitely new Yemen.
The new government is not all we need to build a new Yemen, we need faithful officials and honest neighboring countries and most specifically less abusing friendly countries.

Nobel Peace Prize winner, Yemen’s new danger

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 20:26:51 PST

On her page on Facebook page, Tawakol Karman warns that she will be back “as a flood that will break all walls”.

Tribes and their role in building Yemen

Sat, 07 Jan 2012 22:09:24 PST

Tribes in Yemen have always had a very strong and complicated structure, and any talk about resolving the tribes is a mere fantasy.

It is time to fight corruption in Yemen

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 20:12:55 PST

Now number one battle for the people is going to be with corruption and the corrupt wherever they are and whoever they are.

Making peace in Yemen

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 20:18:49 PST

In the presidential palace in Sana’a, a new Yemeni cabinet has just been sworn in. For the first time in 33 years, however, President Ali Abdullah Saleh is nowhere to be seen.

Patronage system the root cause of corruption in Yemen

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 20:06:06 PST

Although debilitating to the economy, corruption and its impact on the country rarely takes center stage or attracts serious discourse. Yemen ranked 131st out of 179 countries and territories on Transparency International's corruption perception index (2007). However, the corruption index provides a snap shot at a given moment but does not explain how corruption has thrived inexorably during the last three or four decades in Yemen. This article intends to shed light on this issue.

Light at the end of the tunnel for Yemen?

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 18:11:14 PST

For months the Yemeni people have been waiting for a breakthrough in the country's political standoff. Now that the Gulf Cooperation Initiative has been signed a new window of opportunity has opened for Yemen.

Yemen: Time to reconcile

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 14:40:03 PST

Despite the many long months of agony and hardship which many amongst us have had to endure as the result of the political crisis, Yemeni people need to put the past behind them and embrace a brighter future.

Yemenis first and foremost!

Sun, 27 Nov 2011 11:24:02 PST

The economic situation in Yemen has deteriorated very rapidly in recent months. Power cuts have lead to wide spread job losses not only in large factories but also in small workshops which typically absorb a high percentage of the work force.

Protests Go Violent, but Media Stay Syrupy

Sat, 12 Nov 2011 19:51:09 PST

Liberal media people would argue, with a straight face, that the occupiers are more newsworthy than the Tea Party because they don't protest for five hours on the weekend and go back to their jobs. Sleeping in the park, night after night, somehow makes the leftists "resonate" better.

The Palestinians’ New Weapon

Sat, 12 Nov 2011 19:49:00 PST

The Palestinians have finally come up with a strategy that may produce some results. But only by accident, so to speak.

Where Yemen after Saleh exit

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 13:30:53 PST

The Yemeni opposition is pushing itself into a pitfall by dragging the country towards chaos due to its failure to oust President Ali Abdullah Saleh. The way it has been messing up opportunities to resolve the impasse over the last eight months confirms its lack of popularity; hence, it cannot manage the country.

A Statistical Interpretation of the Facebook Revolution!

Fri, 09 Sep 2011 07:34:06 PST

The Arabic revolution has been labeled as “the facebook revolution”. Does that characterization fit the facts? Let us review the facebook statistics for the last six months for Tunisia, Egypt and Yemen. Libya is excluded because it has not been a peaceful revolution. Syria is also excluded because statistics are not available and itsit’s not expected to be peaceful either.

What are the causes of Yemen current economic crises?

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 17:46:03 PST

What are the causes of Yemen current economic crises? And who stands behind it? And what is the real solution to end it?

As Usual, Yemenis are ready to receive the Holy Month of Ramadan, but this year it seems different. Citizen began its reception by new dose of increased fuels by 130%. Yemeni markets witnessed a drastic increase in some necessary and basic foods, leading joy to tun into sadness. Yemen has witnessed an economic collapse crisis since five months. Yemen Observer went to the streets of Sana’a and asked people about the real reason of the collapse of the economic situation in Yemen and who stands behind it? And what’s the real solution to solve the economic crisis? This is what people had to say about it.

Sana’a, a Northern Mogadishu!

Sat, 04 Jun 2011 10:37:55 PST

Sana'a is one of the oldest population centers in the world. According to popular legend it was founded by Shem, the son of Noah and known as "Azal", referring to Uzal, a son of Qahtan who was a great-grandson of Shem. It has been a cultural center and a capital for a long time.

Pure Yemeni youth versus dirty politics

Tue, 17 May 2011 11:21:10 PST

Wasim Alqershi wrote a nice article in the Guardian declaring that “The youth will win in Yemen”.

The entire Muslim Brotherhood is hawkish

Sat, 14 May 2011 11:11:26 PST

During the week, the Muslim Brotherhood announced it had established an independent political party to represent the group at the next elections. The new party will be known as the “Freedom and Justice party”, and this is clearly a choice to keep pace with the current phase of popular uprisings.

Will They Do It?

Tue, 10 May 2011 11:31:09 PST

Now that the wind of change is blowing through the political streets of Yemen and change is underway based on the GCC initiative, one can breathe a sigh of relief that armed conflict seems to be avoidable. The GCC initiative will be signed simply because it is an offer that cannot be refused.

Osama leaves behind a legacy of failure

Mon, 09 May 2011 19:37:54 PST

The death of Osama bin Laden coincides and contrasts with several other historic developments throughout the Middle East that collectively highlight the overriding issue that has preoccupied local citizens for the past generation: How does a dehumanized person regain his or her humanity?

... without him

Mon, 09 May 2011 19:33:35 PST

Osama Bin Laden is dead – and so is an old Middle East. That they died together is fortuitous and apt.

Old or new Arab order?

Mon, 09 May 2011 19:32:05 PST

The current wave of change in the Arab world, unequalled in geographic scope and intensity since the first Arab revolt in the early 20th century, has led many analysts to reconsider prevailing theories on the region (see 'Revisiting assumptions, old and new', Al-Ahram Weekly, 31 March 2011).

In 2016, the Chinese economy will be bigger than the US economy; should we care?

Mon, 09 May 2011 19:26:34 PST

A recent International Monetary Fund report data predicted that China would surpass the U.S. as the largest economy in 2016. Although the report itself was low key, it elicited some dire reactions.

Saleh should sign

Mon, 09 May 2011 19:14:27 PST

Obviously, the Yemeni opposition is not ready to compromise.

Military Power Game of President Saleh in Yemen

Mon, 09 May 2011 16:55:37 PST

President Saleh came to power in North Yemen in July 1978 under a very volatile security situation.