By Max Bartels

Impunity Watch Reporter, The Middle East

 

Sanna, Yemen 

Yemen is in a state of chaos, Shiite rebels, Al-Qaeda and government forces and other groups compete for control of the country. The chaos has been exacerbated since Shiite militants, known as Houthi rebels seized key government buildings, kidnapped the President’s Chief-of-Staff and surrounded the presidential mansion. In response, the President, Prime Minister and cabinet have stepped down leaving the Houthi’s with control of the capital and the majority of its infrastructure. The Houthi’s represent the Shiite minority of Yemen, which is a predominantly Sunni nation.

Concerns over the chaos and in fighting in Yemen stretch far beyond its borders, the U.S and European Allies are very concerned over who could end up in power. The former government of Yemen was one of the U.S’s top Middle Eastern Allies in the fight against AL-Qaeda. The concern is also very real in Europe after the Paris attacks were claimed by Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, which is based in Yemen. Even though most of the unrest has been attributed to the Houthi militant group AL-Qaeda has also struck out against government assets and military institutions. A statement by the news media liaison for Al-Qaeda claimed that the group had captured an entire Yemeni National Army brigade and seized control of an important oil-producing region in Southeastern Yemen.

There are a few other major players in the power struggle beside the Houthis and Al-Qaeda. The others include the Muslim Brotherhood, in the form of a political group called the Al Islah Party. The party is Sunni and is in opposition to the Houthi movement. The other major player is ISIS, leader al-Baghdadi has called on Yemeni Sunnis to resist the Shiite Houthi rebels. ISIS is also looking to outshine Al-Qaeda and become the dominant group.

The U.N has also expressed concern over the unrest in Yemen; Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has stated that Yemen is essentially collapsing before our eyes. The Security Council has issued a resolution demanding that the Houthis step aside and relinquish control of all government institutions. The resolution also approved an emergency council meeting, which allowed the resolution to be enforced by military force.

For more information, please see:

CNN — U.N Security Council Slams Houthi Rebels Takeover in Yemen — 16 February 2015

The New York Times — U.N Warns that Yemen as Al-Qaeda Fighters Make Big Gains — 12 February 2015

CNN — Who’s in Charge in Yemen? — 23 January 2015

Al Jazeera — UN Security Council Demands Houthis Step Aside in Yemen — 16 February 2015