Yemen: Widespread Demonstrations Protest Saleh’s Announcement
"Hundreds of thousands" of Yemeni protesters took to the streets throughout the country chanting "No deal. No maneuvering. The president should leave." The demonstrations came as a response to President Ali Abdullah Saleh's Monday announcement that he had
September 13, 2011
Category: Civil War, Featured, Gulf Cooperation Council, Human Rights, Political transition, Protests, UN Human Rights Council, United Nations, Yemen
Yemen: Saleh Authorizes VP to Negotiate Power Transition
According to state news agency Saba, President Ali Abdullah Saleh of Yemen issued a decree on Monday that gives Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi, Yemen's vice president, "the necessary constitutional authority to negotiate" the peaceful handover of power. However, the main political ...
September 12, 2011
Category: Civil War, Featured, Freedom, Government, Gulf Cooperation Council, Political Parties, Political transition, Yemen
US Condemns Syria Over Killing of Rights Activist
State Department Spokeswoman Victoria Nuland issued a press release stating that the "United States condemns in the strongest possible terms the killing of Syrian human rights activist Ghiyath Mattar while in the custody of Syrian Security Forces." Mr. Matter ...
Bahraini Medics Released, Charges Still Pending
Twenty Bahraini medics who had been incarcerated for giving medical aid to injured protesters this spring were released from prison, though the charges against them are still pending, according to the state news agency, BNA. The verdict pertaining to ...
September 8, 2011
Category: Bahrain, Democracy Promotion, Featured, Government, Gulf Cooperation Council, Human Rights, International Law, Monarchy, Political Parties, Political transition, Protests
Yemen’s Continued Political Deadlock Threatens Further Violence
As Yemen's political crisis entered its seventh month, the situation further deteriorated Tuesday as Yemen's ruling party postponed a vote to approve "a modified Gulf-brokered power transition plan which aims to pull......out of its bloody political deadlock." President Ali ...
Yemen: Saleh Indicates Openness to GCC Power Transfer
Yemeni president Ali Abdullah Saleh indicated his willingness to positively consider the GCC power transfer deal that he has rejected for months. Speaking to representatives of the ruling General People's Congress party visiting him in Saudi Arabia, Saleh stressed the need to "continue to deal positively with the Gulf initiative," and noted the importance of finding "a mechanism to implement (the proposal) in a way that would guarantee a peaceful ...
August 11, 2011
Category: Gulf Cooperation Council, Political transition, UN Security Council, Yemen
Yemen: Conflicting Reports about Saleh’s Return
On Tuesday, conflicting reports emerged about whether Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh would return to Yemen. As-Sharq al-Awsat, the Saudi Arabian based newspaper, published an article indicating Saleh had submitted to U.S. pressure to not return to Yemen. The ...
August 8, 2011
Category: Arab League, Diplomacy, Featured, Gulf Cooperation Council, Multilateralism, Reform
International Condemnation of Violence in Syria
Syrian security forces increased their hold on Hama on Saturday and human rights activists reported at least 24 deaths on Friday during demonstrations against President Bashar al-Assad. Violence increased despite the growing concern from the international community. Oil-rich ...
August 6, 2011
Category: Bahrain, Elections, Featured, Freedom, Government, Gulf Cooperation Council, Human Rights, Kuwait, Military, Oman, Protests, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, UAE
POMED Notes: Maryam al-Khawaja – An Update on Bahrain
On Monday Partners for Democratic Change hosted the Society for International Development, Washington’s Middle East Workgroup for a monthly brown bag lunch entitled “An Update from Bahrain with Bahraini Human Rights Activist, Maryam al-Khawaja.” Monalisa Salib, Senior Manager, Partners for Democratic Change opened the event. Cole Bockenfeld, Advocacy Director for the Project on Middle East Democracy provided background information on events in Bahrain and introduced Maryam al-Khawaja. Notes on the event ...
July 18, 2011
Category: Bahrain, Civil Society, Event Notes, Freedom, Gulf Cooperation Council, Human Rights, Monarchy, Protests, Reform, US foreign policy
Yemen: U.S. Official Urges Saleh to Step Down
Yemen's President Ali Abdullah Saleh met with top U.S. President Barack Obama's top counterterrorism official, John Brennan in Saudi Arabia on Sunday. The two met at a military hospital in Riyadh where Saleh has been recovering since the ...
July 10, 2011
Category: Diplomacy, Featured, Foreign Aid, Freedom, Government, Gulf Cooperation Council, Political transition, Reform, Saudi Arabia, US foreign policy, Yemen
State Dept. on Bahrain Trials, Syrian Reform Plans
State Department Spokesperson Mark Toner opened his daily press briefing yesterday to express concern over the severity of the sentences handed down to Bahraini activists and opposition figures, and over the nature of the military court proceedings. He reiterated ...
June 23, 2011
Category: Diplomacy, Featured, Gulf Cooperation Council, Judiciary, Military, Protests, Reform, Rule of Law, US foreign policy
Debunking the Exceptionalism of Monarchies
In an Al Jazeera editorial, political scientist Jillian Schwedler argues against the idea of monarchical exceptionalism, highlighting increasing popular pressure on Morocco, Jordan and the Gulf kingdoms. The idea is based on two premises: that monarchies which allow some political participation can tolerate more dissent because they do not pretend to derive their legitimacy from elections; and that monarchs have greater legitimacy rooted in religious credentials. Schwedler challenges the second ...
Yemen: Clashes Begin within the Military
Yemeni civilians have fled due to clashes between the army and militants suspected to be close to al-Qaeda in Abyan, a southern province, after the capital Zinjibar fell to militants last month. On Sunday, at least 12 militants and nine soldiers were killed in three clashes between Islamists and separatists. Outside Zinjibar, 12 militants and two soldiers were killed and five soldiers were killed in a separate attack near Zinjibar. According ...
IFES Briefing Paper “Yemen in Transition”
The International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) released a report on Tuesday entitled "Transition in Yemen: An overview of constitutional and electoral provisions." The report outlines the constitutional framework and key actors in Yemen's electoral process, but raises some serious concerns should snap elections occur. Article 116 of the constitution stipulates elections within 60 days of the president's incapacitation. IFES identifies serious concerns with voter registration, potentially disenfranchising a large ...
Morocco: Protesters Rally Around Slained; Incompatibility with GCC
Thousands protested in Rabat on Sunday incensed by the killing of Khaled al-Amari by security forces during a protest in Safi last Thursday. They also demanded an end to the country-wide crackdown on peaceful opposition protests, which some speculate ...
Yemen: President “Injured” in Bombing, Economy Collapsing
Opposition forces bombed the Presidential compound and palace in Saan'a where conflicting reports have emerged that President Ali Abdullah Saleh and Prime Minister Ali Mohammed Mujawar have been injured. A security offical described President Saleh as being "lightly wounded" ...
Bahrain: Protests/Crackdown Renew
As the Bahraini government lifted the emergency law protests and the suppression thereof renewed in and around Manama. Meanwhile, King Hamad Issa Al Kahlifa justified the continued presence of foreign Gulf troops as protesting the country from external threats, not anti-government protests. The renewed crackdown ensues as human rights activist Abdulhadi Al-Khawajah faces a military court trial. Top Wefaq opposition officials Sheikh Ali Salman, Ibrahim al-Marzouk, Abdel Jalil Ali ...
June 1, 2011
Category: Bahrain, Civil Society, Gulf Cooperation Council, Human Rights, Protests, Rule of Law
Yemen: Violence Peaks in Saan’a, Taiz, Zinjibar
Overnight violence in the al-Hasaba district of Saan'a killed approximately 40 people. Additional violence erupted in the city of Taiz, where two opposition supporters were shot by security forces loyal to President Ali Abdullah Saleh. The Yemeni Defense Ministry ...
June 1, 2011
Category: al-Qaeda, Civil War, Featured, Gulf Cooperation Council, Military, Protests, US foreign policy, Yemen
Saudi’s Anti-Revolution Campaign
Neil MacFarquhar, writing at the New York Times, discusses Saudi Arabia's efforts to upend the revolutionary progress that has spread across the region. The most recent steps include giving $4 billion in aid to Egypt's Supreme Miitary Council, working ...
May 27, 2011
Category: Bahrain, Democracy Promotion, Diplomacy, Egypt, Featured, Foreign Aid, Freedom, Gulf, Gulf Cooperation Council, Iran, Jordan, Morocco, Protests, Reform, Saudi Arabia, US foreign policy, Yemen