1544, Section: Interview
Interview
Published on 21 January 2013 by Mohammed Al-Samei in Interview
Abdulkawi Mohammed Rashad Al-Shabei, the head of the Coordination Council for Southern Revolutionary Groups and a member of the National Dialogue Committee, said the Southern issue has a long, complicated history. The Southern issue emerged following the 1994 war. Al-Shabei says this marks the beginning of marginalization of Southern governorates.
Al-Shabei said, in an interview with the Yemen Times, that the anniversary of January 13 will forever be a national tragedy, but he believes reconciliation is possible in the South.
Published on 14 January 2013 by Mohammed Al-Samei in Interview
Naif Al-Qanis, a leader of the Arab Ba’ath Socialist Party, said Yemen will remain a ticking time bomb if the National Dialogue Conference (NDC) moves ahead without the necessary preparations put in place, like the implementation of the 20 Points.
Published on 14 January 2013 by Sadeq Al-Wesabi in Interview
Cartoons are life for Maizin Shuja’a Al-Din, a well-known Yemeni cartoonist, who started drawing in his childhood.
Published on 7 January 2013 by Nadia Al-Sakkaf in Interview
Dr. Herta Däubler-Gmelin is a former German National Minister of Justice, a longtime member of the German Parliament and Chair of the Human Rights and Humanitarian Assistance Committee.
Published on 31 December 2012 by Mohammed Al-Samei in Interview
Staff Brigadier Ali Naji Obaid, head of the Military Studies Center, said President Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi’s latest decrees to restructure the army is a long process that could take many years to take effect.
Published on 24 December 2012 by Mohammed Al-Samei in Interview
The general secretary of the Al-Haq Party, Hassn Zaid, said that even if the National Dialogue Conference (NDC) is successful, it would be on foundations that disqualify Yemenis from participating in their own decisions. He said this mentality is reflected in the distribution of representation percentages.
Published on 17 December 2012 by Mohammed Al-Samei in Interview
Dr. Mohammed Mossa Al-Ameri is the head of the Salfi Al-Rashad party and a member of the Technical Committee for the National Dialogue Conference (NDC), which recently submitted its final report to President Hadi. In an interview with the Yemen Times, he addresses those that left the committee due to disputes, and he expresses his displeasure with the number of seats allotted to the Salfi Al-Rashad Party. He said seven seats for his party is not fair because the size and influence of the Salfi Al-Rashad Party is large.
Published on 10 December 2012 by Sadeq Al-Wesabi in Interview
Shawqi Al-Mikhlafi, the head of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Supreme Coordination Committee of the Revolution and the Preparatory Committee for the Youth General National Conference (YGNC), said the revolutionary youth were surprised to learn their percentage of representation in the National Dialogue Conference (NDC) is 40 seats. He says this percentage does not genuinely represent the youth’s interests.
Published on 3 December 2012 by Sadeq Al-Wesabi in Interview
A prominent politician, academic and former leader of the Joint Meeting Parties (JMPs), Dr. Mohammed Abdul-Malik Al-Mutawakil sat down with the Yemen Times to discuss the JMP, the General People’s Congress (GPC) and what has been achieved in the one year since the GCC power transition deal was signed.
Published on 26 November 2012 by Mohammed Al-Samei in Interview
Political analyst Thabet Al-Ahmadi displayed his optimism about the success of the National Dialogue. He said the southern secessionists don’t stand for the entire south, with the more powerful southern figures being represented in the dialogue. He added there is an Islah-Houthi conflict in the north, indicating that the Houthis strategy over the last year has included both peaceful and militarized agendas.
Published on 14 November 2012 by Sadeq Al-Wesabi in Interview
Sheikh Mufareh Buhaibeh, a prominent leader in the Marib governorate, said President Hadi and the government are working to stop acts of sabotage committed by the former regime. He asserted, in his interview with the Yemen Times, that the former regime has a relationship with Al-Qaeda, the armed Southern Movement and some powers in the North and uses them to destabilize the situation in the country.
Published on 5 November 2012 by Mohammed Al-Samei in Interview
Ahmed Saif Hashed is an independent parliamentarian and the head of the Save Revolution Front, a group that effectively and noticeably participated in the 2011 political uprising.
Hashed is a controversial figure, who openly criticizes opposing political affiliates, especially the Islamic Islah Party.
In an interview with the Yemen Times, Hashed discussed several political issues currently facing the country.
Published on 4 November 2012 by Mohammed bin Sallam in Interview
Abdulkawi Mohammed Rashad Al-Shaabi, a member of the Technical Committee of the National Dialogue, is now in his seventies. And his past is deep. During the rule of the Socialist Party, Al-Shabi was imprisoned for more than 13 years due to his association with Qahtan Mohammed Al-Shaabi, the first president of the People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen—also known as South Yemen—after decolonization in 1967. Although Abdulkawi Al-Shaabi spent the best years of his age in prison, he accepted his situation and moved forward after his release.
Published on 30 November -1 by Mohammed Al-Samei in Interview
Ahmed Al-Soufi, the media secretary of the former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, is known for his severe criticism against Yemen’s uprising, which erupted in the beginning of 2011 and led to the ouster of Saleh. Al-Soufi described the uprising as chaotic and defective.
Published on 22 October 2012 by Sadeq Al-Wesabi in Interview
Wael Zakout, the World Bank’s Country Manager in Yemen, began working for the organization in 1994. In the past, Zakout has worked on teams in East Asia, Europe and Central Asia, focusing on areas such as disaster risk management and sustainable development. He has a doctorate in civil and environmental engineering from the University of Wisconsin.
Published on 11 October 2012 by Mohammed Al-Samei in Interview
Ali Al-Emad, a well-known Houthi leader and representative of Houthis in Sana’a’s Change Square, became known as a leader of the Houthi movement during the 2011 uprisings. He spoke with the Yemen Times about the National Dialogue Conference, disagreements between the Islah Party and Houthis, the Southern issue and the U.S. role in Yemen. Al-Emad also discussed how Houthis see the transitional government’s current performance.
Published on 8 October 2012 by Mohammed Al-Samei in Interview
Sheikh Mohammed Abu Lohom, head of the Justice and Building Party and member of the Technical Committee for the National Dialogue, said he senses there is a need for seriousness and credibility to help establish dialogue between Yemeni political parties.
Published on 24 September 2012 by Ahmed Dawood in Interview
Ali Khousrof was the sole Yemeni judo champion to reach the 2012 London Olympics this past summer. The sport’s audience awaited a dazzling performance, yet he returned—just as the rest of his colleagues—empty-handed.
In this interview, Khousrof revealed the secrets behind his participation, elaborating on the difficulties he faced in the tournament. He optimistically spoke about his determination and willingness to forget his loss in London and to move on. Now, he thinks about the future.
Published on 20 September 2012 by Sadeq Al-Wesabi in Interview
Dr. Saleh Basurra, a leader in the General People’s Congress (GPC) and former Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, said there is media hype regarding the Southern Movement, and he confirmed there is a problem in the south.
Published on 17 September 2012 by Sadeq Al-Wesabi in Interview
Despite all the obstacles standing in the way of Yemeni women artists, Lamia Al-Kibsi—with her stubborn determination—overcomes all barriers she and her colleagues face.
Published on 13 September 2012 by Ahmed Dawood in Interview
Basketball activities in Yemen have stopped for more than two years for many reasons, leading to salary freezes for players, referees and administrators.
Published on 10 September 2012 by Ramzy Alawi in Interview
Concerning opinions about the current Yemeni situation, particularly the view of the Joint Meeting Parties (JMPs) about the National Dialogue Conference, the southern issue, the government’s performance and President Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi, Sultan Al-Atwani, the alternating head of the JMP and general secretary of the Nasserite Organization, said those pessimistic about holding the National Dialogue Conference should put aside their pessimism. Problems cannot be resolved but by dialogue.
Published on 6 September 2012 by Mohammed bin Sallam in Interview
Saleh Mohammed Bin Shaje, a leading sheikh in Waela tribe, which borders Saudi Arabia, said Yemen cannot endure any further grievances and sufferings. He called on all political parties and other powerful factions in the country to provide an opportunity for independents to participate in the decision-making process.
Mohammed bin Sallam of the Yemen Times met with Shaje to talk over many issues in the Yemeni arena.
Published on 6 September 2012 by Muaad Al- Maqtari in Interview
Published on 3 September 2012 by Samar Qaed in Interview
Aden governorate has witnessed several changes in security and services since President Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi was inauguarated. Among these changes was appointing Waheed Rasheed as governor of Aden. He was appointed at a time during which Aden suffers from finding itself in a security vacuum, with disorder on several sides.
Rasheed is attempting to find solutions for the situation in the governorate, in spite of the obstacles and challenges.
The Yemen Times met Rasheed to talk about several issues regarding the governorate.
Published on 30 August 2012 by Sadeq Al-Wesabi in Interview
Abdulqadir Ali Helal has been noted for his reputability every time he assumes senior government positions. In 1986, he was appointed the general manager of Mawya district in Taiz governorate. In 1987, he assumed the responsibility of general manager for the Damt district in Dale governorate. In 1994, he was installed as deputy governor of Ibb province. By the end of 1994, he became governor of Ibb.
Furthermore, Helal was appointed as Hadramaut’s governor in 2001. In March of 2007, he was appointed as the minister of local administration. In 2010, he was appointed as the state minister and a member of the Shura council. On July 8, Helas took office as the general secretary of the capital city.
In this interview, Helal elaborated on the major challenges facing Sana’a, as well as many other issues.
Published on 30 August 2012 by Sadeq Al-Wesabi in Interview
Conflicting reports about the reach of Yemen’s humanitarian problems continue, with some saying the crisis is overrated and others saying the crisis will soon be alleviated.
Published on 27 August 2012 by Muaad Al-Maqtari in Interview
Ahmed Bin Mo’aili belongs to a sheikh family in the Abida tribe of Marib, north of Sana’a. He has filled his life with both surprising and sad details. He is a 66-year-old Yemeni spy.
Published on 16 August 2012 by Amira Nasser in Interview
How do you evaluate the current situation in Yemen?
Yemen came a long way since the signature of the Gulf initiative. I would like to stress the positive side of the developments, as we all need some optimism and good mood in Yemen. The National Reconciliation Government was established in December 2011, and the Presidential elections were held in February 2012. Now that the National Dialogue steps are being taken, the process moves forward, albeit slowly. The international community appreciates the achievement of Yemen in finding a negotiated solution to its current conflicts and many, like us believe that this solution can be an example for some countries having the same conflicts in the region.
Published on 9 August 2012 by Sadeq Al-Wesabi in Interview
Armed with dogged determination, high skills and great confidence, Yemeni-Scot filmmaker Sara Ishaq persists in fulfilling her dream of enhancing the reputation of cinema in Yemen.
Published on 6 August 2012 by Ahmed Dawood in Interview
Published on 30 July 2012 by Ahmed Dawood in Interview
Mohammed Abdullah Zabarah, deputy director of the Establishment for Schoolbook Printing Presses, asserted in an interview with the Yemen Times that the problem they face isn’t a lack of schoolbooks but a lack of enough paper.
Published on 23 July 2012 by Sadeq Al-Wesabi in Interview
The Jewish community in Yemen has reached a pinnacle of suffering in recent times, according to the statements of some Yemeni Jews who spoke to the Yemen Times this month.
Published on 16 July 2012 by Ahmed Dawood in Interview
Lieutenant Colonel Abdullah Al-Masajedi, vice director of the Electronic Civil Service Center, said it is the responsibility of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to issue diplomatic passports, not the center’s.
In an interview with the Yemen Times, Al-Masajedi said there is no favoritism shown when distributing identity cards and passports to Yemeni citizens.
Published on 2 July 2012 by Ahmed Dawood in Interview
The Yemeni Rashad Union is the first Yemeni Salafi party. It was officially declared June 17 after a large Salafi conference in mid-March expressing their willingness to take part in Yemen’s politics.
Ahmed Dawood of the Yemen Times met Abdulwahab Al-Homaiqani, secretary-general of the Yemeni Rashad Union and conducted the following interview.
Published on 25 June 2012 by Yemen Times Staff in Interview
Yemeni businesswoman Aneesa Hussein Mohammed Al-Dhabee is Yemeni is breaking stereotypes. She recently became the manager of a four-star hotel in Sana’a, a job many Yemenis think is exclusively for men.
Published on 18 June 2012 by Ahmed Dawood in Interview
Recent news reports indicate the protesting youth in Sana’a are leaving Change Square, home to last year’s revolution that eventually led to the ouster of then-President Abdullah Ali Saleh.
Published on 4 June 2012 by Sadeq Al-Faqih in Interview
Local fighters in Abyan have played a major role in the army’s advance against Ansar Al-Sharia, Al-Qaeda’s affiliated group based in Abyan.
To know more about the locals fighting alongside the army, Sadeq Al-Faqih of the Yemen Times conducted a phone interview with Mohammed Aidroos, field leader of the People’s Committees’ in Abyan.
Published on 28 May 2012 by Sadeq Al-Faqih in Interview
Many debates and media reports have been claiming that the Counter-Terrorism Unit (CTU), an elite group of forces trained by the United States and Britain to fight terror in Yemen, do not participate in the fighting against Ansar Al-Sharia, an Al-Qaeda-affiliated group in Abyan.
Published on 21 May 2012 by Sadeq Al-Faqih in Interview
Saeed Gharama is the leader of the people’s committees, groups of local people established to back the Yemeni military in Lawdar. The local fighters are said to have driven Al-Qaeda’s militants out of Lawdar after several failed attempts by Al-Qaeda to take control of the city.
Published on 17 May 2012 by Al-Quds Al-Arabi Abdulrazaq Al-Jaml in Interview
Fierce clashes broke out a few weeks ago in Lawdar, Abyan governorate between Al-Qaeda affiliate Ansar Al-Sharia, the Yemeni military and several people’s committees, local groups established to fight against Ansar Al-Sharia.
Published on 10 May 2012 by Ali Saeed in Interview
General Mohamed Ali Mohsen, former leader of the Eastern Military region who aligned with Yemeni revolutionaries in 2011 against Saleh’s rule, was one of the first leaders to leave his office with no defiance of the decrees of the new President Abd Rabo Mansour Hadi.
Published on 3 May 2012 by Sadeq Al-Wesabi in Interview
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) began working in Yemen in the early ‘70s with the aim of improving the welfare of Yemenis and alleviating poverty through better reproductive health, and including population and gender issues in development planning.
Published on 26 April 2012 by Nadia Al-Sakkaf in Interview
While Yemen feels its way into economic recovery and as the international community is on stand-by waiting for Yemen to state its economic priorities a team of economic experts have already made headway in this field.
Published on 23 April 2012 by Nadia Al-Sakkaf in Interview
With over 30 years of public service, Dr. Yahya Al-Shaibi was one of the few men who has held his ground and reputation since he started his career as a chemistry professor at Sana’a University in the seventies.
Published on 12 April 2012 by Muaad Al-Maqtari in Interview
Doctor Ishraq Rabee’ Al-Sabaee’s face is well-known in Sahbwa Governorate, an area of 42,564 square kilometers, in the east of Yemen.
In a tribal area described by some people as a thriving environment for fundamental religious groups, Al-Sabaee, who goes unveiled, is trying to reverse the stereotypical image about tribes created by the media. She has been working with them as gynecologist since the age of 14.
Published on 9 April 2012 by Nadia Al-Sakkaf in Interview
Mohammed Qahtan is a member of the Supreme Committee of the Islah Party and a leader in the Joint Meeting Parties. In a time when much controversy is spread over this Islamic conservative Islah Party, which is Yemen’s strongest political party today, Yemen Times interviewed Mohammed Qahtan to clear some points on the party’s and the JMP’s position towards several current issues.
How is the dialogue progressing in light of the demands for the restructuring of the army before talks happen?
Published on 22 March 2012 by Nadia Al-Sakkaf in Interview
Published on 19 March 2012 by Ahmed Dawod in Interview
Mohammed Muftah has recently become known as one of the scholars for the Zaidi sect in Yemen. In addition to being a religious scholar, he is also a brilliant speaker and an influential politician.
Published on 15 March 2012 by Nadia Al-Sakkaf in Interview
Published on 12 March 2012 by Mohammad Bin Sallam in Interview
Published on 12 March 2012 by Nadia Al-Sakkaf in Interview
Yemen’s own Amat Al-Alim Al-Sosowa, who is currently UNDP’s Assistant Secretary -General and Regional Director Regional Bureau for Arab States, is on her fourth visit to Yemen since she started working with the UN. She says it is unusual for a UN high ranking officer to visit his or her own country this frequently, but she can’t help it since Yemen is special.
Published on 8 March 2012 by Mohammad Bin Sallam in Interview
The Republic of Yemen possesses a coastal strip 2600 kilometers long, rich with fish and marine life. It possesses 182 islands, including Kamaran, Zoqar, the larger Hanish, the smaller Hanish in the Red Sea, and the archipelago of Socotra, which includes Abdu al-Kuri, Darsa and Samha in the Arab Sea.
Published on 1 March 2012 by Nadia Al-Sakkaf in Interview
Since his first visit in April 2011, Jamal Benomar, the United Nation Secretary General Special Advisor on Yemen, has been visiting Yemen almost every month. Earlier visits aimed at facilitating a political agreement between the main political players. Now he is following up the process in cooperation with Gulf countries and the international community to make sure Yemen continues towards a more peaceful, sustainable future.
Published on 6 February 2012 by Shatha Al-Harazi in Interview
Yemeni migrants shine in various areas in science. However, their work, which has grabbed attention worldwide, has failed to be recognized even in their homeland.
Published on 19 January 2012 by Nadia Al-Sakkaf in Interview
Yemeni women still have a chance to make a place for themselves in the world of politics, especially after their significant contribution to the making of the revolution. However, without better preparation, women run the risk of being left out of Yemen’s transitional process.
Halima Gellman, an analyst and researcher in politics and gender, doing her thesis at New York University on “Yemeni women in the revolution: Building a women’s agenda,” has some thoughts on the lessons learned for Yemeni women.
Published on 16 January 2012 by Sadeq Al-Wesabi in Variety
Yemeni children are being denied the right to education and protection from violence, abuse and exploitation, Save the Children has warned.
Published on 16 January 2012 by Nadia Hadash in Variety
The very idea behind the January 12 “No Qat Day” has left a number of Yemenis feeling inspired, resonating with those who see qat chewing as a waste of time, money and water.
Published on 12 January 2012 by Malak Shaher in Variety
Yemen has been witnessing a lot of changes and 2011 was an unforgettable year for many. During the Yemeni youth revolution, gunfire and blasts were heard on an almost daily basis as clashes erupted between pro-government and pro-revolution forces – and sometimes also in celebration.
Published on 30 November -1 by Arie Amaya-Akkermans in Variety
At the end of last year, while the eyes of Yemenis were on the still unfinished power transfer following from the deal brokered by the Gulf Cooperation Council, a curious event took place in Spain about which little was heard in the Middle East: “Casa ?rabe” (Arabian House), an international institute on Arabic and Islamic studies in Madrid and Cordoba, held a series of conferences called “The Arab Springs in Evolution”, in which different experts analyzed the evolution of political changes in the Middle East.
Published on 29 December 2011 by Yemen Times Staff in Variety
Thirty disabled Yemeni women will receive career development training from the British Council, in coordination with the Khuth Biyadi charity organization for people with disabilities. Called Springboard training sessions, they are designed to help to empower disabled people to succeed in the job market and will commence on Saturday.
Published on 30 November -1 by Arie Amaya-Akkermans in Variety
50 years ago, when the Soviet Union still existed, a political theorist, Hannah Arendt, suggested that the clearest sign that the Soviet Union could not be longer called totalitarian was the amazing recovery of the arts during that decade. The suggestion was very shocking: the Soviet Union would fall because of art; the suggestion was met with laughter by the experts, until it was proven true.
Published on 28 December 2011 by IRIN in Variety
Aid workers in Yemen, the Middle East’s poorest country, appear to have made some headway in broadening the mainstream narrative to include the deepening humanitarian crisis.
Published on 28 December 2011 by Sadeq Al-Wesabi in Variety
Mikael Strandberg, 49, a Swedish explorer who has traveled to 125 countries, recently completed a 14-day journey by camel from Tehama and Zabid to Sana'a to "prove that Yemen is a safe country."
Published on 19 December 2011 by Ali Saeed in Feature
It started as the hash tag #SupportYemen on Twitter and developed into an international campaign. Now SupportYemen is a vehicle for Yemenis around the world to tell the globe about the new face of their country.
Published on 14 February 2012 by Ahmed Al-Makhtafi in Interview
After nearly six years of armed conflict and continuous uncertainty, the governorate of Sa’ada has finally found peace. Ironically, such a peace comes during a time when the rest of the country is overwhelmed with violence, revolution, and upheaval.
Published on 13 February 2012 by Hakeem Najmaldeen in Interview
Published on 20 March 2012 by Mohammed bin Sallam in Interview
Cartoonist Mazin Shuja’a to the Yemen Times “We were deprived of comics as children so I don’t want to deprive my children of my comics”