Yemen: Reshaping the Peace Process

Yemen is facing an unprecedented and largely hidden crisis. From the failure of the 2011-2014 political transition to the country’s deterioration into full scale armed conflict and external intervention in 2014-2015, Yemen has been devastated. Over ten thousand Yemenis have been killed, more than three million people displaced and over 20 million need humanitarian aid. Billions of dollars in damage to public infrastructure and private property has been inflicted, with government institutions, basic public services and the wider economy devastated.

Yemen’s crisis cannot be addressed meaningfully without a political settlement but international efforts to broker peace between the main armed factions are both unsuccessful and unrepresentative of the heterogenous population and regions that make up Yemen.

To move towards a resolution, recognising that the time may not yet be ripe for a meaningful peace agreement, ORG and the Sana’a Center for Strategic Studies (SCSS) are working to strengthen local capacity for more inclusive and strategic dialogue in two of Yemen’s key regions, Marib and Hadhramout. This aims to lay the foundations for more effective peacebuilding efforts and to contribute to the country’s future political transition. This will mean rethinking long-held assumptions about the nature and form that the peace process should take, and exploring and engaging with creative models, thereby forging new possibilities for lasting peace.

In its first year, the project aims to strengthen the prospects for a successful peace process and post-agreement transition in Yemen by:

Providing a platform to identify, discuss and channel frustrations among groups with shared Interests at the local level in Yemen.
Building local capacity to facilitate collective strategic thinking forums and participate fully in the country’s peace process and future democratic development.
Strengthen the UN-led peace process and other international peacebuilding efforts by allowing them to connect with issues experienced at the local level in Yemen.

Latest

Westminster Round-Up | March 2020

Liam Walpole and Megan Karlshoej-Pedersen discuss the latest defence and security policy developments in UK politics.
Special Podcast | 5 Years into the War in Yemen – Debunking 5 Myths

Marwa Baabbad is joined by the Middle East Institute's Nadwa Al-Dawsari and Fatima Abo Alasrar to debunk five popular myths about the conflict in Yemen.
ORG Explains #13: UK Defence Reviews

This Explainer will explore what the Integrated Review is, why it is being done and what it might contain.
Austerity in the Age of COVID-19: A Match Made in Hell?

The COVID-19 pandemic has been described as the biggest crisis facing the world since the end of the Second World War. The pandemic has raised serious questions about whether the political and economic systems in many states can deal with a crisis of this nature.

Special Podcast | 5 Years into the War in Yemen – Debunking 5 Myths

Marwa Baabbad is joined by the Middle East Institute's Nadwa Al-Dawsari and Fatima Abo Alasrar to debunk five popular myths about the conflict in Yemen.
Connecting the Dots: The West’s Wars at Home and Abroad

The "war on terror" has been underway for nearly two decades. Yet there is still little appreciation in some political quarters of how this approach has often been counterproductive and even created the conditions for violent extremism to thrive. If we are ever going to move towards a less violent future, this must change.
Who Benefits? Trump, Iran and the Bigger Picture

The assassination of Qasem Soleimani caused tensions between the US and Iran to escalate dramatically. Relations between the two have simmered, though it is difficult to see how long for. But who are the real winners and losers from the crisis?
The Global Revolts from the Margins

During the past nine months, there have been major episodes of civil unrest in several countries across the globe. Focusing mainly on the recent mass protests in Iraq, Lebanon and Chile, this briefing draws on the concept of “revolts from the margins” to explain these events.
The Limits of US Military Power

President Trump has responded to the emerging challenges to the United States’ power from Iran and North Korea with baleful talk of military action. These threats have achieved little. What does this situation tell us about the limits of America’s military power?
ORG Explains #11: The UK Military in the Eastern Mediterranean

This primer explains what presence, relations and obligations the UK military has in the Eastern Mediterranean region, including Cyprus, Egypt, Greece, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, the Palestinian Territories, Syria and Turkey.
The Marib Strategic Thinking Group

This policy brief presents a short profile of Marib governorate and outlines its importance as one of Yemen’s key regions. It outlines how the ongoing conflict has affected it, before presenting the governorate’s key challenges and recommendations for future conflict resolution there.
The Hadramawt Strategic Thinking Group

This policy brief presents a short profile of Hadramawt governorate and outlines its importance as one of Yemen’s key regions. It outlines how the ongoing conflict has affected it, before presenting the governorate’s key challenges and recommendations for future conflict resolution there.
WarPod Ep #4 : We Need to Talk About Yemen

Liam Walpole is joined by Marwa Baabbad, Director of ORG's Strategic Peacebuilding Programme, to discuss the UK's policy towards Yemen and the impact of its security partnership with Saudi Arabia on the country.
Peace Processes: An Interview with Roger Mac Ginty

Professor Roger Mac Ginty discusses peace processes, the decline of liberal peacebuilding and the concept of "everyday peace".

The Role of Youth in Peacebuilding: Challenges and Opportunities

Young people are frequently ‘othered’ in discussions about conflict. This is a dangerous practice as youths can play a very positive role aiding peacebuilding in societies recovering from conflict.
Making Bad Economies: The Poverty of Mexican Drug Cartels

Some stories say that local economies benefit from cartels in Mexico. But research suggests that the areas most plagued by drug-related violence have seriously suffered economically.
ORG's Vision

Oxford Research Group (ORG) is an independent organisation that has been influential for for nearly four decades in pioneering new, more strategic approaches to security and peacebuilding. Based in London since 2006, ORG continues to pursue cutting edge research and advocacy in the United Kingdom and abroad while managing innovative peacebuilding projects in several Middle Eastern countries.
Remote Warfare: Lessons Learned from Contemporary Theatres

This report is a first attempt to identify some of the factors that have helped or hindered the UK’s current approach to remote warfare.
Weavers of Peace: The Higaonon Tribe in the Philippines

The Higaonon, an indigenous tribe in Northern Mindanao in the southern Philippines, have preserved an ancient system of conflict resolution which has enabled them to be a truly peaceful community. However, there is a need to ensure that this knowledge is not lost in the future.
The Cyprus Problem: Why Solve a Comfortable Conflict?

Several diplomatic efforts have been made both domestically and internationally to enhance peaceful unity since the start of the Cyprus Problem. Despite the shortcomings of past efforts, it is still desirable not only to resolve the issue, but also to do so in a timely manner.
Why Does UN Humanitarian Intervention Remain Selective?

Over the past two decades, the United Nations Security Council has responded more strongly to some humanitarian crises than to others. This variation in Security Council action raises the important question of what factors motivate United Nations intervention.
The Politics of Coltan: An Interview with Michael Nest

In this interview, Dr. Michael Nest discusses the political, environmental, ethical and social issues surrounding the mining of columbite–tantalite (coltan).
The UK and UN Peace Operations: A Case for Greater Engagement

This report supports an enhanced role for Britain in UN peace operations and sets out a case for greater engagement.
The Expanding Role of Chinese Peacekeeping in Africa

China's increased involvement in United Nations (UN) peacekeeping in Africa reflects a broader trend of the country taking a more proactive approach to foreign policy.