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Supporting Political Alliances in Yemen: Between Peace Efforts, Southern Concerns, and Global National Trends in Democratic Countries

South Eye | Aden

In the framework of international efforts to support peace in Yemen, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), in collaboration with the National Democratic Institute (NDI), has promoted an initiative aimed at forming a new political alliance consisting of 22 parties and political entities. This initiative, launched in Aden, seeks to foster national consensus and achieve a stable and prosperous Yemen led by Yemenis themselves.

Despite the stated intentions, this move has raised significant concerns among Southerners, who view it as an attempt to reshape the political landscape in a manner that risks repeating the failures of the previous unity experience, which carried with it decades of marginalization and conflict.

Justifications for Southern Concerns

The unity experience with the North is widely regarded by Southerners as a failure. During this period, they endured economic and political marginalization, suppression of identity, resource exploitation, and systematic exclusion. To Southerners, unity was not a partnership but a mechanism for expanding Northern dominance at the expense of Southern interests.

As one Southern analyst puts it:

"Unity was an opportunity to build a joint state, and Southerners were the ones who initially called for it in 1990. However, it turned into a full-fledged occupation after the 1994 war, leaving Southerners with a harsh experience that made them more cautious toward any upcoming political projects."

One of the key Southern concerns is the role of the Islah Party, often seen as an extension of the Muslim Brotherhood. The party has a long history of leveraging authority to advance partisan agendas and expand its influence, often at the expense of national democracy by supporting entities that appear independent but are, in fact, affiliated with its ideology.

As a political expert notes:

"Islah is not just a political party; it represents an ideology that seeks to exploit state institutions for collective interests. This makes its presence in the South completely unacceptable."

In addition, the South's social fabric is characterized by a more civic and cultural orientation compared to the North, where tribal structures dominate the political and social framework. This distinction makes the South more conducive to implementing democratic governance, but it also makes Southerners less receptive to political alliances that include Northern entities.

For Southerners, supporting new political coalitions involving Northern factions could result in:

Re-establishing Northern dominance over Southern political decisions, undermining the aspirations of Southerners to build an independent and democratic state led by Southerners themselves.

Exacerbating political and social tensions between the North and South, rather than fostering stability. Analysts argue that such alliances, if they fail to respect Southern distinctiveness, could spark new conflicts, especially if they include parties or individuals with interests opposed to Southern ambitions.

Given this context, international initiatives must consider Southern aspirations for self-determination while avoiding the imposition of external entities on their political landscape. The focus should be on empowering Southern leadership to achieve peace and democracy in the South. This requires supporting local leadership that fully represents the Southern people's interests, ensuring that any political initiatives exclude parties or ideologies that conflict with the local population's will.

Global Trends in Supporting National Identities

Southern calls to strengthen national identity are not unique. They align with global trends where nations emphasize local priorities and respect for cultural particularities. The following examples illustrate this trend:

United States Under Trump’s Administration

The United States, often regarded as the global beacon of democracy, liberty, and justice, adopted policies prioritizing Americans during Donald Trump’s presidency. For instance, immigration policies emphasized national interests, including a recent decision based on a 226-year-old law to deport undocumented migrants.

This shift in one of the world's most prominent democracies highlights a global trend of safeguarding national interests, proving that prioritizing local populations is not merely a domestic demand but a universal approach.

The Māori People in New Zealand

In New Zealand, a significant political event occurred when members of the "Te Pāti Māori" party disrupted a parliamentary session discussing a law reinterpretation of a 184-year-old treaty between the British and the Māori.

Their symbolic "haka" dance was more than a political protest; it was a reaffirmation of cultural identity and historical rights. This demonstrates that national identities and historical grievances remain potent forces even in stable democracies.

Kosovo and “Serbia” Chants

In a politically charged sports event, Kosovo’s national football team walked off the field during a match against Romania after Romanian fans chanted pro-Serbia slogans. These chants touched on the sensitive historical conflict between Kosovo and Serbia.

This incident underscores how national and political identities can influence even sports events, reflecting the difficulty of imposing a unified identity or ignoring local sensitivities in conflict-affected regions.

Ukraine and the Ongoing Conflict with Russia

The ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia exemplifies the challenges of protecting national identity and sovereignty. The Ukrainian people’s resilience in defending their national sovereignty underscores the importance of respecting local populations' will, especially when threatened by external forces or political agendas.

Lessons for Southern Yemen

These global examples highlight the importance of respecting national identities and historical rights—issues at the heart of Southern concerns in Yemen. Past experiences and ongoing challenges make Southerners more cautious about initiatives involving Northern factions or parties with expansionist agendas.

Rejecting Imposed Inclusivity:

Just as the United States and New Zealand have emphasized protecting local priorities, Southerners insist that any political initiatives must respect their cultural and political particularities. Political alliances involving Northern factions raise fears of repeating the unity experience, which harmed Southern interests.

Defending Southern Identity:

Similar to the Māori struggle for historical rights, Southerners aim to safeguard their political and cultural identity against marginalization or domination. Their struggle to restore their state and identity is as symbolic as the Māori haka.

Avoiding New Conflicts:

As seen in Kosovo, imposing political agendas or ignoring historical sensitivities risks escalating conflicts rather than resolving them. Southerners argue that integrating Northern factions into the Southern political scene without their consent could reignite conflicts and yield adverse outcomes.

Building a Sustainable Democratic System:

Ukraine’s resistance highlights the importance of maintaining national sovereignty amidst external pressures. Southerners believe that building a democratic system in the South must be led solely by Southerners, excluding any parties or factions with conflicting agendas.

Recommendations for Sustainable Peace

Engaging Directly with Southern Leadership:

International actors must collaborate closely with Southern leaders to ensure political initiatives genuinely reflect Southern aspirations.

Learning from Global Experiences:

Supporting national identities and respecting cultural particularities have proven effective in achieving stability worldwide. This principle should guide Yemen’s peace-building efforts.

Avoiding Forced Coalitions:

Political alliances involving incompatible parties hinder peace rather than promote it, especially in a world increasingly focused on strengthening national identities and respecting local populations' will, Southern concerns in Yemen must be understood within a broader global context. Ignoring these concerns or attempting to impose political agendas contrary to their aspirations will only complicate the political landscape and prolong the conflict.

There remains hope that international actors will realize that the path to peace lies in respecting peoples' will and particularities, whether in the South or anywhere else in the world.