Yemeni Government Refuses All Dialogue with the Opposition

The Following piece is written by a Yemeni-based journalist who writes for the Foreign Policy Blogs network and, due to serious security concerns, remains anonymous.

A little over a week has passed since President Ali Abdullah Saleh was taken to Saudi Arabia for medical treatment.  And since, Yemen is no closer to finding a solution to its power vacuum.

When the Revolution started about 4 months ago, President Saleh was seen as the major obstacle to a peaceful transition of power. Most analysts agreed that once the President gone, the Regime would pretty much fall apart by itself, leaving room for the next democratically elected government.

Despite being out of the picture, Saleh’ shadow continues to cloud Yemen in the persons of his son, Ahmed Saleh and his close relatives, who hold key positions in the country.

And if Vice-President Hadi is constitutionally in charge of the Executive, it is really Ahmed Saleh the Commander of the Special Forces and the Republican Guards and heir to the throne who is pulling the strings.

Political Paralysis

Many hoped that with Saleh in Saudi Arabia, the remainder of the Regime would give in to the demands of its people and agree to discuss a transition of power.

The US has been trying on several occasions, both publicly and behind the scene, to have VP Hadi admit that Ali Abdullah Saleh will not be able to resume his position at the head of the government.

The EU and the UN also called for the quick formation of a transitional council as provisioned by the Yemeni Constitution.

Even, senior political adviser and long standing ally of President Saleh, Abdel Kareem al-Eryani admitted in private that the only way forward was to negotiate with the Opposition.

However, so far, the Ruling party has decided to follow the lead of Ahmed Saleh, declaring that the President would be returning soon and that he was in perfect health.

With no Government, no Head of Parliament since the latter is wounded and also receiving treatment in Saudi Arabia, Yemen has no functioning state institutions left.

Mohamed al-Muttawakil, a senior member of the Opposition told Reuters: “The American and European efforts for a dialogue between opposition parties and the ruling party has failed. The vice president has refused to deal with or meet opposition parties. He justifies that by saying he is preoccupied with dealing with the fuel crisis and the ceasefire, as well as the security situation in the provinces.”

Chaos Spread across Yemen

This political and power vacuum is threatening to engulf Yemen into further armed clashes with various unsavoury armed groups. The tribes have tried to step in by protecting the population within their territories but their system is archaic and based on ancestral Islamic law which cannot replace a modern state system. In Taiz for example where further outbursts were reported, the tribes created a protective cordon around the city to prevent the Republican Guards and the army to further attack protesters. They were however unable to prevent thugs from looting properties.

Al-Qaeda is also becoming a worry as battles are still raging in the southern town of Zinjibar, in the Abyan Province. The US reportedly carried out airstrikes, aiming at killing al-Qaeda militants.

Although Generals agree that Saleh was the one who allowed the terrorist group to take roots in Abyan in the first, the fact remains that terrorists are now threatening the oil shipping route and the stability of the region.

Sana’a Gasping for Air

In the capital the situation is deteriorating rapidly. With a shaky ceasefire in place, residents in Sana’a are bracing themselves for more violence. “It’s inevitable, they will fight again” said a local shopkeeper.

Paralysed by a shortage of fuel and electricity, Sana’a is running out of food stuffs. Most supermarkets shelves are now left empty as suppliers are unable to reach the Capital. Ahmed Saleh has ordered his troops to seal off the city in order to prevent the tribes to get in.

With many displaced families left with no shelter, Human Rights groups are warning against a humanitarian crisis.

Yemenis are now trapped within the walls of the capital; unable to obtain a visa to leave the country, they are left contemplating the dangerous journey out of Sana’a. With thugs and criminals along every road, no one is daring to venture out.