Date and time: Saturday, June 2, 2020, 11 am Eastern Daylight Time (UTC-4)
Zoom registration [1]
South Yemen today faces many turbulent converging challenges, from the spread of COVID-19 to floods, electricity cuts, and the Southern Transitional Council’s (STC) self-rule decision. The April 25 self-rule decision by the STC drew international concern about the potential for escalation in the South and implications for the Riyadh agreement, which the Saudis brokered between the internationally recognized government of Abed Rabbeh Mansour Hadi and the STC last year. Meanwhile, military confrontations in Abyan threatens a new conflict south of the country.
The Middle East Institute is pleased to host a virtual panel of Yemeni experts to explore the various current dynamics impacting South Yemen and how they view the path forward. What are the hurdles facing the implementation of the Riyadh agreement? How will the STC’s self-rule decision impact future peace negotiations? How has the Hadi government responded to the flooding and electricity cuts and COVID19? Is the STC capable of dealing with the security and economic challenges and delivering good governance?
Speakers:
Dr. Saadaldeen Ali Talib, former minister of industry and trade, Yemen. From 1997 until 2003, Dr. Saadaldeen Ali Talib was a Member of Parliament of Yemen for the Shibam district of Hadhramaut. In 2005, Talib worked with the National Democratic Institute as manager of the parliamentary program and general democracy development in Yemen. Talib was elected by parliament as a member of the first anti-corruption commission in Yemen, the Supreme National Authority for Combating Corruption, until he resigned the post in 2009 and went to exile in Singapore. Talib returned to Yemen in December 2011 as the minister of industry and trade. After a cabinet change in November 2014, he returned to exile in Singapore. Dr. Talib has written several papers on Yemen’s democracy and the Hadhramaut diaspora and presented to many conferences.
Dr. Abdelqader al-Junaid, physician. Dr. Abdelqader al-Junaid is a medical doctor and a well-known political activist in Ta’iz known to be critical of the Houthi armed group and their allies. Before the 1994 war, Dr. al-Junaid founded, “The January 18 Committee To Support The Pledge and Agreement Charter ” in Ta’iz, which was against the war and pro-Southern Yemini. In March 2014, Dr. al-Junaid was vocal against the arrival of Houthi and Saleh reinforcements using Taiz as a stage to launch a war against Aden and Hadi.
Yasameen Al-Nadheri, executive director, Peace Track Initiative. Yasameen Al-Nadheri is the Executive Director of the Peace Track Initiative and a founding member of the Women Solidarity Network. She is also the program representative of PartnersGlobal in Jordan liaising with the UN Special Envoy to Yemen to support the peace process. Al-Nadheri has participated in the 1.5 track on peace diplomacy led by Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance (DCAF) on security issues. Through the Peace Track Initiative, Al-Nadheri is working to create a space for women’s participation in the peacebuilding process. Al-Nadheri led the Peace Track Initiative women civil society delegation who participated on the sidelines of Geneva Peace Consultations for Yemen in September 2018. She has worked for more than 11 years with international organizations and the private sector in the development field, including with GIZ, MDM France, and Occidental Petroleum of Yemen. Al-Nadheri is a public speaker and has engaged in public speaking with the Nobel Peace Center with the Oslo Women Initiative and the UN Women during the Geneva Peace Week.
Amr Al-Beidh, member of the Presidential Council, the Southern Transitional Council. Al-Beidh is a member of the presidential council of the Southern Transitional Council and is responsible for external communications and issues regarding the peace process. Al-Beidh worked in the office of President Ali Salim Al-Beidh’s for more than 10 years and has a wide understanding of the dynamics and struggles of the movement in South Yemen.
For more information, contact the Programs Department, events@mei.edu [4], Tel. +1 202-785-1141 ext. 202