Yemen has been a troubled state for years, beset by a secessionist movement in the south and periodic tribal uprisings in the north. This last week saw a spike in fighting, mostly in the north where Houthi rebels clashed with the rival Ibn Aziz tribe, which is itelf allied with the central government.

Most of the fighting in Yemen is about familiar complaints: economic disparities between the regions, inequitable division of the nation’s resources, and discrimination along religious sectarian and tribal lines.

Al Qaeda has a presence in Yemen and is trying to take advantage of the mounting conflict to align itself with anti-government rebels and so gain more secure bases in the area. If the Yemenis could tamp down the violence, and find some peaceful solutions to the issues behind them, everyone would be happy except for al Qaeda.

The good news is that Qatar has offered to mediate between the northern rebels and the government, and the rebels are open to the idea. Qatar brokered a cease-fire in 2008 in the north which now seems to be unraveling, but at least they have a track record and the trust of both sides. The Saudis are also prepared to get involved, so with a little luck this can be contained.

Here are articles on the latest fighting from AFP, Reuters, IRIN, and The Guardian.

About the Author: The major landmarks in Frank's historical interests range from ancient Persia through the Crimean War, World War II, and the modern U.S. Armed Forces, with a lot of stops in between. Frank is fascinated by the unusual, the overlooked, and the surprising. He is the New York Times number one best-selling author of the Desert Shield Fact Book (1991) and he is currently writing an historical novel on Alexander's conquest of Persia – from the Persian point of view.

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