Unequal distribution of power and resources have been the cause of various violent conflicts in Yemen. For most of the 20th century Yemen has existed as 2 separate countries; the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen (PDRY) in the south and the Yemen Arab Republic (YAR) in the north. The countries became one in 1990 and the Republic of Yemen was created but soon the southerners began to feel discriminated and began to feel economically and politically marginalized by the federal government in Sanaa. This marginalization resulted in a civil war being fought in 1994, but it was unsuccessful in bringing about any substantial change.
Instability, bad governance as well as corruption and poor infrastructure have resulted in Yemen being one of the poorest countries in the middle east and has caused stunted growth in this country.
The current conflict is between the forces that are loyal to President, Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi and the forces that are aligned with the Zaidi Shia rebels or more commonly known as Houthis. The Yemen armed forces have also split their loyalties with half of them supporting President Hadi and the rest supporting the Houthis. To add further confusion Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula(AQAP) is opposed to both these forces and is staging attacks against both these parties.
Many people would want us to believe that the Yemen crisis is an idealogical conflict but that is false.The Yemen crisis is in essence a power struggle and it seems that it wont be ending anytime soon.
References:
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-29319423
References:
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-29319423
Stakeholders have successfully painted a sectarian picture of the Yemen conflict. However, numerous proxies are involved furthering their own vested interests. Yemen seems like a battlefield where the wills of the oppressed are insignificant to the interests of, say Saudi Arabia or Iran.
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