Amman: The war in Yemen has resulted in numerous disasters, including the displacement of millions of Yemenis from their homes.
Hundreds of thousands of people have fled to neighbouring countries and beyond, denying the country the services of a range of skills, from professionals and businessmen to social, political and military leaders.
Their departures created an opportunity for the Houthis to consolidate control over the state and its institutions and impose sectarian dominance over society.
The Houthis also took advantage of the closure of Sana'a airport, which prevented the return of leaders who could have hindered the movement's agenda to build a Zaydi version of a Taliban state.
Today — after tightening its grip over state institutions including the army and subjecting society to its draconian authority — many displaced people have no choice but to settle abroad, or return to a country devoid of constitutional values and civil equality.
Read more: The Yemen test
The Republic of Yemen was established in 1990. Its constitution guaranteed civil equality, the rule of law, and political empowerment through partisan pluralism and elections.
Despite grave abuses committed by the elites, the central authorities more or less upheld these values. However, the abuse of power and rampant corruption put Yemen on the path of economic failure and the disintegration of the state.
Popular uprising and a short-lived transitional phase
There were popular uprisings in 2011 against the abuses and demands for reform. They led to the resignation of President Ali Abdullah Saleh, the transfer of power, and the beginning of a transitional phase.
This was when the National Dialogue Conference was held which approved sweeping reforms. The most important was a federal system where local communities would be granted the autonomy to manage their own affairs away from the domination of the central government and its corrupt elite.
2013-2014
The National Dialogue Conference is called. All parties join. The final constitutional draft turns Yemen into a federation of balkanized semi-autonomous states. The Ansarallah & Yemeni left objected to the draft document & the balkanization of their country. pic.twitter.com/LVVyZNzBiA
— روني الدنماركي (@Aldanmarki) January 7, 2023
However, sharp divisions thwarted the transitional phase. The Houthis formed an awkward alliance with the former president, took control of the capital, Sana'a, and placed the transitional president and his government under house arrest.
Once in charge, the Houthis quickly showed that they were unwilling to respect even the most basic rights of citizens or the rule of law.
The Houthis gave their officials sweeping powers, which enabled them to imprison people, confiscate property, and violate the rights of citizens without any legal recourse, creating a toxic environment and sparking a wave of flight.