In a deep and responsible dialogue, the city of Taiz hosted a focused discussion session that brought together experts, political analysts, academics, and rights advocates to examine “The History of Conflicts, Political Settlements, and Foreign Interventions in Yemen.” The session was held as part of ongoing efforts to build a shared vision for the potential application of transitional justice in Yemen.
The event, organized by the Abductees’ Mothers Association in partnership with SAM for Rights and Liberties and supported by the DT Institute, aimed to analyze the root causes of Yemen’s recurring conflicts since 1962, assess their devastating impacts on the state and society, and explore models of settlements, reconciliations, and mechanisms for implementing transitional justice in the country.
Participants reviewed key milestones in Yemen’s conflict history, from the Republican–Royalist war, to the conflicts between North and South Yemen, the six Sa’ada wars, and the ongoing war since 2014. Attendees agreed that the absence of an inclusive state project, the failure of past political settlements to address genuine grievances, and the prioritization of narrow interests over the national interest were major factors fueling repeated cycles of violence.
In her opening remarks, Amat Al-Salam Al-Hajj, Chairperson of the Abductees’ Mothers Association, emphasized: “Understanding the past is the first step toward building a future free from today’s tragedies.” She noted that this session is part of a series of activities aimed at developing a national vision on transitional justice that places victims at the heart of any future political solution.
Session facilitator Dr. Nabil Al-Hakimi underlined that “a responsible and in-depth discussion of the root causes of conflict is essential to overcoming the current crisis,” adding that “supporting such dialogues is meant to create a space for critical thinking that can contribute to shaping sustainable peace policies.”
The discussion particularly focused on transitional justice as a key tool to break the cycle of violence. Experts differed over the timeframes it should cover, the most suitable mechanisms for Yemen’s context, and the balance between achieving urgent political reconciliation and launching a comprehensive justice process.
The session concluded with consensus that any sustainable peace in Yemen requires genuine political will, the building of strong state institutions, recognition of victims’ rights accountability for perpetrators of violations, and the preservation of collective memory to prevent the recurrence of tragedies.
It is noteworthy that this activity comes within the framework of the SPARK Project and the Restorative Justice Forum. The outcomes of this session, along with upcoming sessions, will contribute to drafting a detailed policy paper to be presented to decision-makers and relevant stakeholders at both local and international levels.
