Fallback of investment in Yemen due to political crisis

By: Abdul-Aziz Oudha

Sana'a, Mar 21, 2011- Arab and international investment in Yemen has decreased and tourism has also declined, the government's latest General Investment Authority report has confirmed.

The report compares figures between last year and 2009. It indicates that Arab and foreign investments registered last year totaled 164 projects with an income of YR129 billion. However, in 2009 there were 272 projects with an income of YR314 billion. This is a drop of 108 projects and a loss of YR185 billion income.

The investment authority said that there was a drop in the number of the Gulf investment projects which last year totaled 12 projects with an income of YR19 billion. The previous year there were 14 projects totaling YR113.572 billion.

There were eight Saudi Arabian projects valued YR202 billion and two Kuwaiti projects valued at YR16.5 billion. The biggest of these projects were a joint Yemeni-Kuwaiti real estate project, a Qatari farm costing YR200 million and a UAE project of YR41 million.

The authority's records showed that Saudi investment projects in Yemen last year were third place on an investment list. This included four tourism projects, an industrial project and an agricultural project, said the authority.

Other investors were from Egypt, Kuwait, Jordan, Qatar, Lebanon, Syria, Malaysia, Turkey, Tanzania, China, Britain, France, Canada and America. These investment projects created hundreds of jobs, said the authority.

Economic sources said that a number of Gulf and Yemeni investors have delayed the establishment of five iron, sugar and cement plants in a number of governorates, particularly in southern parts of the country where violence has been the worst in recent months. This includes Aden, Hadramout, Shabwa in the south east, Hodeida in the west and Marib in the east.

The 'Economist' magazine reported that a number Yemeni and Gulf investors were forced to delay their projects because of what they described as a currently inappropriate investment climate in some parts of Yemeni. Some donors were also reluctant to finance their projects.

“The delayed industries include a US$200 million sugar factory in Aden and a US$260 million cement plant in Marib. Another delayed cement factory was planned for Shabwa, costing US$200 million. An iron and steel factory in Hodeida at a cost of US$100 million has also been delayed, in addition to a cement factory in Mukala,” reported the investment authority.

Five star hotels in Aden, Sana’a, Mukala and Taiz are meanwhile complaining about the significant decrease of tourists from Yemen and abroad.

Source: Yemen Observer

ITUC call: Killings should stop immediately in Yemen

ITUC call: Killings should stop immediately in Yemen

Brussels, 20 March 2011 (ITUC OnLine): At least 30 people have been killed and hundreds wounded after Yemeni security forces opened fire today on protesters at University Square, in the capital Sanaa.

The security forces were trying to prevent protesters from marching out of the square where they were gathered. Many protesters were shot in the head and neck; most of the injured were shot with live ammunition. According to medical sources, the death toll is likely to rise.

According to witnesses, pro-regime thugs also opened fire on protesters from houses close to University Square.

Friday's attack came as tens of thousands gathered across the country, continuing to demand that president Ali Abdullah Saleh - the country's ruler of 32 years - step down.

Anti-government demonstrations were also held in other cities including Taiz, Ibb, Hodeidah, Aden, and Amran following Muslim midday prayers on Friday.

Ahead of the protests, hundreds of police patrolled the streets of Sanaa and elite forces set up fortifications around the presidential compound, ministries and the headquarters of Yemen's ruling party.

Government forces have previously used live fire, rubber bullets, and tear gas on anti-regime rallies, in the government's increasingly violent crackdown on protests, which has already let to 70 deaths and hundreds of wounded.

While economic conditions for average Yemenis are dire and worsening, a generation of young activists, among them many young women, have been leading the civil society movement for democratic changes.

“The Yemeni authorities must stop the bloodshed immediately and set a genuine national dialogue to respond to the legitimate demands of the people for democracy and equity. The ITUC urges also the international community to promote national dialogue, prioritise aid for socio-economic purposes and supporting democracy, and ensure that any security assistance cannot be used against peaceful protesters through the country”, said ITUC General Secretary Sharan Burrow.

Press Release: International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC)

Norway condemns killings in Yemen

Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre says Norway condemns the violence against protesters in Yemen and is deeply concerned about the deteriorating situation and the violence in the country.

Many protesters have been killed during demonstrations in Yemen in the past week. A large number of protesters were shot and killed on Friday, when several thousand people were gathered for a demonstration near the university in the capital, Sanaa. More than 100 are said to be injured.

“I call on all parties to refrain from the use of force. It is unacceptable that the authorities are resorting to violence during the demonstrations. The authorities must respect freedom of expression and allow peaceful protests,” said Foreign Minister Støre.

(NRK/Press release)

Yemen's leader fails to stop uprising

SANAA, Mar 20, 2011- A crackdown that killed dozens failed to stop massive demonstrations against Yemen's U.S.-backed president, as crowds of thousands clashed Saturday with security forces smashing their protest camps and even seized control of one southern city.

In the capital, the government had to bring out tank units and other military forces to protect key buildings as crowds swelled. Protesters also stood their ground in the southern city of Mualla, surging out of their destroyed encampment and encircling a police station.

In the same province, witnesses said protesters chased security authorities out of the city of Dar Saad and were now in control. Dar Saad is considered the gateway to the key port of Aden.

Security and judicial officials said that orders to implement a large-scale military operation aimed at emptying main squares from protesters within the next 48 hours had been issued at a meeting of the higher defense council that was headed by President Ali Abdullah Saleh on Friday.

Saleh blamed the opposition for "incitement and chaos" that led to violent confrontations and deaths and declared Sunday a national day of mourning for the "martyrs of democracy."

Several more prominent members of Saleh's ruling Congress Party announced their resignations Saturday. Among them were two former culture ministers, the head of the state-run Saba news agency, Nasr Taha Moustafa, as well as the Yemeni ambassador to Beirut.

A group of Yemeni private-sector businessmen, traditionally supporters of the regime, also said in a statement Saturday that they were siding with the opposition in support of their "rightful and legitimate call for change."

Source: The Associated Press

Somali refugees flee unrest and “mercenary attacks” in Yemen

BOSASSO- Mar 20, 2011- At least 60 Somali refugees fleeing the unrest in Yemen arrived back in their country on Saturday, reaching the port town of Bosasso in the north.

Upon arrival, the refugees told tails of horror stories back in Yemen. Abukar Abdulaziz Osman said the Yemenis accused the Somalis of being mercenaries fighting on behalf of Yemeni leader Ali Abdullah Saleh.

“We fled from Yemen due to poor living conditions, social inequality, instability, lack of freedom, oppression, current political unrests and many other reasons,” Mr. Osman told local reporters.

There are no immediate reports of Somalis being attacked, detained or abused but the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and representatives of Somalia’s transitional government had confirmed Yemeni opposition groups were spreading the allegations in a bid to ‘mislead the public to escalate confrontations’.

According to UN agencies in Somalia, at least 250 Somali refugees returned back to their native country from Yemen since 26th January when anti-government protests rocked the country.

Yemen is hosting an estimated 181,000 Somali refugees, almost all of them arriving by boats in the last two decades. Every day at least one boat arrives in Yemen from Somalia carrying Somalis fleeing the conflict in their failed state. Now, for the second time, they are fleeing yet another conflict and a possible failed state but only in the opposite direction.

Echoing the Libyan mercenary hysteria, Yemeni opposition groups used television station in Aden to air their mercenary allegations on Saturday. UNHCR in the town said, there are no reports of Ali Saleh hiring any refugees. Terrified for their lives, Somalis are beginning to flee from Yemen with many already too scared to go out.

President Saleh, a key Western ally in the region, declared a state of emergency on Saturday after troops and snipers loyal to his 32-year old rule opened fire from rooftops on demonstrators in Sana’a. Over 50 were killed, several hundred wounded, many more taken into custody and others reported missing.

In Aden anti-government protesters occupied a number of government buildings and streets.

President Saleh faces a host of challenges and enemies including large youth population acerbated by the lack of opportunities in the country, Shia rebels in the north, Al qaeda embedded within lawless tribal regions and powerful independence movement in the south.

In 2009, the Yemeni government arrested 30 Somali refugees in Sa’adah area accusing them of fighting with al-Houthi against government troops. Rights group said the Shia rebels were misleading the refugees by claiming to smuggle them into Saudi Arabia, instead they forced them into battles against Saleh’s troops.

Human Right agencies had urged neighboring states to keep their borders open for humanitarian reliefs and people fleeing the violence. However, there are reports that Saudi Arabia might send forces into north Yemen to pound out any Shia uprise in the region. The Saudi rulers are fearful that instability in the deeply divided country could spill across the border and spread to their own oil-rich largely Shia eastern provinces.

Source: Somali and Press