Yemen, one of the poorest Middle Eastern countries, has been ground to a halt by a destructive war between forces loyal to President Hadi and the Houthi rebel movement. More than 6,800 have been killed, 35,000 injured since March 2015, and 80% of the population are in need of aid.
The Houthis, initially a provincial militant movement, pushed the national government into exile and were then bombarded by forces from Saudi Arabia and a coalition of Arab countries. The Houthis are anti-USA, Israel and Saudi Arabia, and thought to be supplied by Iran. They describe themselves as “revolutionaries” like Hezbollah or Hamas, and their aim is to cleanse the country of corrupt leaders beholden to foreign powers. Some call it a proxy war between Iran and Saudi Arabia. It is draining Saudi cash at a substantial rate, damaging their economy, already badly hit by falling oil prices.
President Hadi, seen as a weak leader, took over from the previous incumbent the ‘kleptocratic’ Saleh, who amassed billions in his decades as president.
There are two charts for modern Yemen, though its history stretches back over millennia. 27 September 1962 4am San’a’, and 22 May 1990. Neither look settled or cheerful for several years ahead. The 1962 chart has tr Neptune opposition Pluto Moon in 2017, extending into 2018 which looks like a neglected and unhappy population. With a volatile, explosive tr Uranus square Mars in Feb 2017; and then a cornered and fearful tr Pluto opposition Mars in 2018/19.
The 1990 chart has tr Uranus in a jolting square to Saturn through 2017; then tr Pluto will sextile Mars in 2020/21 which will be high risk; and then conjunct Saturn which is usually hardship and deprivation in 2021/22.
The civil war itself may not last that long, but the humanitarian crisis will stretch ahead. It makes western ideas of political crisis look feeble and self-indulgent.