In a report on Global Security.org dated 28th October 2009,by Elizabeth Arrott, it was reported that:

“Iran’s PressTV broadcast reports accusing the Yemeni government of seeking outside help.

‘A Yemeni official has reportedly met one of the top members of al-Qaida in Yemen,’ said the Iranian television presenter. “The two sides reportedly agreed that Saanaa will provide al-Qaida forces with light weapons.”

Yemen’s government denies turning to al-Qaida in the fight against the rebels.”

The Yemeni government accused Iran of supplying weapons to the al-Houthi rebels in northern Yemen.

Given that it is difficult to believe either party, it is possible that there a basis of truth in both sets of allegations, and dispute recent assurances given by the Yemeni Government in respect of terrorist groups, the fact that the situation is far more complex needs to be keep in mind.

Iran

a balanced understanding of the region

The Karnon Foundation has been established with two clear objectives:

1. to act as a focal point for information on the Horn of Africa and its bordering states, including southern Arabia and
2. to help the young people in immigrant communities, whose families originate from the region, to gain a balanced understanding of the realities of the region.

chaos and failed states ...

At this time it seems that the only news in the international media about the Horn of Africa and its neighbouring territories, like the Yemen, is about conflict, terrorism, piracy and famine, the Karnon Foundation believes that no policies affecting the region can be effective unless policy-makers and opinion formers have an objective and clear understanding of the complex and interwoven problems of the region.

It is increasingly clear that the problems of Somalia and the other countries of the region can no longer be contained, and their populations abandoned, in a state of isolation. Members of overseas Somali communities have become involved in the fighting in that country, a phenomena that it likely to spread to Yemen communities. Too often young men have travelled to the area, full of idealistic notions, to find themselves actors in extreme violence on behalf of groups to whom they have no natural connection.

a key strategic area

The Horn of Africa also sits astride one of the great ship lanes of the world, the Gulf of Aden, though which Europe receives the bulk of its crude oil supplies from the Middle East and the huge flood of goods and materials from China and India.

The region is therefore of critical strategic importance, and furthermore has enormous potential for future oil discoveries, especially in Somalia. It is an area that we cannot afford to ignore.#

simplistic explanations

The Horn of African has been bedevilled by "solutions" devised by outsiders with little understanding of the immense complexity of the issues. Simple solutions have no place here.For example is does not help the understanding of the problems of the region to claim that the current fighting in Somalia and Yemen is simply the extension of Al-Qaeda into new territories. A failure to get to grips with the issues, or an over-identification with one group or another, mindset which has bedevilled our understanding of the situation in Afghanistan, and which has only worked to the advantage of those who wish to discredit Western intentions in the region.

famine and drought ...

Somalia and the other countries of the region are now experiencing one of the worst droughts for twenty years and this has lead to famine and increased the flow of economic refugees from the region. It is vital that the international community understands the causes of these problems and focuses on the long term impact of climate change in the region.

Yemen Using Threat of Al Qaeda to Boost Its Regime

In a report by Agence France-Presse on the 11th January 2010 it was claimed that Yemen’s president is using the Western-backed war against al-Qaeda to bolster his regime and portray his opponents as terrorists. The reports says that Islamist militants are less of a danger for the survival of the Yemeni Government than the Zaidi Shiite insurrection on the border with Saudi Arabia, or the independence movement southern Yemen. A study by Dr. Mohamed Abdo Moghram pointed to the endemic nature of corruption in Yemen, due to  the “weak structure of governance, non-transparent structure of government institutions, and long tradition of breaking the laws by the high ranks officials.” President Saleh is actually deeply unpopular in much of his country and the government system is systemically corrupt. A simplistic approach to opposing terrorism will not work in dealing with the Yemen, this is a deeply corrupt and weak government, not a natural partner in the War on Terror.