Rediscovering Yemen through The “Legacy of Gunpowder"
By Mohammed Abdelwahab Al-Shaibani
In September 1987, I attended part of the fourth General Conference of the Yemeni Writers and Authors Union, driven by the curiosity of a 21-year-old navigating his way into the world of writing. What caught my attention at the time were the varied voices discussing a range of issues, reflecting the concerns of Union members spread across the map of "natural Yemen" — three years before the unification of its two parts. At the time, I only knew a few of the Yemeni dialects commonly spoken, like those of Taiz, Ibb, Sana’a, and Aden. The aftermath of the January 1986 disaster still echoed in the discussions among conference members. I vividly remember a well-known female writer from Al-Dhale objecting to the absence of a picture of Abdul Fattah Ismail among the portraits of the Union's deceased figures displayed on the walls of the Yemeni Center for Research and Studies in Sana’a. Ismail, after all, was a poet and intellectual, in addition to his support in founding the Union in the early 1970s, when he was one of the prominent leaders in the southern part of the country (the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen).
Starting from the sixth conference, held in the same hall in late November 1993, just before the Summer War of 1994, I became an active participant, serving on its committees as a permanent member due to my union position. Each time, I rediscovered Yemen’s diversity and the concerns of the Union members regarding the national issue, the challenges it faced, and the threats posed by those pursuing narrow personal projects, with the support of regional backers.
By the tenth General Conference, held in Aden in May 2010, deep divisions were clearly visible, driven by the country’s slide into chaos and fragmentation. The power structure had become a mere spoils system for the influential, creating a major impasse that led to the uprisings of February 2011 and the subsequent chaos. This culminated in the coup against the outcomes of the National Dialogue Conference and the Houthi takeover of Sana’a on September 21, 2014 — exactly ten years ago — sparking a war that engulfed the entire country, leading to the collapse of state institutions and the disintegration of the nation's territory.
More than a decade after the tenth Union conference, and amid the ongoing war, I witnessed a remarkable gathering of diverse Yemenis at a major cultural event in September 2021. This event marked the concluding workshop of a study on the reciprocal impacts of Yemeni migration, funded by the late businessman Alwan Al-Shaibani. It brought together specialized researchers from all corners of Yemen—north, south, east, and west. I had not expected to witness such a gathering anytime soon, especially given the severe fragmentation and deadly divisions that have gripped the country due to the war. These divisions have only deepened with the rise of hate speech, stoked by the conflict parties to impose their divisive agendas and justify their control of power and resources through military force, security domination, and the complicity of external backers.
The "Legacy of Gunpowder" conference, organized by Mwatana for Human Rights on September 11-12, 2024, completely upended my previous expectations. Once again, I witnessed Yemen's rich diversity, this time within the sphere of human rights, as voices from across the country gathered in a small yet elegant hall at the organization’s headquarters and beyond. Over 100 Yemeni men and women—spanning generations, regions, and social classes—from Socotra, Mahra, Hadramout, Shabwa, Al-Jawf, Aden, Taiz, Saada, Amran, Al-Mahweet, Al-Dhale, Hodeidah, Abyan, Raymah, Dhamar, and elsewhere, came together. In addition, dozens more participated from five other venues in Aden, Shabwa, Taiz, and Seiyun, all virtually connected to the organization's main conference hall in Sana’a. A large group of activists attended as well, with no official representation from the de facto authorities, allowing the event to proceed free from external influence.
I attended the conference as an invited guest, knowing only the leadership of Mwatana and a few notable figures, such as Abdulbari Taher, Dr. Hammoud Al-Aoudi, and Abdulrahman Al-Ghaberi. Yet, I was pleasantly surprised to meet many writers, intellectuals, academics, and journalists, some of whom I had met sporadically in the past, while others I knew through their writings, whether in print or online. Among them were young writers and journalists of both genders whose work I frequently publish on the "Khuyut" platform, where I serve as editor-in-chief.
In the discussions and debates following each session—featuring studies, presentations, and testimonies on topics like enforced disappearances, human rights violations by conflict parties, landmine victims, the need for reforms in the security and judicial sectors, and the dangers of division—I heard Yemen speak in all its dialects, addressing the situation, proposing solutions, and pointing out violations and perpetrators without fear. Representatives of marginalized and vulnerable communities from various parts of Yemen also participated, adding a unique flavor to the discussions. Their input enriched the conversations, shedding light on the many injustices they face.
During the informal conversations between sessions, I heard the spirit of Yemen in the voices of participants who had traveled to Sana’a, despite the risks imposed by the de facto authorities across various provinces, including the threat of arrest or detention. While they could have easily joined the sessions virtually, as many of their colleagues did from other cities, they chose to attend in person. Even those who participated virtually made bold contributions, breaking through the fear barrier imposed by the oppressive forces controlling their regions.
Congratulations to my friends in Mwatana’s leadership and staff for the success of this conference. Its various, exceptional, and bold activities merit deeper reflection and further analysis.
