Yemen Monitor/Special Writings:
There is nothing worse than finding oneself in a homeland without a state, even at the most basic level of its responsibilities. This is the reality that Yemenis live today, losing their present and future day by day, while the leaders of the de facto authorities monopolize resources without any oversight or accountability.
All de facto authorities in Yemen lack legitimacy. The Houthis, who came to power through a coup, rule with an iron fist without any constitutional, legal, or even popular legitimacy. On the other hand, the “Presidential Leadership Council” does not enjoy real legitimacy either, aside from international recognition that relies on the will of the allies who formed it — a recognition that could vanish at any moment if its backers withdraw their support.
Instead of working to gain the support of citizens by improving services, establishing security, and paying salaries, these authorities have plunged into a frantic race of failure and corruption, busy exchanging accusations to evade even the minimum level of national responsibility.
One of the most glaring manifestations of this corruption is the systematic looting of state resources by those in power, while citizens suffer from the collapse of basic services, unpaid salaries, and the disappearance of opportunities for a decent living.
Several factors have contributed to subduing public opinion and stripping it of hope for change. Political parties have entrenched blind ideological loyalties, pushing their supporters to justify the corruption of their leaders. Meanwhile, the war has produced new entities that differ little in their approach from traditional forces, deepening frustration in society and eroding trust in any path to change, despite the lack of serious initiatives of this kind from any side.
The crisis has grown even more complicated with the absence of honest national leaders who have a clear vision for the country’s future. Most prominent figures are either involved in corruption or incapable of providing practical solutions.
In this leadership vacuum, political, security, and economic setbacks have become entrenched, and every new phase has been nothing but a continuation of a tragedy that has persisted since 2011. None of the promises for change made by those who came to power have been fulfilled; instead, waves of corruption and turmoil have only intensified.
Despite the succession of different factions in power, regardless of their legitimacy, they all share a common denominator: failure to govern the state and a lack of vision to end the crisis. This has reinforced the belief that any future alternative would be just an extension of the same corrupt system. As a result, the state has become nearly absent from performing even its simplest functions, while government institutions remain paralyzed, and citizens face suffocating living crises amid a rapidly deteriorating economy.
Amid this reality, it has become difficult to convince Yemenis that positive change is possible anytime soon. They have lost faith in the political elites and parties, while the international community seems content with managing the crisis rather than seeking radical solutions. As the situation worsens, questions about the country’s future grow louder: is it possible for new national forces to emerge capable of breaking this vicious cycle of corruption and conflict?
We stand at a dangerous crossroads, where citizens find themselves trapped between de facto authorities that do not represent them, powerless political elites, and increasingly harsh living conditions, with no signs of change on the horizon. And yet, the wheel of time does not stop, and this situation cannot last forever. At some point, beyond all calculations, the balance may be turned upside down. When that moment comes, those intoxicated by the allure of power will realize that the laws of life spare no one.
