By Mete Erdurcan. Yemeni President Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi resigned after but two years in office. He had had to deal with al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), ISIS and the Shia Houthis. After the latter rebel group took the presidential chief of staff captive, and seized control of key government buildings located in the capital of Sana’a, the President and ministers resigned en masse. This development deeply affects Europe and the USA as the atrocities in Paris  were funded by terrorist groups based in Yemen. The Houthis are a Zaydi Shia armed group from the north of Yemen, and comprise of around 30% of the population. Since the abolition of the Zaydi Imamate they have been sidelined by the central government which has led to an armed struggle of more than a decade. In addition to the conflict with the central government, the Houthis are also at war with the Sunni AQAP. The nation’s hope for peace was substituted with chaos, as the truce treaty, signed last Wednesday was violated the very next day. The Hadi coalition had agreed to amend the Yemeni constitution to give the tribes associated to the Houthis more influence in return for their retreat from governmental institutions. This seems to have been in vain, and as a consequence thereto the President resigned from office. For the international community it is therefore unclear who wields power in the country after the resignations.  

Photo by Koichi Kamoshida/Getty Images Statement by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe regarding the hostage incident of Japanese nationals in Syria

1. We have been pursuing every possible means including all available diplomatic channels, first and foremost, to save lives of the two Japanese nationals. It is under these circumstances that an image in which Mr. Haruna Yukawa seems to have been murdered, was uploaded online. Fully aware of unbearable pain and sorrow that his family must be feeling, I am simply left speechless. Such act of terrorism is outrageous and impermissible, which causes me nothing but strong indignation. Thus I express resolute condemnation.
2. Again, I strongly demand that Mr. Kenji Goto not be harmed and be immediately released. The Government of Japan will, in its entirety, do its utmost in order to have him released.
3. The Government of Japan will never give in to terrorism, and actively contribute to the peace and stability of the world together with the international community in an unwavering manner.

 

Evo Morales celebrates his inauguration and begins third term as President of Plurinational Republic of Bolivia. By Emma Moore. Following an election campaign fought with the background of almost eight years of solid economic growth, the Bolivian electorate decisively re-elected Evo Morales to a third term as President of Bolivia in October 2014. The returning president celebrated his inauguration on 22 and 23 January this week, with over 40 countries, including a delegation from the U.S. and presidents from Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela, Brazil and Ecuador, represented across the two days, including at both the indigenous and official inauguration ceremonies. Morales referenced his indigenous background appearing dressed as a sun god amidst the pre-Inca ruins of Tiwanaku. Morales has served as president since 2006 and during his two periods in office has spearheaded various policies aimed at socio-economic reform in Bolivia, despite opposition from the conservative middle class. These reforms have included using the denationalisation of key Bolivian industries such as oil and gas in order to fund social projects and public work programmes, and have been generally successful in reducing the hardship suffered by the population, with extreme poverty and poverty declining by 25% and 43% respectively. Economic growth under Morales has averaged 5% each year, way ahead of growth in Bolivia’s neighbouring countries. Morales’ tenure has also seen electrical reform and democratisation, with several referenda and a greater voice for the indigenous people of Bolivia of which he is the first Bolivian leader from an indigenous background. (Morales is from an Aymara farming family.) Somewhat controversially, Morales was able to contest an unprecedented third term, despite the country’s limit of two presidential terms, by citing constitutional reform. Despite these reforms and advancements there is still much to achieve as Bolivia remains the poorest nation in South America. The legal working age in the country is 10 years of age and Bolivians receive has the lowest minimum wage of the region. It is hoped that the next five years will see election pledges to provide further reform coming to fruition, although observers will be closely watching Bolivia’s next economic moves with oil and gas prices falling, as well as how Morales continues his frosty relationship with the U.S. Back in October, Morales celebrated by dedicating his election victory to fellow leaders Fidel Castro and the late Hugo Chavez of Venezuela. The president’s current term will end in 2020 and will make him Bolivia’s longest serving president.