Yemen - financially the poorest but democratically the richest Arab nation

Yemen’s democracy has taken some severe blows in recent years. Corruption is blatant, and 45 per cent of Yemenis said in a recent poll that corruption is the most important issue facing Yemen. Transparency International ranks Yemen 103 out of 158 states on the 2005 Corruption Perception Index. Media freedom, which blossomed after unification, has shrunk. In the past year, more journalists and editors have been prosecuted by the government, and there have been a number of anonymous physical attacks on journalists.

“At present there is no intention to check corruption,” says Bin Shamlan. “If the opposition wins, we will move straight away to address the power distribution in the system.” The opposition represented by Bin Shamlan is an interesting window into Yemeni democracy. Bin Shamlan is a respected independent politician nominated by a motley coalition of Islamic reformers, tribal leaders, former South Yemen socialists and Nasserites.

“Ultimately, if democracy takes root properly in Yemen, it will [positively] effect the stability of the whole region,” says Bin Shamlan. Al-Sakkaf is despairing of the chances for presidential succession in 2006, but she holds out more hope for local contests. “If the local elections are a success, that will be a huge step. If they are meaningful perhaps that can translate to a larger scale.”

Yemen’s democracy is still a work-in-progress. The September elections may or may not be a step forward, but are unlikely to be a step backwards. Looking north to Saudi Arabia and west to Sudan and Somalia, Yemen is still worth watching as an example of democratisation in an otherwise discouraging regional landscape.