Yemen needs good governance

Yemen needs better governance in order to counter the call for secession put forward by the large and mainly peaceful protests that have swept the southern half of the country for days.

Frustrated southerners feel ignored by the more northern-oriented government of Ali Abdullah Saleh, and they see no hope of reform. The government is trying to deal with the triple threat of the Al Houthi rebellion, widespread Al Qaida activity, as well as southern hopes of ending the north-south union which was formed in 1990. The government is relying too much on the planned $6 billion (Dh22.03 billion) aid package offered by its international friends and Gulf Cooperation Council neighbours.

Yemen is in danger of becoming a failed state in many parts of its territory and it needs to pull back from the brink. The government needs to follow a twin strategy of re-imposing its control over the areas it has lost, and also focusing on fostering economic growth.