Dr Elisabeth Kendall Publishes New Research on the Evolution of Contemporary Jihadi Militancy in Yemen

Pembroke Senior Research Fellow in Arabic, Dr Elisabeth Kendall recently published a paper with the Middle East Institute titled ‘Contemporary Jihadi Militancy in Yemen: How is the Threat Evolving’. The paper draws together three years’ worth of research spent closely watching, reading, listening and recording everything that al-Qaeda and Islamic State have produced within and about Yemen.

Regional conflict and internal chaos have allowed militant jihadi groups to rise and flourish in Yemen. The paper focuses on two prominent groups: al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and the Islamic State in Yemen (ISY). It considers factors leading to the ascent of both groups and the challenges and pressures that have caused their subsequent declines.

In her concluding remarks, focusing on the contemporary decentralisation of jihadi groups in Yemen, Dr Kendall writes that ‘there is some cause for hope. Current jihadi decentralisation does provide a short-term window of opportunity for preventive initiatives to capitalize on the jihadists’ disarray, internal suspicion over informers, poor communications, trauma at the relentless loss of ‘brother martyrs,’ dwindling tribal support, and the challenges of regrouping and rebuilding camps’.

Dr Kendall argues that this is a window of opportunity to address the underlying reasons behind the persistent phenomenon of militant jihad in Yemen. She suggests that this needs to occur at two levels; at the level of recruits and of local populations who tolerate the groups.

Read the paper in full here.