Christopher Boucek
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}Source: Getty
Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula in Yemen
As the security situation in countries like Afghanistan, Iraq, and Pakistan has improved, al-Qaeda has been forced to seek out new safe havens in places like the ungoverned parts of the Yemeni countryside.
Source: BBC Newshour

As the security situation in countries like Afghanistan and Pakistan has improved and the war in Iraq recedes, al-Qaeda has been forced to seek out new safe havens. Yemen provides such a safe haven, with a large amount of ungoverned spaces al-Qaeda can use to train recruits. This presents a threat not only to potential targets in Yemen, but to the entire region. The Yemeni government faces a variety of challenges which must be overcome if al-Qaeda is to be denied a stronghold in the country.
"The government in Yemen is unable to control all its territory," Christopher Boucek explains. "The international community is going to have to help the Yemeni government deal with the security issues."
About the Author
Former Associate, Middle East Program
Boucek was an associate in the Carnegie Middle East Program where his research focused on security challenges in the Arabian Peninsula and Northern Africa.
- Yemen After Saleh’s Return and Awlaki’s ExitQ&A
- Rivals—Iran vs. Saudi ArabiaQ&A
Christopher Boucek, Karim Sadjadpour
Recent Work
Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.
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