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commentary

An Island of Stability?

Though it is a front line in the battle against the Houthis, Marib city is bustling.

Published on August 1, 2019

At the Carnegie website, Ahmed Nagi has published the first of a series of photo essays on his recent trip to Yemen—in this case on the city and governorate of Marib. Controlled by foes of the Houthis, Marib is a front line in the battle against the group and has attracted many who have been harmed by Houthi policies. Though Marib has been transformed by the influx of people, becoming a bustling city, the peace there appears fragile to Nagi. He concludes, “Perhaps it is the common resilience of the people that sets the city apart. Even so, no one can anticipate whether Marib will remain a stable exception or turn into another example of failed governance. It is certainly a place to watch, with potential lessons for other parts of Yemen.”

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