Yemen, a crucial country to Al Qaeda according to experts

PARIS - By claiming to have been equipped and trained in Yemen, the apprentice Nigerian terrorist who tried to blow up an Airbus over the United States last Friday, illustrates the importance of this country for Al-Qaeda, experts say.

•    According to a U.S. federal quoted by CNN, Abdul Farouk Abdulmutallab (or Oumar Farouk Abdulmutallab), 23, would immediately after his arrest, say acting on behalf of Osama bin Laden and that he had gone for equipment and instruction in Yemen.
  
     For Bernard Haykel, a specialist in the Arabian Peninsula at the American University of Princeton, "it is indisputable that Yemen has become increasingly important for Al-Qaeda".
  
     In fact, "it has always been," he says. "It is a very old connection, which dates back to the 80s, when many young Yemenis went to Afghanistan to fight the Soviets.
  
     "And after the defeat of Al Qaeda in Saudi Arabia, many Saudi members of the movement who survived regrouped in Yemen," he said.
  
     Faced with the two rebellions, one north and one south of the country and armed tribes traditionally jealous of their autonomy and guardians of their territories, the Yemeni authorities are struggling to control their vast country, including mountainous terrain which offers many hideouts.
  
     The French Dominique Thomas, a familiar with the region and a specialist in jihadi movements at the Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales (EHESS, Paris) said that "Yemen is a land of traffic, a country that no central government has ever reached crisscross effectively.
  
     "The great figures of the southern rebellion have always been fairly close to theses jihadists, and Al-Qaeda has managed to garner a true capital of sympathy with them. They offer their support and protection," he says.
  
     After repeatedly stressed dialogue and policy of reaching out to the movement of Osama bin Laden, whose family is originally from Yemen, Sanaa government has recently launched a series of deadly attacks against what is considered the bases of Al Qaeda with the support of the United States.
  
     According to ABC News, cruise missiles have even been fired from U.S. ships on the basis of the Islamist organisation.
  
     The Yemeni authorities say they have killed over the past two weeks, a hundred members of Al Qaeda. The regions concerned are closed to the press and any outside observer; this figure can not be independently verified.
  
     Dominique Thomas said that "Saudi and Yemeni branch of Al Qaeda have merged, and the movement's number two in Yemen is currently a Saudi.
  
     "Bin Laden has always been surrounded by Yemenis, especially from the southern regions, where his father originated," he said. "He understands and trusts them. And on the other hand, the Saudis have never really considered him a Saudi, but as a Yemeni.
  
     Birthplace of the bin Laden family, populated by rebel tribes, easily controllable, Yemen occupies a privileged place in the jihadist universe, he says.
  
     "The Yemenis have a special role in speech and jihad legends," added the French researcher. "The prophetic stories, speak of an army that will come from Yemen to save the Muslims ... It remains to prove that the Nigerian has indeed gone to Yemen, but the fact that he cites this country is naturally quite revealing. .. "
      
  Ennaharonline/ M. O.