“We Are All Suffering Equally”: The Impact of the War on Muwalladin in Yemen

Abstract

Abstract This article focuses on the impact of the war on people of mixed Yemeni-African descent in Yemen. These so-called muwalladin have been the target of discriminatory practices for decades. Since the start of the civil war in Yemen, stigmatization and discrimination on the basis of one's family background has increased. Based on a qualitative study among muwalladin in Yemen we argue that discrimination on the basis of race and gender is highly prevalent in Yemen, even though many interviewees were of the opinion that differences between Yemenis had decreased as a result of the war because “everyone is suffering equally.” Indeed, the daily lives of the Yemeni population are affected on many different levels, yet those who are considered second class citizens based on the intersection of their gender, race, lineage, and skin color, are suffering more than others.