Yemen's sectarian divide deepens as religious labels fuel political conflicts

From jihad calls to takfiri accusations, Yemen's factions now fight with faith as ammunition. Can a nation torn by sectarian rhetoric ever heal?

, and Administrator

2026 April 7 . 2:11 PM

1 min read

The image shows a map of Yemen with a blue line indicating the extent of the conflict between the... — The image shows a map of Yemen with a blue line indicating the extent of the conflict between the two countries. The text on the map provides further details about the conflict, such as the names of the countries and their borders.

Yemen's sectarian divide deepens as religious labels fuel political conflicts

Yemen's long-standing religious divisions have deepened in recent years, with sectarian labels now shaping political and military conflicts. The Houthi movement and its opponents, including Salafist groups, have increasingly framed their rivalry in narrow religious terms. This shift reflects broader regional tensions fuelled by Saudi Arabia and Iran. Yemen's religious landscape has historically divided between Zaydi Shia Muslims in the north and Sunni Muslims of the Shafi'i school in the south and east. After North and South Yemen unified in 1990, the country adopted a pluralistic political system. However, tensions persisted, particularly between the Houthi movement and Sunni groups like the Islah Party, Yemen's largest Sunni political force.

The Houthi movement's early conflicts centred on the Dar al-Hadith Center, a Sunni religious institute. Over time, the group's rhetoric grew more sectarian. They labelled opponents as takfiris or daeshites, while their rivals, including anti-Houthi tribal leader Hussein al-Ahmar, declared himself the powerful lion of the Sunnis in 2021. President Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi later described the Houthis as Twelver Shia, further hardening divisions.

Both sides have since embraced sectarian symbolism in their military structures. The Houthis formed the Hussein Brigades, while anti-Houthi militias created groups like the Abdurraqeeb Abdelwahhab Brigades. The Houthis also called their supporters in Sanaa to jihad in Taiz and Aden, framing the conflict as a holy war. Meanwhile, the Haqq Party emerged to represent political Zaydism, adding another layer to the sectarian divide. The escalation of sectarian language in Yemen mirrors wider regional conflicts, particularly the rivalry between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Military factions on both sides now use religious labels and symbols to mobilise support. This shift has made reconciliation more difficult, as political disputes become entangled with deep-rooted religious identities.