In the sun-scorched highlands of Yemen, where jagged mountain ridges stretch across vast desert plains, a quiet but deeply significant struggle is unfolding. Beneath the rocky terrain of Marib Province lies a valuable natural resource-marble-that has long supported local livelihoods and once held promise as a major contributor to national revenue. Today, however, this sector operates in a legal vacuum, shaped not by formal regulation but by tribal authority, wartime conditions, and the collapse of central governance.

More than a decade of conflict has weakened Yemen’s already fragile institutions, leaving entire industries-especially natural resource extraction-effectively unregulated. In this vacuum, tribal leaders and local war figures have stepped in, asserting control over marble quarries and creating informal economic systems that function outside state oversight. The result is a complex and often unstable environment where traditional authority, armed influence, and economic opportunity intersect.

Authority without regulation

Under Yemen’s legal framework, natural resources such as marble are considered property of the state. Mining activities require official licenses, compliance with regulations, and payment of royalties. In practice, however, these rules have become largely irrelevant in Marib.

Since the civil war began in 2014, government institutions responsible for licensing and oversight have struggled to function. Officials confirm that no formal licenses for marble extraction have been issued in the province during this period. Administrative systems have broken down, and enforcement mechanisms are nearly nonexistent.

In place of state authority, tribal customs now govern access to land and resources. Many local leaders believe that the mountains belong to their tribes by ancestral right, and therefore the materials within them are also theirs to exploit. This belief forms the foundation of a parallel system in which tribal decisions override national laws.

This conflict between traditional ownership and state regulation reflects a broader challenge in Yemen: the tension between long-standing tribal systems and modern governance structures.

The emergence of armed entrepreneurs

Within this environment, a new class of local power holders has emerged. These individuals often combine military influence with business activity, operating both as........

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