My Travels: Sanaa, Yemen

Overview:

Despite its ancient roots as the crossroads of Africa, the Middle East and Asia, the modern Republic of Yemen is a relatively new state. It was created after communist South Yemen merged with North Yemen in 1990, following years of strife, but tensions have never been far below the surface. A fresh wave of protests in 2011, inspired by the Arab Spring uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt, forced President Ali Abdallah Saleh to resign. In the ensuing turmoil, the Houthis seized much of the north and west of the country, while Saudi-led forces intervened to support the internationally-recognised government based in the south. By 2015 Yemen had plunged into civil war and a grave humanitarian crisis, exacerbated by the presence of the al-Qaeda and Islamic State jihadist groups. Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi came to power in 2012, after Ali Abdallah Saleh stepped down in a bid to end protests at his long period of authoritarian rule. Mr Hadi briefly resigned in January 2015 and fled to Saudi Arabia when Houthi Shia rebels took over the capital, Sanaa. He returned to set up a temporary capital in the main city of the south, Aden, with the support of loyalist forces and Saudi-led troops. The Houthis claim that their revolutionary council in Sanaa, headed by Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, is the legitimate government, but the international community backs Mr Hadi.

Source: BBC Country Profile

American Embassy Sanaa:

We were authorized business class travel from Dulles through Frankfurt to Sanaa because the total flight was over 14 hours, we did not take a rest stop, and we reported to work upon arrival. The inspection took place in Sanaa between January 29 and February 11, 2010. We had a very cohesive team headed up by Ambassador Brian E. Carlson (team leader) previously Ambassador to Latvia and the principal liaison between the Department of State Department Public Diplomacy and Defense Department. Peter G. Kaestner (deputy team leader) was an avid, world-renowned bird watcher who even defied security and made a road trip out of Sanaa to view birds one weekend. The lead management inspector was David Newell an experienced, retired FSO from Alabama whose goals were to retire to Florida, buy a $200,000 house and join the Century club after visiting 100 countries. I even let him listen to my “Beach Music” tunes on the bus from Abu Dhabi to Dubai. Other team members I worked with before were young Patrick Whelan, security who I worked with on the Banjul and Angola inspection. Patrick decided to leave OIG because he got tired of the travel and wanted to spend more time at home with his wife and young children. I also worked before with Craig Cheney (IT) and Roman Zawada, Security who I kiddingly called Ramon. I got to know the PD inspector Bill Wanlund and Molly Williamson but didn’t have an opportunity to work with them again. Because of the security situation we were confined to the Sheraton hotel and only got out once to visit the old city with a security escort. Each day we would take an armored SUV with a follow car and security detail to the embassy.

Needless to say, the embassy grounds were heavily fortified with bollards, fencing and embassy guards. The Management Officer was Shelton “Barry” Haynie who was actually an FMO specialist. The FMO, Mark Herrup, was on his first tour and there was no American HRO, so not a lot of experience. Barry went on to become the FMO in Riyadh and is now in Abuja, Nigeria.

Bill, Patrick, Molly, Ambassador Carlson, Greg, Peter and Roman in the old city.

Findings:

We made 34 formal and 55 informal recommendations mostly in management. In terms of property they needed to amend the office annex construction plan for the consular section, to include space for a new unit of the Department of Homeland Security and require all service and construction contracts over $2,500 comply with include Federal Acquisitions Regulations. A strategic review of staffing is required to include the numbers of positions, grade levels, assignment incentives, timing of officer rotations, and the requirement that spouses find employment. In finance, a recommendation to cease accepting deposits to the suspense deposit abroad account from employees for unauthorized uses. They also needed to establish procedures for termination of post differential and danger pay when employees are away from post and for reinstatement after their return to avoid overpayments of allowances. They also needed to implement an overtime policy consistent with regulations requiring approval in advance except for emergencies. We also got a ruling on the embassy's use of business class for R&R regardless of the cost for restricted or non-restricted fare.

Favorite Memories:

Touring the old market downtown.
Taking in the unique architecture of the buildings.
Watching the super bowl with the Saints defeating the Colts at the hotel.
Going to the embassy for a cookout hosted by the Marines with David showing off his dance steps.