Nobel Peace Prize laureate and human rights activist Tawakkol Karman marked the 62nd anniversary of Yemen’s October 14 Revolution with a strong call for unity, sovereignty, and the revival of the revolutionary principles that once liberated the country from colonial rule.
In a speech delivered on the occasion, Karman said the 1963 uprising that began in the mountains of Radfan under the leadership of Rajeh Ghalib Labouza represented a defining moment in Yemen’s modern history, one that restored independence and dignity to its people. She praised the revolution’s martyrs, saying they embodied the courage and sacrifice needed to achieve freedom.
Karman described the October 14 Revolution, along with the September 26 Revolution in the north, as the twin foundations of Yemen’s republican identity — national movements that sought to end tyranny and foreign occupation while uniting the Yemeni people under one banner of freedom and self-determination.
The Nobel laureate warned that Yemen now faces new forms of domination that threaten the very principles those revolutions established. She said both the imamate and foreign interference had re-emerged, accompanied by armed groups and militias acting outside the law and serving the interests of external powers.
According to Karman, the fragmentation of Yemen into competing zones of influence has created a “vacuum of authority,” leaving the country without genuine leadership or coherent governance. She accused local elites of abandoning their patriotic duties and allowing the nation’s sovereignty to be traded away “for a pittance.”
Karman said the war and foreign-backed agreements have deepened Yemen’s suffering, impoverishing its people while strengthening non-national projects built on sectarian and regional divisions. She argued that these divisions are being deliberately fueled by outside powers seeking to keep Yemen weak, divided, and dependent.
She warned that the manipulation of internal disputes has become a modern form of colonialism, where foreign powers no longer need to invade militarily as long as local actors can be used to destabilize their own homeland.
Karman urged Yemenis to reject hatred and enmity, saying the country’s salvation lies in restoring unity and reaffirming loyalty to the principles of independence, sovereignty, and republicanism. “No region, tribe, or province can achieve dignity or safety on its own,” she said, emphasizing that the destiny of Yemenis is shared and indivisible.
Despite her stark assessment of the present, Karman expressed optimism about the future. She said Yemen’s long history of resistance proves that its people will ultimately triumph over oppression and division. True victory, she added, will come through the establishment of a democratic, republican state that protects citizens’ rights, ensures justice, and contributes to peace at home and abroad.
Concluding her address, Karman reaffirmed her faith in the resilience of the Yemeni people and in the enduring legacy of their revolutions. “The dawn will surely rise to dispel this deep darkness,” she said. “Glory to October. Glory to September.”
Here is the full text:
O great Yemeni people,
O free Yemenis across the land—from Midi to Al-Abr, from Sana’a to Hadramaut, and from Sa’da to Al-Mahrah,
Peace and blessings be upon you.
On this immortal day, we gather to commemorate the revolution that liberated the southern part of our homeland from colonial rule—the glorious October 14th Revolution— now marking its sixty-second anniversary. A revolution that reshaped history and restored to the Yemeni people their independence and dignity.
A salute of reverence and pride to those valiant young men who purified themselves with honor to forge the dawn of independence and the days of freedom.
A salute to those who gave their lives willingly for a free homeland and a proud nation.
A salute to every Yemeni man and woman who remain true to the covenant — the covenant of the Republic and the covenant of independence.
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
By divine will, Yemen has become one of those rare lands that defy the shadows of oblivion—lands that, despite being burdened by calamities and sorrow, shine with resilience. The revolutions of Yemenis against oppressive regimes and foreign occupation stand as a testament to a spirit that refuses to be extinguished and a will that remains unyielding.
Each time we commemorate the anniversary of the glorious October 14th Revolution—or even when its name is merely spoken—we are reminded of the greatness embodied by our heroes and our people, who stood resolute against occupation with dignity and strength.
Those were truly remarkable moments when the October Revolution ignited. Under the courageous leadership of Rajeh Ghalib Labouza, the revolutionaries vowed to end British colonial rule, launching their uprising from the proud mountains of Radfan, undeterred by the cost.
On that fateful day, Commander Labouza fell as a martyr. Those were indeed challenging times. The British occupiers believed they had quelled the uprising before it had even begun. Yet, like all colonial powers, they miscalculated; the resistance did not wane—it grew fiercer, despite the brutal military campaigns that devastated villages and harmed innocent civilians.
O sons and daughters of the great Yemeni nation,
Let us not forget the heroes who stood resolutely against one of the most formidable colonial powers. We must remember how they perceived themselves and their place in the world. For them, nothing was more sacred than Yemen, and no force could sway them from their national principles.
In this challenging chapter of our history, we urgently need the spirit of the October 14th Revolution—a spirit filled with Yemeni defiance and pride, a spirit that steadfastly refuses to yield to any occupiers, whether foreign or domestic.
O free people,
We must draw inspiration from the enduring principles of the October 14th and September 26th revolutions, for the imamate and foreign occupation have once again resurfaced. It is no coincidence that the imamate arrives hand in hand with occupation—this is a lesson of history. Tyrants bring invaders just as surely as they bring destruction.
I do not exaggerate when I say that Yemen and its resources are being managed without a sense of national responsibility, devoid of regard for the public interest, lacking political logic, and indifferent to gains or losses.
What we witness today clearly reveals that we are confronted by lawless gangs—operating not only outside the bounds of legality but also beyond the values and interests of the Yemeni people they claim to represent. In truth, they champion nothing but their own narrow agendas.
The homeland offered them a chance to become historic leaders, yet they chose instead to become pawns in the hands of foreign powers, dedicating their efforts to amassing wealth and property through illegitimate means.
The time has come to hold accountable those who sold out our national decision for a pittance—for their corruption and betrayal.
No longer can anyone hide behind empty slogans from here or there. The truth is evident: Yemen today has nine or ten presidents—perhaps even more—no one can say for certain. Yet, despite this multitude of declared and undeclared governments, Yemen suffers from a profound vacuum of authority.
Yes, Yemen endures a vacuum of authority, even in the presence of so many leaders and administrations.
Brothers and Sisters,
In our beloved homeland, two conflicting projects vie for dominance. One is a national project rooted in the spirit and principles of the glorious revolutions of September 26 and October 14. This project champions a republican system and a state of institutions, firmly rejects the imamate in all its forms, opposes partition and militias under any pretext, and upholds the independence of national decision-making.
On the other hand, there exists a non-national project driven by sectarian, regional, or rural slogans. This project envisions a Yemen shaped by narrow interests, indifferent to whether it is small, fragile, divided, or subservient. Its primary concern is the existence of its militias, which are prepared to defend it.
The war and its dubious, foreign-backed agreements have facilitated the expansion of these non-national projects at the expense of the national project, entrenching this bitter reality.
This has intensified the suffering of our people, who struggle to find food and medicine, and who cannot move, work, or live without paying extortionate fees to the gangs that dominate the land.
Brothers and Sisters,
The very concept of the state is now being tarnished by the ruling class. The law is being disregarded, the unity of our country and the principles of independence and sovereignty are being forsaken, and the law of the jungle is being imposed by those entrusted with defending the interests of the people.
These are the hallmarks of unpatriotic projects; they do not fight for a genuine cause.
Observe their behavior—how they protect their own interests, how they deceive, and how they submit to foreign powers that dictate their positions and will.
Consider how they make decisions across all areas, leading our nation to emerge as the ultimate loser.
This is the stark reality, without embellishment or distortion. Anyone who asserts otherwise must confront us with facts, not mere slogans.
Brothers and Sisters,
The October 14th Revolution was not only an uprising against British colonialism but also a comprehensive national project—one where independence was inextricably linked to the unity of land and people.
The revolutionaries sought more than just the expulsion of the colonizer; they aimed to dismantle the entire apparatus associated with it. The October Revolution ended the sultanates and divisions that plagued the South, establishing a unified national state in southern Yemen, thus becoming the second wing of the Yemeni revolution alongside the September 26th Revolution in the North.
The leaders of that revolution understood that independence is incomplete without national unity, and that freedom devoid of the unity of the people is meaningless.
Foreign powers and their proxies exploit divisions to destabilize Yemen. The more fragmented a society becomes, the easier it is to control; each small faction lacks the capacity to advance a comprehensive national vision.
Division breeds perpetual failure: no side emerges victorious, and all are ultimately defeated.
The war in Yemen has been more than a military confrontation; it has been a prolonged process of attrition: the absence of a functioning state failing to meet basic duties, the depletion of economic resources leading to reliance on external aid, and the loss of human potential through death, displacement, and the collapse of education and healthcare.
Even the very essence of national identity has been eroded, transforming Yemenis into warring factions instead of a unified people.
I refer to these calculated divisions, orchestrated by foreign backers. The layers of fragmentation imposed by external forces represent the true war on Yemen—aimed at creating a reality of neighboring “mini-states” that serve as tools for regional and global powers. These powers fuel divisions and exploit them to subjugate Yemen and prolong the suffering of its people.
Public discourse on social media in Yemen has become a tool for deepening division and hatred. Debate now revolves around “us” versus “them,” as if the purpose of political dialogue is to incite hostility and foster rivalries among members of the same nation.
Media and social platforms have transformed into arenas of polarization—digging trenches instead of bridging them.
The strategic aim behind perpetuating division and conflict is to keep Yemen in a state of exhaustion—unable to rise or determine its own destiny. A fragmented Yemen is ripe for exploitation: in proxy wars, control over maritime routes, and the reshaping of regional influence.
A divided Yemen means a torn people, consumed by internal strife, rather than focusing on the real questions:
“Who is plundering us? Who benefits from the destruction of our country?”
Manipulating division represents one of the most cunning forms of modern colonialism. A foreign power no longer needs to invade militarily as long as it can manage a country’s internal disputes and turn them into open battlefronts.
Our duty today is to remain vigilant and work together to mend our nation and reunite our people. It is in no Yemeni’s interest for our great homeland to be reduced to a collection of “functional mini-states”—tools that only prolong the suffering of our people across the land.
This manipulation of division is not new to the political history of nations. It is one of the oldest, sharpest, and most effective weapons of domination. Why send invading armies when armed militias from within can be tasked with tearing their own society apart?
When division is orchestrated by foreign powers, it ceases to be a natural diversity or healthy disagreement; it devolves into blind hatred and a war of all against all.
The zones of influence carved out among foreign-funded factions are not mere side effects of war. They create an ideal environment for Yemen’s enemies—ensuring continued depletion and transforming the country into an internal political vacuum, a playground for the ambitions of regional and global powers.
O great Yemeni people,
Belonging to Yemen places a sacred duty upon every free Yemeni—to spread awareness among our people and to warn against the hostile divisions that are fueled day after day.
We must reject hatred and enmity. We must refuse division.
We are one people,
With one shared interest,
And we will only survive—together.
Yemenis everywhere,
Remember: there is no salvation for anyone unless Yemen as a whole is saved.
There is no dignity for any region, tribe, or province without the dignity of a united homeland.
Those who believe they can survive alone will soon realize that the tragedy our people face today is one and the same—only with different faces.
We all share one destiny: the destiny of a united, republican Yemen.
O free souls,
The October 14th Revolution was a revolution of dignity and sovereignty. Let us be faithful to the blood of its martyrs, and let us declare to the world:
Yemen endures. Yemen is one.
The time has come to place in one camp the corrupt, the negligent, and the bearers of sectarian, regional, and tribal agendas.
Those who feel suffocated by Yemen, who do not see it as a land worthy of sacrifice and loyalty, can offer it nothing—not liberation, not reconstruction, not independence, not sovereignty, not even a kind word.
Yet this bleak path—with all its pain, sorrow, and calamity—is not the fate Yemenis must accept or surrender to.
The dawn will surely rise to dispel this deep darkness.
The Yemeni was born to resist—and to triumph in the end.
True victory lies in overthrowing all non-national projects and building a republic that guarantees the rights and freedoms of its citizens, strives for their well-being, and contributes to peaceful coexistence with its neighbors and to the establishment of international security and peace.
Glory to October.
Glory to September.
Thank you.