Chapter
7:
Case
studies
in
Sana’a
basin
7.4
Overall
analysis
Water
distribution
and
conflict
resolution
rules
Water
distribution
and
use
rules
are
written
in
Maraqeem
(written
customary
rules).
They
handle
issues
such
as
sharing
rain
and
floor
water.
Groundwater-‐usage
came
after
the
creation
of
customary
law
rules,
and
are
therefore
not
included
in
the
Urf.
Most
of
the
time,
people
manage
to
talk
and
agree
on
ways
to
share
ground
water
and
wells.
However,
one
interviewee
pointed
out
that
violent
clashes
between
tribes
have
occurred
to
two
water
wells
(sometimes
people
from
the
same
family).
This
can
indicate
that
customary
traditions
fall
short
when
it
comes
to
new
water
extraction
and
distribution
methods.
The
cases
investigated
in
Sana’a
were
solved
through
local
community
interventions
by
sheikhs
or
community
leaders
as
the
cases
in
Shaick
and
Arrowdah,
with
little
reference
to
official
office
as
was
the
case
of
Bani
Matar.
Saleh’s
policies
and
corruption
contributed
to
the
erosion
of
tribal
values
and
undermined
tribal
sheikhs’
authority
and
the
functionality
of
tribal
structures
and
systems.
Rule
of
law:
Saleh’s
patronage
network
Over
his
33-‐year
presidency,
Saleh
extended
his
patronage
network
to
tribal
leaders
(sheikhs)
to
strengthen
his
power.
He
strengthened
his
rule
through
on
the
one
hand,
rewarding
parties
for
their
loyalty,
and
on
the
other
by
dividing
tribes
and
stimulating
tribal
conflict.
According
to
one
interviewee,
Saleh
could
achieve
this
aim
by
giving
money
and
other
incentives
such
as
power,
jobs,
land,
projects,
and
contracts
as
gifts
to
the
same
people.
Furthermore,
he
used
to
supply
fighting
tribes
with
arms.
“He
would
allocate
bullets
for
us
from
the
same
warehouse”.
Incentives
were
always
given
in
return
for
blind
loyalty
to
the
General
People’s
Congress
(GPC)
and
Saleh.
Saleh
made
local
individuals
sheikhs
through
money
and
power.
These
individuals
had
no
status
or
experience
in
customary
law
or
tribal
traditions.
Subsequently,
they
managed
to
garner
loyalty
and
some
support
through
providing
jobs
and
incentives
to
local
people,
mostly
through
corruption
and
patronage.
For
example,
the
head
of
GPC
branch
and
the
Agriculture
Cooperation
Union
was
made
a
sheikh.
He
used
to
be
a
mechanic
in
the
army.
He
is
very
corrupt
and
a
person
who
managed
to
make
billions
through
stealing
public
funds.
This
undermined
the
authority
of
authe