26 September

26 September is a Yemeni weekly newspaper associated with the Moral Guidance Department of the Yemeni Armed Forces and the Ministry of Defense. Founded in 1990 and based in Sanaa, it takes its name from 26 September, the date associated with the beginning of the North Yemen civil war. The publication has historically functioned not simply as a general-interest newspaper, but as an official military and government communication channel. Its editorial remit covers armed-forces activities, state and government affairs, domestic issues, expatriate affairs, Arab and regional matters, international events, culture, economics, sport, and women's issues. The newspaper's institutional position has made it closely dependent on the political authority controlling Yemen's military and state apparatus. During the presidency of Ali Abdullah Saleh, 26 September was supervised by presidential advisers Ali Hassan al-Shater and Abdo Bourji. Al-Shater served as editor-in-chief and also led the Moral Guidance Department, a position he had held since the 1970s. His association with Saleh's military and political network made the newspaper an important example of the close relationship between official media, military communications, and executive power in pre-2011 Yemen. Articles were subject to review by the defense ministry's media office before publication, reinforcing its reputation as an institutional mouthpiece rather than an independent newspaper. The paper became involved in the political upheaval surrounding the Yemeni revolution. Journalists reportedly protested dismissals, alleged corruption, and threats of imprisonment after criticizing conditions at the newspaper. In December 2011, demonstrations outside the Moral Guidance Department prevented Al-Shater from entering the premises. Protesters eventually occupied the offices and issued an editorial through the newspaper condemning his alleged corruption and loyalty to the Saleh regime. The government removed him from his position on 31 December 2011 and appointed Brigadier General Yahya Abdullah al-Saqladi as his replacement. The capture of Sanaa by the Houthis in September 2014 fundamentally altered the newspaper's institutional identity. The Houthi movement seized the Sanaa offices and redirected production and funding to its political wing, Ansar Allah. 26 September then became the official publication associated with the Houthi-aligned faction of the Yemeni army. Although some journalists employed before the takeover continued working for the paper, editorial control and institutional sponsorship shifted to the new authorities. In Houthi-controlled Sanaa, the newspaper was reported to be one of only a small number of printed newspapers still available to vendors, alongside Al-Thawra and Al-Masirah. The political division of Yemen also produced two separate versions of 26 September: one published under Houthi control in Sanaa and another maintained by the internationally recognized government of Yemen. The split illustrates how an established state media title can be appropriated by rival governing institutions during civil conflict. Both versions retain the historical name and military-associated identity, but their political alignment, ownership environment, and audiences differ. The newspaper's website presents a broad news mandate, while its history and governance demonstrate that its primary significance lies in official communication, military messaging, and the contest over state legitimacy in Yemen.

26 September was established in 1990 in Sanaa as a weekly publication connected to Yemen's military establishment. Its name refers to 26 September, the date associated with the beginning of the North Yemen civil war. From its inception, the newspaper was linked to the Moral Guidance Department of the Yemeni Armed Forces, an institution also associated with the Ministry of Defense. Its role was to report military activity and provide official coverage of state affairs, while also publishing material on domestic and international politics, economics, culture, sport, social affairs, and women's issues. Under President Ali Abdullah Saleh, the newspaper operated within a tightly managed official-media environment. Ali Hassan al-Shater, a senior figure in the Moral Guidance Department, served as editor-in-chief and supervised the publication alongside presidential adviser Abdo Bourji. Al-Shater was considered a close ally of Saleh within the military establishment. The defense ministry's media office reportedly reviewed articles before publication, limiting editorial independence and ensuring that the newspaper reflected official military and governmental positions. The publication's relationship with the Saleh-era system became contentious during the Yemeni revolution. Journalists protested dismissals and what they described as corruption, and some reported threats of imprisonment for criticizing the newspaper's administration. In December 2011, demonstrators prevented Al-Shater from entering the Moral Guidance Department's offices. Protesters later occupied the premises and issued an editorial through 26 September condemning his alleged corruption and loyalty to the former regime. On 31 December 2011, the government dismissed Al-Shater and appointed Brigadier General Yahya Abdullah al-Saqladi in his place. The Houthi seizure of Sanaa in September 2014 divided the newspaper's institutional identity. Houthi forces took control of the Sanaa offices, and production and financing were transferred to Ansar Allah, the movement's political wing. The title became the official publication of the Houthi-aligned faction of Yemen's army. Some pre-takeover journalists continued to work for the newspaper, but control over its editorial and administrative direction changed. In Houthi-controlled Sanaa, it remained one of the few printed newspapers available through vendors, together with Al-Thawra and Al-Masirah. The internationally recognized government of Yemen maintained a separate version of 26 September, meaning that the title came to exist in parallel editions aligned with the rival authorities. The split reflects the broader fragmentation of Yemen's state institutions and media system during the civil war. Rather than functioning as a single commercially independent newspaper brand, 26 September became a contested official-media property used by competing authorities to communicate military, governmental, and political positions. Its continuing online presence and publication activity are therefore best understood in the context of Yemen's divided governance and conflict-era information environment.

• 2014

  Houthi forces seize the Sanaa publication

  [1]26 September (newspaper)en.wikipedia.org

  After capturing Sanaa, the Houthis took control of the newspaper's offices and made it the official outlet of their army-aligned faction.

• 2014

  Rival editions emerge

  [1]26 September (newspaper)en.wikipedia.org

  The internationally recognized government maintained a separate version of the newspaper, creating parallel editions under Yemen's competing authorities.

• 2011

  Revolution-era protests at the newspaper

  [1]26 September (newspaper)en.wikipedia.org

  Journalists and protesters challenged the newspaper's leadership during the Yemeni revolution, citing dismissals, alleged corruption, and political loyalty to the Saleh regime.

• 2011

  Editor-in-chief replaced

  [1]26 September (newspaper)en.wikipedia.org

  Ali Hassan al-Shater was removed on 31 December and replaced by Brigadier General Yahya Abdullah al-Saqladi.

• 1990

  Newspaper founded

  [1]26 September (newspaper)en.wikipedia.org

  26 September was established in Sanaa as a weekly newspaper affiliated with the Moral Guidance Department of the Yemeni Armed Forces.

An official Yemeni military and state-affiliated newspaper focused on armed-forces activity, government affairs, and national political messaging. Since 2014, the title has existed in rival Houthi-aligned and internationally recognized government versions.

• Print newspaper · 1990

  26 September weekly newspaper

  The core product is a weekly newspaper covering Yemeni military activity, state and government affairs, local issues, expatriate affairs, Arab and regional developments, international news, culture, economics, sport, and social topics. Its editorial role has historically been institutional and political rather than commercially independent. Since 2014, editions have been associated with rival Yemeni authorities.

• Digital news

  26 September online publication

  The publication's website extends the newspaper's official-news function to the internet. It presents coverage related to military and government activity alongside national, regional, international, cultural, economic, sports, and social subjects. The precise relationship between the website and the rival print editions is not established by the available reference material.

• 2011

  Protests over alleged corruption and political control

  Journalists and demonstrators accused the newspaper's administration of corruption and criticized its perceived loyalty to the Saleh regime. The dispute led to protests, occupation of the Moral Guidance Department premises, and the removal of editor-in-chief Ali Hassan al-Shater.

  Source

Read more

• 2014

  Publication reorganized under Houthi controlStrategy

  Background

  The Houthi movement captured Sanaa and took control of institutions associated with the Yemeni state and armed forces.

  Action taken

  Houthi forces seized the Sanaa offices and shifted production and funding to Ansar Allah, making the newspaper the official outlet of the Houthi-aligned army faction.

  Aftermath

  The internationally recognized government maintained a separate edition, leaving the title divided between rival political and military authorities.

  Source

• 2011

  Government replaces the editor-in-chiefOther

  Background

  The change followed newsroom protests and demonstrations during Yemen's revolutionary transition, including accusations concerning corruption and the publication's relationship with the Saleh regime.

  Action taken

  The government dismissed Ali Hassan al-Shater on 31 December and appointed Brigadier General Yahya Abdullah al-Saqladi.

  Aftermath

  The change marked a leadership transition at a newspaper closely tied to the military and the former presidential system.

  Source

1. 126 September (newspaper)en.wikipedia.org
2. 226 September official website26sep.net