In a week marked by both governmental oversight and cultural achievement, two seemingly distinct stories have unfolded across the Arab world—one in the heart of Yemen’s Hadramout region and the other in the literary circles of Egypt. Yet, both narratives, while separated by geography and focus, reveal how leadership, whether administrative or creative, shapes the social and historical fabric of their communities.
On December 21, 2025, Dr. Mohamed Saeed Al-Zawari, Yemen’s Minister of Social Affairs and Labor, made a significant visit to the Al-Wadi district in the Hadramout governorate. According to Adan Al-Ghad, the minister’s agenda was packed: he inspected several social protection centers, including the Al-Wadi Medical Center and the Social Affairs Center, and met with officials from both the Social Affairs Ministry and the Social Solidarity Authority. The goal? To review ongoing services and to chart a new course for social protection in a region that’s only recently emerged from the shadow of conflict.
During his tour, Dr. Al-Zawari emphasized the importance of a comprehensive social protection strategy. He argued that such a strategy was essential to meet the diverse needs of the Al-Wadi community and its surrounding areas. The minister’s meetings were not just ceremonial; he took time to inspect the readiness of social protection centers to provide medical, social, and community services. He also delved into the challenges these centers face, discussing future plans to improve the quality and reach of social protection in the region.
“We must double our efforts to elevate our work with a new vision that accommodates the military, political, and social changes in Hadramout and the South at large,” Dr. Al-Zawari instructed local officials, as quoted by Adan Al-Ghad. His directive was clear: adapt to new realities and contribute to stabilizing humanitarian conditions in a region long affected by instability.
The visit comes at a pivotal time for Hadramout. The area has recently experienced a notable period of peace and security following its liberation from forces associated with the First Military District and groups described as “Ikhwani” (Muslim Brotherhood-linked) and their affiliates. These groups, according to local officials, had for years facilitated arms and drug smuggling routes that supplied the Houthi militias—an accusation that underscores the complex web of alliances and enmities in the region. The minister’s visit, then, was as much about consolidating this newfound stability as it was about improving social services.
Ahmed Abdullah Bahashwan, director of the Social Affairs and Labor Office for Wadi and Desert Hadramout, expressed his gratitude for the minister’s support. “The people of Al-Wadi and Hadramout Desert are witnessing a state of security and stability after liberating their land from the dominance of the First Military District and the terrorist Ikhwani groups,” Bahashwan said, according to Adan Al-Ghad. He praised the southern military forces for their decisive victory and described them as the “safety valve for the aspirations of the southern people.”
This meeting was historic in its own right: it marked the first time a minister in Yemen’s government had convened with the leadership of a ministry office in Seiyun since the liberation of Wadi and Desert Hadramout. The symbolism was not lost on attendees, who saw it as a signal that the central government was ready to re-engage with the region and address its long-standing humanitarian and social needs.
Meanwhile, across the Red Sea, another kind of leadership was being celebrated—this time in the realm of literature. Sherif Saeed, a writer and documentary filmmaker, was awarded the prestigious Naguib Mahfouz Prize by Egypt’s Ministry of Culture for his novel "Asal Al-Sanioura" ("The Lady’s Honey"). The novel, published in January 2023, is set during the period of the French campaign in Egypt and the years that followed. Its protagonist, Julia—dubbed “Sanioura” by villagers in Mansoura for her beauty—offers readers a fresh perspective on a well-trodden chapter of Egyptian history.
In an interview with Al-Ahram, Saeed explained his approach: “Through the character of Julia, we see Egyptian reality through her eyes. It’s an attempt to reread certain events and ask questions differently from what has become entrenched in our understanding.” Saeed’s work draws on his background in documentary filmmaking, a craft that, as he noted, requires “exhaustive research and the ability to piece together small details to form a coherent picture.”
His research for "Asal Al-Sanioura" was exhaustive, spanning four years and drawing on a wide array of historical sources. These included the chronicles of Al-Jabarti, the memoirs of Nicola Turk, and even untranslated letters from a French campaign costume designer, François Bernouye, whose personal accounts Saeed tracked down in a Paris library. “The process is like assembling a complex puzzle,” he told Al-Ahram.
Saeed’s novel isn’t just a retelling of the French campaign; it’s a meditation on the mutual influence between Egypt and France. “I used to hear from Mohamed Salmawy that Egypt invaded France, not the other way around. At first, I was surprised, but over time I realized he was right,” Saeed said. He pointed out the enduring Egyptian presence in French culture, from the Pyramids metro station in Paris to the Egyptian obelisk in Place de la Concorde and the vast Egyptology wing in the Louvre. “Anyone interested in this topic will feel that Egypt conquered French hearts,” he added.
Asked about the balance between historical accuracy and creative license, Saeed was clear: “There are broad lines that must be preserved. For example, Napoleon arrived in Cairo in the summer of 1798 and left a year later. It would not be correct for me as a writer to change these established facts.” However, he also stressed that creative writing should pose questions that encourage readers to seek out historical sources themselves, noting, “Many historical facts taught in schools are only one version—history has many faces.”
Saeed’s perspective on literary prizes was refreshingly pragmatic. “The real value of awards is that they shine a light on good work and attract new readers to the author,” he said. For writers in the Middle East, where writing rarely provides a living wage, the financial support from awards is significant, but the recognition and expanded readership matter even more.
The twin stories of Dr. Al-Zawari’s visit to Hadramout and Sherif Saeed’s literary recognition both highlight the importance of leadership—whether in rebuilding war-torn communities or in re-examining the narratives that shape national identity. As Yemen works to stabilize and rebuild, and as Egypt’s writers reinterpret the past, these efforts remind us that progress, in all its forms, requires both vision and commitment.
In the end, whether through policy or prose, the work of shaping a society is never truly finished—but it is always worth the effort.
