Master’s Degree Awarded to Mr. Nasr Masoud in Political Science
Mr. Nasr Nasser Mohammed Masoud was awarded a Master’s degree in Political Science with a grade of (Excellent) and an average of (90%) for his thesis titled ” International Competition in Yemeni Islands and Its Impact on Yemeni National Security: A Case Study of Socotra and Mayun Islands,” which was submitted to Faculty of Commerce and Economics – Sana’a University. The defense was held on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, corresponding to Safar 4, 1447 Hijri.
The MA Viva-voce Committee, which was formed based on a resolution issued by the Post-Graduate Studies and Scientific Research Council, consisted of the following members:
| # | Committee Members | Designation | University | Position |
| 1 | Assoc. Prof. Mansour Aziz Al-Zandani | External Examiner | Sana’a Uni. | Chair |
| 2 | Assoc. Prof. Khadija Ahmed Al-Haissami | Main Supervisor | Sana’a Uni. | Member |
| 3 | Assoc. Prof. Nabil Al-Sharjabi | Internal Examiner | Hodeidah Uni. | Member |
The thesis aimed to identify the strategic importance of the Yemeni islands and uncover the goals and forms of international competition. It also analyzed the security, economic, and political impacts of this competition. The study adopted a descriptive-analytical approach along with a national interest approach.
The study’s key findings highlighted several critical issues, including:
- The violation of Yemeni sovereignty.
- International competition in the islands fuels internal divisions and complicates the Yemeni crisis.
- The foreign military presence in the islands poses a threat to Yemeni national security.
- The UAE is undertaking demographic and environmental changes in Socotra.
The thesis concluded with recommendations for future action, most notably calling for further in-depth research on the Yemeni islands and for linking international competition in the islands to international and regional policies concerning the Red Sea and the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait.
The thesis was examined and recommended by the Viva-Voce Committee for acceptance and approval. The defense was attended by a number of academics, researchers, interested individuals, in addition to the candidate’s colleagues and family members.
