Yemen's President, Rashad al-Alimi, has implemented significant changes in the political and military leadership of the country in an effort to reclaim lost areas from the Houthis. These developments have occurred amid pressures from residents of southern Yemen and Houthi victories in recent months.
Changes in Military and Political Leadership
The internationally recognized Yemeni government, following the failure of an offensive operation that began on October 5, has moved to dismiss and appoint new officials. This operation aimed to liberate the entire country from Houthi control, but despite air support from Saudi Arabia, there were no field advances, and thousands from both sides lost their lives.
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Reports indicate that Houthi forces are only about 60 kilometers away from Aden, the official capital of the Yemeni government. In this context, Yemen's President has dismissed the Minister of Information, Moammar al-Eryani, and replaced him with Professor Salem al-Awlaqi, in an effort to pay more attention to the demands of southern Yemeni residents.
Challenges Facing the Yemeni Government
The Yemeni government faces multiple challenges due to its reliance on southern forces to counter Houthi advances. These forces emphasize that they are only fighting to defend the territories of former South Yemen. In this regard, claims have been made that the leaders of the Southern Transitional Council (STC) have been pressured by Saudi Arabia to dissolve this organization.
Increasing criticisms of Saudi Arabia are being heard among STC officials in the media; these criticisms indicate that if northern Yemen is handed over to the Houthis, Saudi Arabia should allow the STC to operate openly. Some senior officials in the Yemeni government have also become a "hotel government" due to their lack of continuous presence in the country and are heavily dependent on Saudi financial aid to pay salaries.
This week, the Presidential Leadership Council of Yemen held a meeting in Riyadh for the first time in recent months to discuss the loss of vast areas of Yemen's western coast to the Houthis. Following this meeting, clashes have moved to the mountains surrounding Taiz.
Despite these changes, tensions continue between various groups fighting alongside the Yemeni government. There are claims of clashes between Abu Zar'ah, the leader of the southern forces, and the Homeland Shield forces, which are supported by Saudi Arabia. This is a concerning situation for the Yemeni government and may lead to increased tensions in the region.
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