In a significant development reflecting the political instability in Yemen, Ahmed Awad Bin Mubarak, the Prime Minister of Yemen’s internationally recognized government, announced his resignation on Saturday. This move highlights the fragile nature of the alliance battling Houthi rebels in this impoverished nation.
Mubarak shared his resignation through a message on social media, which included a letter addressed to Rashad al-Alimi, the leader of the presidential council. The recognized government primarily operates from Aden, located in the southern part of Yemen. Having assumed the role of Prime Minister in February 2024, Mubarak cited his inability to enact “necessary decisions to reform the state institution,” including the imperative Cabinet reshuffle, as reasons for his resignation.
Following Mubarak’s announcement, the presidential council swiftly appointed Finance Minister Salem Saleh Bin Braik as the new Prime Minister. The council reshuffled positions without directly addressing Mubarak’s stated concerns, instead appointing him as an advisor to the ruling body. According to Ahmed Nagi, a senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, Mubarak’s resignation was the culmination of ongoing tensions with the ruling council concerning their respective mandates. Nagi remarked that Mubarak became a scapegoat for the government’s ineffectiveness in tackling the escalating economic problems in regions they control, such as skyrocketing prices and recurrent power cuts.
Yemen has endured a prolonged civil war since 2014 when Houthi rebels, backed by Iran, seized control of the capital, Sanaa, leading the internationally recognized government to seek refuge in Saudi Arabia. A Saudi-led coalition intervened in 2015 with an aim to restore the Yemeni government by combatting the rebels, resulting in a protracted proxy conflict with no clear resolution in sight.
The presidential council, comprising seven members, was established in 2022 with the objective of consolidating anti-Houthi forces. However, the council itself has since split into two primary factions. One of these factions aligns with Aydarous al-Zubaidi, chair of the Southern Transitional Council, a faction sustained by the UAE since 2015. The opposing faction pledges its loyalty to Saudi Arabia and includes figures such as al-Alimi and Sheikh Sultan al-Aradah, the influential governor of the resource-rich Marib province.
Mubarak’s resignation coincides with the United States intensifying its military actions against the Houthis. Since March 15, following an order from President Donald Trump for an expanded assault on the rebels, the U.S. military has consistently targeted Houthi-controlled areas. The ongoing war has wreaked havoc on Yemen, causing what is deemed one of the globe’s most catastrophic humanitarian crises, with over 150,000 lives lost, encompassing both combatants and civilians.