Doubts whether Yemen's new PM can bring change

A change in Yemen's leadership will not bring about the reforms that are needed to solve the country’s issues a decade after the outbreak of war, analysts who spoke to The National believe.

Ahmed bin Mubarak resigned as prime minister of Yemen's internationally recognised government on Saturday after a year and three months in office, saying he was unable to fully exercise his powers.

Finance Minister Salem bin Braik was named as his successor by Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council, which also named Mr bin Mubarak as an adviser to the ruling body.

Abdulghani Al Iryani, a senior researcher at the Sana'a Centre for Strategic Studies, told The National that the change of personnel “is not the solution to government ineffectiveness”.

“For a decade, very little work was done on building the institutions and passing the foundational laws that make them effective,” he said. “People are not the problem, lack of institutions is.”

Many officials have cited rising tensions between Mr bin Mubarak and the head of the council, Rashad Al Alimi, as the reason for the prime minister's departure. He wrote in his resignation letter that he “could not exercise my constitutional powers and take the necessary decisions to reform government institutions or implement rightful government changes.”

Ahmed Nagi, the Crisis Group’s senior analyst for Yemen, told The National that tensions between the two result from the absence of clear council rules or a “defined framework for how the council should operate”.

“This institutional ambiguity has led to overlapping responsibilities between the PLC and the government, creating continuing friction, regardless of who holds the position of prime minister,” Mr Nagi said.

Ahmed bin Mubarak resigned as Yemen's prime minister on Saturday after a year and three months in charge. AFP

Mr bin Mubarak is a former Yemeni ambassador to the United States. He is known as a staunch adversary of the Iran-backed Houthi rebels, who abducted him in 2015 and held him for several days.

Previously, he was chief of staff of the presidential office and Yemen's envoy to the United Nations. He became foreign minister in 2018 and prime minister in February 2024.

A unified vision for Yemen gone wrong

The council was appointed in 2022 with the aim of unifying the anti-Houthi bloc, but has since been divided into two.

One is loyal to council member Aydarous Al Zubaidi, who chairs the Southern Transitional Council. The second includes Mr Al Alimi and Sheikh Sultan Al Aradah, the powerful governor of energy-rich Marib province.

Yemen faces challenges including the Houthi rebellion and its supporters, as well as economic difficulties. EPA

“The new Prime Minister was selected because he is seen as a non-confrontational figure and faced no objections from PLC members,” Mr Nagi said.

Mr bin Braik's position as Minister of Finance “allows the PLC to signal that it is prioritising the worsening economic crisis in government-controlled areas.”

Resolving these challenges requires more than a change in leadership, it demands a unified vision and genuine commitment from both the PLC and the government to work together," he said.

Ahmed Nagi,
Yemen senior analyst at Crisis Group

“However, resolving these challenges requires more than a change in leadership, it demands a unified vision and genuine commitment from both the PLC and the government to work together,” he said.

In order for changes to occur there must be laws to properly stipulate relations between the council and the internationally recognised government, Mr Al Iryani said.

“That would be the first step in state building that could put the government on a track of reform and effectiveness,” he said.

Decade-long war

Yemen has been embroiled in civil war since 2014, when Iranian-backed Houthi rebels seized the capital of Sanaa, forcing the internationally recognised government into exile in Saudi Arabia.

A Saudi-led coalition intervened at the request of the government months later and has been battling the rebels since 2015 to try to restore the government.

The conflict has caused hundreds of thousands of deaths and triggered one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, although the fighting decreased significantly after a UN-negotiated six-month truce in 2022. Yemenis across the country face catastrophic economic conditions that have plunged millions into poverty.

The change in government comes at a time where the US has increased its attacks on the Houthis in Yemen.

Daily strikes on Houthi-held areas have been taking place since March 15 after President Donald Trump ordered a new campaign against the rebels.

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A new relationship with the old country

Treaty of Friendship between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates

The United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates; Considering that the United Arab Emirates has assumed full responsibility as a sovereign and independent State; Determined that the long-standing and traditional relations of close friendship and cooperation between their peoples shall continue; Desiring to give expression to this intention in the form of a Treaty Friendship; Have agreed as follows:

ARTICLE 1 The relations between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates shall be governed by a spirit of close friendship. In recognition of this, the Contracting Parties, conscious of their common interest in the peace and stability of the region, shall: (a) consult together on matters of mutual concern in time of need; (b) settle all their disputes by peaceful means in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.

ARTICLE 2 The Contracting Parties shall encourage education, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two States in accordance with arrangements to be agreed. Such arrangements shall cover among other things: (a) the promotion of mutual understanding of their respective cultures, civilisations and languages, the promotion of contacts among professional bodies, universities and cultural institutions; (c) the encouragement of technical, scientific and cultural exchanges.

ARTICLE 3 The Contracting Parties shall maintain the close relationship already existing between them in the field of trade and commerce. Representatives of the Contracting Parties shall meet from time to time to consider means by which such relations can be further developed and strengthened, including the possibility of concluding treaties or agreements on matters of mutual concern.

ARTICLE 4 This Treaty shall enter into force on today’s date and shall remain in force for a period of ten years. Unless twelve months before the expiry of the said period of ten years either Contracting Party shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the Treaty, this Treaty shall remain in force thereafter until the expiry of twelve months from the date on which notice of such intention is given.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have signed this Treaty.

DONE in duplicate at Dubai the second day of December 1971AD, corresponding to the fifteenth day of Shawwal 1391H, in the English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authoritative.

Signed

Geoffrey Arthur Sheikh Zayed