Following weeks of violence in the capital of Sanaa, Houthi rebels from Yemen’s north-west have succeeded in securing the resignation of interim prime minister Mohammed Basindwa, and have signed an agreement to be part of a new government. While the events of the past few days have ended the latest round of fighting, which has seen more than 140 deaths and thousands of people flee their homes, significant questions remain about the nature of the deal and the Houthis’ long-term intentions.
The Shia Houthis, who have been fighting an insurgency in their stronghold in Yemen’s far north-west for a decade, have gained traction since the onset of the Arab Spring in 2011. This year’s UN-brokered framework for a transition towards a federal Yemen with six states seemed to offer a way forward for the embattled country. But the pathway to reform has included harsh yet necessary measures, including the removal of subsidies on commodities including fuel. The Houthis have seized on this unpopular move to push their agenda all the way to the capital, taking over government buildings and gaining control of the state broadcaster.
The Houthis are not the only stakeholders in Yemen; indeed, they are not even the largest group. Hirak, the Southern movement that still holds out for a separate state, and the Islamist party, Islah, will both a play a role in the country’s future. Under the agreement signed this week, the Houthis and Hirak have three days to choose a prime minister for a government of national unity.
Concerns about the Houthis include the level of support they are receiving from Iran and the degree to which their political ambitions align with those of the Yemeni people in general. Significantly, the Houthis have not agreed to withdraw their forces from the capital, raising the possibility of further sectarian clashes between them and Hirak or other armed groups.
Having previously refused the offer of a role in government, the Houthis have now essentially staged a coup, winning concessions including the scalp of a prime minister. And yet, they have failed to give any assurances about their intentions or their continued support, or otherwise, for the federal model. It is time for their leadership to declare, and to demonstrate, that they are prepared to act on behalf of all Yemenis to support the way of peace and political stability. Otherwise, there will be legitimate fears that they will continue to be guided by narrow self interest to the detriment of their country and the entire Arabian peninsula.
