Yemeni Prime Minister Ahmed Bin Mubarak announced his resignation on Saturday, citing political struggles and his inability to carry out his duties in a country largely controlled by rebel groups, including the capital.
This announcement comes amidst the launch of a campaign of missile attacks by Iran-backed Huthi rebels on Israel, targeting key waterways. These attacks are a show of solidarity with Palestine over the war in Gaza by Israel.
Mubarak announced his decision through a post on social media, attaching a resignation letter directed to the head of the ruling presidential council, Rashad al-Alimi. The presidential council was initially constituted in 2022 with the aim of unifying the anti-Houthi block, but has been divided into two main blocks since.
One bloc is loyal to council member Aydarous al-Zubaidi, chaired by the secessionist Southern Transitional Council, backed by the UAE, The other bloc is loyal to Saudi Arabia and includes al-Alimi and Sheikh Sultan al-Aradah, who govern the energy-rich Marib province.
Mubarak’s letter said, “I could not exercise my constitutional powers and take the necessary decisions to reform government institutions or implement rightful governmental changes.”
Mubarak also cited in his letter that despite hardships, he had managed to achieve, “many successes in a short space of time,” alluding to fiscal reforms and anti-corruption drives.
Yemen has been entangled in civil war since 2014 with Huthi rebel group seizing control of the capital of Sanaa, forcing the internationally recognized government of Yemen into exile in Saudi Arabia.
The war in Yemen has led to the loss of thousands of lives and has resulted in one of the most dire humanitarian crises. A little relief came with the negotiation of a six-month truce by the United Nations in April 2022 that staggered the infighting by a significant amount.
Since the commencement of war in the Gaza Strip in October 2023, the Iran-backed Huthi rebel group has been repeatedly targeting Israel and ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden that they claim are linked to it.
As the Huthis threatened more attacks and Israel blocked aid to war-hit Gaza, US President Donald Trump announced a new, expanded campaign against the rebel group. Since March 15, the US has carried out regular airstrikes on areas it says are controlled by the Huthis.
