Hadi: We are about to Regain the Three Authorities

Yemen's President Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi stands during a reception ceremony during the holy fasting month of Ramadan at the Republican Palace in Sana’a in this July 7, 2014 file photo. REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah/Files
Yemen's President Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi stands during a reception ceremony during the holy fasting month of Ramadan at the Republican Palace in Sana’a in this July 7, 2014 file photo. REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah/Files
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Hadi: We are about to Regain the Three Authorities

Yemen's President Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi stands during a reception ceremony during the holy fasting month of Ramadan at the Republican Palace in Sana’a in this July 7, 2014 file photo. REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah/Files
Yemen's President Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi stands during a reception ceremony during the holy fasting month of Ramadan at the Republican Palace in Sana’a in this July 7, 2014 file photo. REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah/Files

Yemeni President Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi said that the legitimate power was about to restore the state’s three main authorities.

In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper, Hadi noted that since his arrival in Aden, he has sought to activate and protect the constitutional institutions, mainly the presidency, “and then we worked to restore the government.”

“We have recently completed the activation of judicial institutions, and soon we will finalize the regulation of the three authorities with the holding of Parliament sessions in Aden”, he added.

The Yemeni president stressed that the coup perpetrated by the Houthis and the supporters of ousted President Ali Abdullah Saleh was aimed at destroying the country and imposing the Iranian influence.

“We have realized from the start that this coup is not targeting the power, but is aimed at the destruction of the state and the implementation of a hybrid model imported from Iran, based on the idea of the guardianship of the jurist [Welayat al-Faqih – which cannot be tolerated by our people,” Hadi told Asharq Al-Awsat.

Asked about the revenues withheld by the Houthi and Saleh militias and how the legitimacy was dealing with external debt repayment and internal obligations, the Yemeni president said that coup militias have exhausted all the state’s hard currency reserves and seized state resources.

“We have tried to save the situation and protect the Yemeni monetary and banking system by transferring the central bank to Aden to save what can be saved. We succeeded in maintaining international support for Yemen by paying foreign debt service regularly, in addition to the salaries of diplomatic institutions and financial aid for our students abroad,” he noted.

He stressed that despite the scarcity of resources, the legitimate government has “acted responsibly towards all our people without distinction, and we try to cover as much as possible salaries of some vital sectors.”

“In contrast, militias still control more than 70 percent of the State’s resources, which are estimated at five billion dollars annually, from national industries, telecommunications, customs revenues, Hodeidah port revenues and Khat taxes, as well as looting and illegal toll-raising on industries and business people,” Hadi said.

Asked about his recent participation in the UN General Assembly session in New York, the Yemeni president said he had fruitful meetings with international financial and monetary institutions in order to mobilize economic support for Yemen.

“We also discussed the requirements of the Reconstruction Fund and the role of the Yemeni government in overseeing the identification of projects and the urgent need to support the government budget and enable it to meet the basic obligations,” he noted, adding: “We have succeeded in activating the Central Bank’s foreign accounts in a number of financial institutions, most notably the Federal Reserve Bank in New York.”

On the UN envoy’s efforts to reach a political solution to the Libyan crisis, Hadi said: “The coup insurgents have refused to deal with the international envoy, but tried to liquidate him physically, and even today they reject initiatives of Mr. [Ismail] Ould Sheikh Ahmed on the grounds that the Hodeidah initiative would require them to provide the central bank with state resources they are stealing.”

He underlined the legitimate government’s willingness to offer compromises in order to establish peace in the war-torn country.



Syrian Minister of Economy: Sanctions Relief Tied to Reforms

Syrian Minister of Economy and Industry Nidal Al-Shaar standing in line outside Al-Razi Bakery in Aleppo Province, listening to citizens’ concerns (Facebook page). 
Syrian Minister of Economy and Industry Nidal Al-Shaar standing in line outside Al-Razi Bakery in Aleppo Province, listening to citizens’ concerns (Facebook page). 
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Syrian Minister of Economy: Sanctions Relief Tied to Reforms

Syrian Minister of Economy and Industry Nidal Al-Shaar standing in line outside Al-Razi Bakery in Aleppo Province, listening to citizens’ concerns (Facebook page). 
Syrian Minister of Economy and Industry Nidal Al-Shaar standing in line outside Al-Razi Bakery in Aleppo Province, listening to citizens’ concerns (Facebook page). 

Syrian Minister of Economy and Industry Nidal Al-Shaar stated that while the serious lifting of US sanctions on Syria could gradually yield positive results for the country’s economy, expectations must remain realistic, as rebuilding trust in the Syrian economy is essential.

In an exclusive interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Al-Shaar described the removal of sanctions as a necessary first step toward eliminating the obstacles that have long hindered Syria’s economic recovery. Although the immediate impact will likely be limited, he noted that in the medium term, improvements in trade activity and the resumption of some banking transactions could help create a more favorable environment for investment and production.

The breakthrough came after Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman successfully facilitated a thaw in relations between Washington and Damascus, ultimately convincing the US president to lift sanctions on Syria. During his historic visit to Saudi Arabia last Wednesday, President Donald Trump announced he would order the removal of all sanctions on Syria to “give it a chance to thrive”—a move seen as a major opportunity for the country to begin a new chapter.

Al-Shaar cautioned, however, that Syrians should not expect an immediate improvement in living standards. “We need to manage the post-sanctions phase with an open and pragmatic economic mindset,” he said, stressing that real progress will only come if sanctions relief is accompanied by meaningful economic reforms, increased transparency, and support for the business climate.

He added that Syrians will begin to feel the difference when the cost of living declines and job opportunities grow—an outcome that requires time, planning, and stability.

According to Al-Shaar, the first tangible benefits of lifting sanctions are likely to be seen in the banking and trade sectors, through facilitated financial transfers, improved access to essential goods, and lower transportation and import costs. “We may also see initial interest from investors who were previously deterred by legal restrictions,” he said. “But it’s important to emphasize that political openness alone isn’t enough—there must also be genuine economic openness from within.”

He also underscored the importance of regional support, saying that any positive role played by neighboring countries in encouraging the US to lift sanctions and normalize ties with Damascus “must be met with appreciation and cooperation.” Al-Shaar emphasized that robust intra-Arab economic relations should form a cornerstone of any reconstruction phase. “We need an economic approach that is open to the Arab world, and we could see strategic partnerships that reignite the national economy—especially through the financing of major infrastructure and development projects.”

When asked whether he expects a surge in Arab and foreign investment following the lifting of sanctions, Al-Shaar responded: “Yes, there is growing interest in investing in Syria, and several companies have already entered the market. But investors first and foremost seek legal certainty and political guarantees.” He explained that investment is not driven solely by the removal of sanctions, but by the presence of an encouraging institutional environment. “If we can enhance transparency, streamline procedures, and ensure stability, we will gradually see greater capital inflows—especially in the service, industrial, and agricultural sectors.”

As for which countries may play a significant role in Syria’s reconstruction, Al-Shaar said: “Countries with long-term interests in regional stability will be at the forefront of the rebuilding process. But we must first rebuild our internal foundations and develop an economic model capable of attracting partners under balanced conditions—ones that protect economic sovereignty and promote inclusive development.”

The minister concluded by stressing that lifting sanctions, while significant, is not the end of the crisis. “Rather, it may mark the beginning of a new phase—one filled with challenges,” he said. “The greatest challenge isn’t securing funding, but managing resources wisely, upholding the principles of productivity, justice, and transparency. We need a proactive—not reactive—economy. We must restore the value of work and implement policies that put people at the center of development. Only then can we say we are beginning to emerge from the bottleneck.”

Last Wednesday, Riyadh hosted a landmark meeting between the Crown Prince, Trump, and Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa—marking the first meeting between a Syrian and a US president since Hafez Al-Assad met Bill Clinton in Geneva in 2000.

Most US sanctions on Syria were imposed after the outbreak of the country’s conflict in 2011. These targeted deposed President Bashar Al-Assad, members of his family, and various political and economic figures. In 2020, additional sanctions came into effect under the Caesar Act, targeting Assad’s inner circle and imposing severe penalties on any entity or company dealing with the Syrian regime. The Act also sanctioned Syria’s construction, oil, and gas sectors and prohibited US funding for reconstruction—while exempting humanitarian organizations operating in the country.