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Mekhlafi to Asharq Al-Awsat: Five New Conditions to Resume Yemeni Talks

Al-Mekhlafi/Saudi Gazette
Al-Mekhlafi/Saudi Gazette
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Mekhlafi to Asharq Al-Awsat: Five New Conditions to Resume Yemeni Talks

Al-Mekhlafi/Saudi Gazette
Al-Mekhlafi/Saudi Gazette

Yemen's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Abdulmalik Al-Mekhlafi told Asharq Al-Awsat on Thursday that his county’s legitimate government set five new conditions to accept engaging in any new talks with the Houthis.

According to the deputy prime minister, those conditions stipulate that rebels immediately stop all crimes committed against politicians and civilians in Yemen, release all detainees without any exception, stop launching missiles, stop attacking and besieging cities and allow humanitarian aid to reach civilians without being interrupted, in addition to clearly backing the three references for a political solution in Yemen, including the Gulf Initiative, outcomes of the Comprehensive National Dialogue and Security Council Resolution 2216.

Al-Mekhlafi said that there would be no talks if Houthis fail to implement those five conditions.

“The current situation stipulates the need for rebels to show good intention, as there will be no return for talks in the way they went before,” he said.

The minister stressed that Houthis have “proved they are no partners in peace, and are not ready to currently engage in peace.”

He said that any talks about near negotiations is closer to being a wish in light of the Houthi behavior, which is far from being capable to achieve any peace.

“Iran considers the Houthis and their battle in Yemen as part of its war to control the Arab region, and therefore behave accordingly,” al-Mekhlafi added.

For his part, a high-ranking Yemeni government source uncovered the presence of efforts led by the legitimate government to include a delegation from the “General People’s Congress” party in any future talks on peace.

The source explained the GPC participation by saying that “peace talks were always based on two sides, the legitimate authority and the rebels and not on political parties.”

He added that by splitting from the Houthis, the GPC would be party of the legitimate government.

Meanwhile, procedures taken by Houthis uncovered that the militia already foiled, at least twice in the past few months, international efforts to bring back Yemeni parties to the negotiation table.

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Houthis in Yemen Strip their Head of Govt of his Powers

The Houthis prevented Ahmed al-Rahwi from naming the head of his office. (Houthi media)
The Houthis prevented Ahmed al-Rahwi from naming the head of his office. (Houthi media)
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Houthis in Yemen Strip their Head of Govt of his Powers

The Houthis prevented Ahmed al-Rahwi from naming the head of his office. (Houthi media)
The Houthis prevented Ahmed al-Rahwi from naming the head of his office. (Houthi media)

The Iran-backed Houthi militias have prevented their so-called prime minister, Ahmed al-Rahwi, from naming the head of his office.

The Houthis have instead forced him to appoint a person of their choosing against his wishes, revealed informed sources in the Houthi-held capital Sanaa.

The Houthis are attempting to strip al-Rahwi, who was named as head of the militias’ new government, of his powers, making his appointment simply a cover for imposing their agenda and favoring Houthis who are descended of the line of their leader Abdulmalik al-Houthi.

The sources revealed that al-Rahwi had headed to the government headquarters with Rabih al-Mehdi, the director of the office of his predecessor. Mehdi hails from the Abyan province that is held by the legitimate government.

Al-Rahwi was seeking to keep al-Mehdi in his post. However, a leading Houthi member, Mohammed Qassem al-Kabisi, who used to occupy the position of government secretary, barred him from making the appointment.

Kabisi even prevented al-Mehdi from entering his office, resulting in an argument with al-Rahwi.

Kabisi informed al-Rahwi that he had no authority in naming the head of his office, saying that he does instead.

Al-Rahwi turned to the Houthis’ so-called ruling high political council to resolve the dispute and was informed that he should accept Kabisi as head of his office despite his objection.

A decree was issued days later naming Kabisi to the post.

He will effectively hold absolute power in government, while al-Rahwi will simply play a figurative role and only be needed to approve decisions and procedures taken by the Houthi leadership, joining other ministers who have no real duties.

The Houthis have formed a new government that will follow in the footsteps of its predecessor in keeping actual power to the militias themselves.

The new lineup includes a pro-Houthi figure, with no diplomatic background or experience, who was named foreign minister, replacing leading General People's Congress member Hisham Sharaf.

The appointment only fueled claims that the Houthis were seeking to eliminate their partners from rule. Al-Rahwi himself had no say in the lineup.

The Houthis announced the formation of their government on August 12. It met on August 17 to discuss its program, referred it to parliament the same day and by the next morning, an announcement was made that it was approved with no amendments or objections.

The incident with al-Rahwi has fueled speculation that the coming period will witness more struggles for power among the Houthis and their partners, whom they are trying to keep out of rule.

Observers noted that Kabisi is the son of a top Houthi leader. Qassem al-Kabisi is one of the founders of the group and is close to their leader Abdulmalik al-Houthi.

The senior Houthi officials believe they have the right to represent the Houthis in rule since they are its founders and oldest members.